"I don't know what else I need to show y'all" - Jarred Brooks puzzled by lack of notoriety despite beating the very best strawweights
Despite claiming another massive win at ONE Fight Night 24, Jarred Brooks believes he is still largely underappreciated.
'The Monkey God' put his two-match skid to bed in some fashion at last week's Lumpinee Stadium spectacle, submitting third-ranked contender Gustavo Balart inside the opening round to lay his hands on the ONE interim strawweight MMA world championship.
It was another testament to his world-class ability to adapt and overcome most of the opposition the ONE matchmakers have handed him so far. However, while there are people who view him as one of the best, many still think Jarred Brooks is far from being one of the top 125-pounders today.
Weighing in on the subject, the Mash Fight Team fighter told Sportskeeda MMA's Nic Atkin:
"I want to beat everybody in the division and everybody in ONE Championship that they keep giving me. And I showed that I can adapt, you know."
He added:
"I beat Joshua Pacio in striking, and now I just beat an Olympian wrestler in wrestling. So, if that doesn't show you guys that I'm a fighter's fighter, then, I don't know what else I need to show y'all."
The Indiana native now spots a respectable 5-1 run in MMA under the ONE banner. Apart from Balart, Lito Adiwang, Pacio, Hiroba Minowa, and Bokang Masunyane have fallen victim to his world-class arsenal.
His sole loss in MMA came against Pacio in their rematch at ONE 166: Qatar. Meanwhile, his other defeat came at the hands of ONE flyweight submission grappling world champion Mikey Musumeci.
Watch the full interview here:
Jarred Brooks wants the Pacio trilogy fight next in Manila
With the ONE interim strawweight MMA world championship now in his possession, Jarred Brooks is chomping at the bit to realize a trilogy against Pacio to unify their gold.
And the 31-year-old believes Manila, Philippines – the very venue where he claimed the 26 pounds of gold against 'The Passion' – will be the best place for them to run it back after an unfortunate ending to their rematch inside the Lusail Sports Arena this past March.
He had this to say at the ONE Fight Night 24 post-event press conference:
"Joshua Pacio, if he's still on the back end, and he ends up getting better, and his knee feels better, and his neck feels better, then let's run it back in Manila."