Jarred Brooks says Gustavo Balart tends to open up in the later rounds: “A possibility of him getting knocked out”
Jarred Brooks believes his opportunity to finish things against Gustavo Balart will only improve as their highly anticipated title tilt moves into the later rounds.
Emanating from the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, 'The Monkey God' will once again have the chance to wrap 26 pounds of gold around his waist when he squares off with 'El Gladiador' at ONE Fight Night 24 on Friday, August 2.
There, the two will tussle for the opportunity to become the interim ONE strawweight MMA world champion—the winner setting the stage for a showdown with undisputed titleholder Joshua Pacio.
Speaking with Sportskeeda MMA in an exclusive interview, the former ONE world champion believes that Balart becomes more susceptible to being KO'd in the later rounds.
"Gustavo when he fights, the first round and the second round are always good, heavy pressure, and constant attacks," Brooks said. "But whenever it's in the third round, he kinda escapes his own realm and tries to go to the things where he first started fighting. And that’s where I see him overextending his punches and that is where there is a possibility of him getting knocked out."
Gustavo Balart looks to complete his epic career comeback against Jarred Brooks
While Jarred Brooks is looking for his second world title victory on martial arts' biggest stage, Gustavo Balart will be gunning for his first inside the Mecca of Muay Thai.
That itself is a truly impressive feat, considering the streaking Cuban sensation kickstarted his ONE Championship career with three straight losses. Since July 2021, 'El Gladiador' has turned things around, scoring four victories in a row, including noteworthy wins against Ryuto Sawada, Yosuke Saruta, Alex Silva, and fourth-ranked contender Hiroba Minowa.
Will Gustavo Balart complete one of the greatest turnarounds in ONE history and claim his first world championship, or will 'The Monkey God' add an interim title to his collection and move on to a trilogy fight with Joshua Pacio?
ONE Championship fans in the United States and Canada can watch ONE Fight Night 24 live and for free via Amazon Prime Video in U.S. primetime on Friday, August 2.