Lito Adiwang says Jarred Brooks’ trash-talk no longer bothers him: “It’s his way of marketing his fights”
Filipino strawweight Lito Adiwang said there was a time that he was truly bothered by the smack talk that American fighter Jarred Brooks dishes out. Such, however, is no longer the case as he has grown to learn that it is just for show to shore up interest in his matches.
'Thunder Kid' took the time to talk about it in a recent interview with Sportskeeda MMA, drawing from his experience when he first took on 'The Monkey God.' He said he learned a lot about Brooks and his ways while also expressing his wish to have another shot at the now interim ONE strawweight world champion.
Lito Adiwang said:
"That's [trash-talking] fine for me. At least for me. And not a lot of fighters have found how to break it. That's why I'm really on it now, and I really want to face him again. But his trash-talking is OK, it's his way of marketing his fights. In the U.S. it's common, while in our side of the world, we're only starting to adapt it."
Lito Adiwang took on Brooks for the first time in the latter's ONE debut in November 2021. The Mash Fight Team standout had it great in the match, fashioning out a submission (arm-triangle choke) in the second round.
From there, Brooks continued to roll in MMA, winning three straight more, including a championship-bagging decision win over Joshua Pacio in December 2022 to become the new strawweight king.
He, however, would lose the title to 'The Passion' in their title rematch back in March by disqualification (illegal slam) only to bounce back five months later to claim the interim strawweight belt with a submisison (rear-naked choke) victory over Cuban Gustavo Balart.
Lito Adiwang himself has been on an impressive roll of late, winning his last three matches after coming back from a knee injury that sidelined him for a year and a half. The streak has seen him throw his name back among the fighters to contend with in the strawweight class.
Lito Adiwang admits Jarred Brooks is evolving as a fighter
Lito Adiwang may have found a way to deal with Jarred Brooks' trash-talking but he admits the American star is developing and adding new skills in his arsenal that he is still figuring out.
The Indonesia-based Filipino fighter shared this in the same interview with Sportskeeda MMA, pointing some things in the game of Brooks that has caught his attention and studying in preparation for a possible rematch down the line.
The Soma Fight Club affiliate said:
"Jarred is sharper every time he steps in the Circle. You can really see his improvements. Number one is cardio, where he can really carry his pressure and power well into the championship rounds."
Continuing to study Brooks should serve Adiwang well moving forward. He has positioned himself for a possible rematch with the current interim strawweight champion after convincingly winning his last three matches.