ONE 171: Qatar Open Workout And Meet And Greet Highlights
February 17, 2025 – Doha, Qatar: ONE Championship™ (ONE), the world’s largest martial arts organization, in partnership with Visit Qatar, held the ONE 171: Qatar Open Workout and Meet and Greet at the iconic Place Vendôme, featuring athletes competing at the event including Joshua Pacio, Jarred Brooks, Jonathan Haggerty, Wei Rui, Jake Peacock and Ritu Phogat. ONE 171: Qatar will be broadcast live on Thursday, February 20, from Lusail Sports Arena in Lusail, Qatar. Fans can visit watch.onefc.com for more information on how to watch. In the main event, ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Joshua Pacio will face off against interim title holder Jarred Brooks for the third time in a highly anticipated World Title unification bout. In the co-main event, ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion Jonathan Haggerty will defend his belt against Chinese icon Wei Rui. ONE Championship would like to thank Official ONE 171 Presenting Partner Visit Qatar, Official Media Partner Media City Qatar, and Official Telecom Partner Ooredoo, as well as Gloabl Energy Drink Partner Monster Energy, Global Blockchain Partner Walrus, Official Venue Partner Lusail Sports Arena as well all supporting partners of ONE 171: Qatar. Joshua Pacio – ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion: “I love the people here, and I call this my home away from home because there are a lot of Filipinos here. I’m just so excited. Filipino Kabayans – I’m so happy to see you again! This is a new Joshua Pacio. I’m calm, and I’m collected. We will deliver on Thursday night.” Jarred Brooks – ONE Interim Strawweight MMA World Champion: “It’s amazing to be in Doha again. Everything in Doha is perfect. I love this country, I love the people in this country, and I love the Pinoys in the country. Thank you so much for your support. I am going to be the person who puts Joshua ‘The Passion’ Pacio out. I want to be ONE’s World Champion. I want to be the best in the world. I have the utmost respect for Joshua. He is a great man. But we are going inside the ring, and we are going to show you guys the energy.” Jonathan Haggerty – ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion: “It’s a pleasure to be here again in Doha, and I’m excited to put on a performance for everyone here. Everyone I face is going to be the best version of themselves, so it’s up to me to be my best version. Come Thursday, I’m ready. I am going in there for a demolition job. I understand he is number one for a reason. He’s a great opponent, so let’s see.” Wei Rui – ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Title Challenger: “I’m well prepared, and this is my first time in Doha. I hope everyone will like my performance, as I’ve been waiting to win the ONE title belt for 20 years. I am really, really motivated; this is my third time striving for the word title and this time I am sure I will take it back to China”. Jake Peacock – ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai Contender: “I am thrilled that ONE Championship is coming to Qatar for the second time. The first event was amazing. I’m going to have a spectacular performance. Training is going fantastically, and I’m really excited to give an incredible performance to the fans in Qatar. ONE Championship is the biggest and the best promotion in the world. And I’m excited to showcase that to everyone here in Qatar. I’ve been here for a bit, and I might move here. We never know… People are amazing. They’re just lovely people. I’m going in there to take him out, and we’re shutting down and shutting him out right from the get-go. Two rounds max. That’s going to be great. Absolutely…there will be a finish.” Ritu Phogat – ONE Atomweight MMA Contender: “Qatar is a fantastic place and I am thrilled to be back here, doing what I love in ONE Championship. It has been a long time, but I’m ready. I want to prove I still belong among the best and that I have a lot left to offer in my career. This is only the beginning of the second chapter of ‘The Indian Tigress.’ I came here to represent all mothers and fight for all women out there to prove we are strong!”
Being a Qatari athlete and a woman has been both empowering and challenging
For Hana Al Khater, volleyball is more than just a sport – it is a symbol of unity and teamwork. On the court, individual boundaries fade away, and everyone becomes part of one shared game. This sense of connection ignited the passion of the young Qatari athlete, inspiring her to pursue her dream of becoming a volleyball player. Aparajita Mukherjee sat down with Al Khater to unravel her athlete and the individual. BL: What life lesson has volleyball taught you?Al Khater: Volleyball has taught me the importance of teamwork and communication. No matter how skilled a player is, success in volleyball depends on working cohesively as a team, trusting your teammates, and communicating effectively during high-pressure moments. It has also taught me resilience and adaptability. Sometimes the game doesn’t go as planned, but learning to stay composed, adapt strategies, and focus on the next play is crucial. I’ve also learned how to appreciate friendships within the volleyball team, my coaches, teammates, family, and even spectators all helped me learn to appreciate the little things in life. BL: How has it been – being a Qatari athlete and a woman – on and off the field?Al Khater: Being a Qatari athlete and a woman has been both empowering and challenging. On the field, I take pride in breaking barriers and representing my culture, while off the field, I’ve faced societal expectations which have pushed me to grow as a leader. This journey has taught me resilience and the importance of inspiring change, proving that passion and determination can overcome any boundary. BL: In hindsight, what would you choose to re-do (if given an option)?Al Khater: If given the chance, I would focus more on embracing opportunities and getting outside my comfort zone earlier. Looking back, there were moments where hesitation held me back from taking on challenges that could have further shaped me. While I’ve learned from these experiences, I now realize the importance of taking risks and fully committing to every opportunity that comes my way. BL: Where do you see yourself 3 years down the line?Al Khater: Three years from now, I see myself pursuing a degree in a science based major, building on my passion for investigation and problem-solving. I aim to be actively involved in hands-on research, honing my skills in analyzing evidence and contributing to impactful projects. Beyond academics, I hope to continue inspiring others by advocating for women in STEM and sports, showing that determination can lead to breaking barriers in any field as long as you push yourself. Short Takes
