Lito Adiwang says Jarred Brooks will be too much for Gustavo Balart: “I don’t really see Balart submitting Brooks”
Filipino MMA fighter Lito Adiwang sees former ONE strawweight world champion Jarred Brooks having his way against Gustavo Balart in their scheduled title clash next month, particularly if the contest turns into a ground game.
'Thunder Kid' made this known in an interview with Sportskeeda MMA when asked for his thoughts on the Brooks-Balart showdown for the interim ONE strawweight MMA world title at ONE Fight Night 24 on Prime Video on Aug. 2 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Adiwang said:
"Those are the things that I don't see from Balart in this matchup, the submissions. I don't really see, imagine, I don't really see Balart submitting Brooks. On the other hand, Brooks can submit Balart in this fight."
The interim strawweight championship match between Brooks and Balart headlines ONE Fight Night 24, which will go down at the Lumpinee Stadium and will be available live and for free on U.S. primetime to North American fans with an active Amazon Prime Video subscription.
Heading into the contest, Jarred Brooks is competing with a chip on his shoulder after losing the ONE strawweight MMA world title in his last fight in March to Filipino rival Joshua Pacio by disqualification.
'The Monkey God' earned a DQ after executing an illegal spike in the opening round that had Pacio hitting the canvas head first.
For his part, Balart comes in riding a four-fight winning streak, with his latest victory achieved back in Janaury over Hiroba Minowa of Japan by split decision.
ONE Championship is having an interim strawweight championship fight as Pacio is out indefinitely because of the ACL injury he sustained.
Jarred Brooks looks for redemption at ONE Fight Night 24
Following a humbling loss in his last match that saw him give up the ONE strawweight MMA world title, American martial artist Jarred Brooks is out to redeem himself in his scheduled clash against Cuban fighter Gustavo Balart at ONE Fight Night 24 on Prime Video on Aug. 2 in Thailand.
'The Monkey God' lost the stawweight belt back in March to Filipino rival Joshua Pacio after he performed an illegal spike, which automatically earned him a loss by disqualification.
It is something he is turning to for motivation as he tries to get back on track by winning over Balart in their showdown for the interim strawweight world title at ONE Fight Night 24.
Jarred Brooks shared to the South China Morning Post of his defeat to Pacio:
"So it was a big kick in the a**, but at the same time, it game me three times as much motivation, and it changed my landscape and how I think, and how I go about this fight game."
Brooks became strawweight champion when he defeated Pacio in their first encounter in December 2022.