Jarred Brooks on winning interim strawweight MMA gold at ONE Fight Night 24: “It means a lot”
Newly crowned ONE interim strawweight MMA world champion 'The Monkey God' Jarred Brooks of the United States says nothing can ever top his 2022 world title victory over Filipino rival Joshua 'The Passion' Pacio.
But his recent interim strawweight MMA world title win over former Cuban Olympic wrestler Gustavo 'El Gladiador' Balart also ranks right up there with the best of them.
'The Monkey God' took care of business early against 'El Gladiador', finishing Balart in round one of a scheduled five. The two locked horns in the main event of ONE Fight Night 24: Brooks vs. Balart on Prime Video last Saturday, August 3rd, at the historic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Brooks dominated the bout from the opening bell, before cinching in a rear-naked choke late in the first stanza to get the tap.
Speaking to Sportskeeda MMA in an exclusive interview, Brooks talked about where this victory ranks among his best, and what it means to him.
'The Monkey God' said:
"Man, that Manila fight meant a lot to me because you know that was the real belt. But this fight, it does mean a lot. It means a lot for my family. It means a lot, mostly for my daughter Naomi. This fight was for you. It’s very heartwarming for me to know that I can go back and present this to my family."
Jarred Brooks on Filipino fans: "I know that they love me deep down inside"
'The Monkey God' Jarred Brooks loves fighting in Manila, Philippines, despite the hostility when he takes on one of their own. But the American says he's also encountered a lot of his Filipino fans there too, and he loves every one of them.
The 31-year-old Mash Fight Team representative said:
"I love the Philippines. Every one of those guys over there treated me with nothing but dignity and respect, and even though they booed me, I know that they love me deep down inside."
ONE Fight Night 24: Brooks vs. Balart took place live from the historic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on Saturday, August 3rd. Fans in the United States and Canada can catch all the action via replay on-demand on Amazon Prime Video.