MMA legend Rich Franklin expects to “see most of this fight on the feet” between natural wrestlers Jarred Brooks and Gustavo Balart
There aren't many people on the entire planet with a deeper MMA knowledge than ONE Championship Vice President Rich Franklin.
One of the most learned men inside and outside the cage, Franklin said the ONE Fight Night 24 headliner between natural wrestlers Jarred Brooks and Gustavo Balart could turn into a full-on brawl instead of a grappling showcase.
Franklin, a former UFC middleweight world champion, said in an interview with ONE Championship that Brooks and Balart's top-level wrestling game could cancel each other out, leading to their ONE interim strawweight MMA world title match turning into a striking exchange.
"I actually see most of this fight on the feet – go figure with two wrestlers – because both like to deliver and it will be tough for either to keep the other down and control them," said Rich Franklin.
Brooks and Balart are two of the best pound-for-pound wrestlers in ONE Championship, and they've used their devastating grappling to carve their respective paths in the promotion.
Balart is a former Cuban Olympic wrestler and is now riding a four-match winning streak in ONE Championship.
The 2012 London Olympian collected wins over Ryuto Sawada, Hiroba Minowa, and former ONE strawweight MMA kings Alex Silva and Yosuke Saruta.
Brooks, meanwhile, holds a professional MMA record of 20-3 and is 4-1 under ONE Championship.
'The Monkey God' also holds two submission wins over Lito Adiwang and Bokang Masunyane.
Balart, however, isn't eligible to win the interim strap this Friday after missing the strawweight 125-pound limit by a pound.
ONE Fight Night 24 goes down at the historic Lumpinee Stadium and is available live and free to all Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada.
Rich Franklin says Jarred Brooks and Gustavo Balart will push the pace for the entire five rounds
Rich Franklin is as hyped as any for the impending clash between Jarred Brooks and Gustavo Balart.
The MMA legend said in the same interview with ONE Championship that Brooks and Balart have all the cardio in the world to go swinging for the entire 25 minutes of their match in Bangkok.
"Most importantly, gas tank is not an issue for either fighter, so this will be bell-to-bell action. It is for the interim title, and Balart is the only person in the division Brooks has not cleared out.”