“He really has underrated striking” - Former foe Lito Adiwang says Jarred Brooks’ stand-up will be key against Gustavo Balart
Jarred Brooks has always been known as one of the most dangerous pure wrestlers in mixed martial arts, but his striking could prove to be the difference-maker against Gustavo Balart.
Lito Adiwang, Brooks' first opponent in ONE Championship, said the American star is a far better striker than Balart and that underrated skill would prove vital at ONE Fight Night 24.
Brooks will face Balart for the ONE interim strawweight MMA world title on August 2, US primetime, at the historic Lumpinee Stadium.
In an interview with Sportskeeda MMA, Adiwang said Jarred Brooks has all the advantages over Balart when it comes to striking and that stand-up arsenal will be key for the former ONE strawweight MMA world champion.
Adiwang said:
"He really has underrated striking, but he's good at that department. That's another one of his advantages over Balart because he can transition his game plan. He really can use all aspects of MMA."
Brooks is an aggressive wrestler who will stop at nothing to bring his opponents to the mat, but 'The Monkey God' doesn't always rely on his otherworldly ground game.
The former strawweight MMA king can throw hands as well as anyone, and he showed that refined striking when he challenged Joshua Pacio for the division's throne at ONE 164.
Pacio, who was then defending the ONE strawweight MMA world title, was seen as having a huge advantage over Brooks on the feet in their heated world championship match in Manila.
Brooks, however, traded with Pacio throughout the five-round fight and even slipped through the Filipino star's guard multiple times.
Although he's relinquished the strawweight MMA strap back to Pacio at ONE 166, Brooks has another shot at gold in less than two weeks.
Jarred Brooks' interim world title match against Balart and the entire ONE Fight Night 24 card is available live and free to all Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada.
Jarred Brooks discusses his attitude ahead of interim world title fight against Gustavo Balart
Jarred Brooks may have already sat on the throne before, but that doesn't change his hunger ahead of his interim world title match against Gustavo Balart.
The former ONE strawweight MMA world champion told Sportskeeda MMA that he's determined as ever to capture interim gold at the expense of the Cuban Olympic wrestler.
Brooks said:
"For me, this fight is special because it's my chance to show my growing arsenal, my evolved skill set, and, like I said, the newer version of 'The Monkey God.' So yeah, it's all or nothing on my end, bro."