“My biggest opponent has always been me” - Jarred Brooks reflects on his mentality ahead of ONE Fight Night 24
Former ONE strawweight MMA world champion Jarred Brooks always believes that he is his own worst enemy and he tries to address that every time he competes. It is the kind of mentality that he will be bringing when he returns to action next week.
'The Monkey God' will be vying for the interim strawweight world title against veteran Cuban fighter Gustavo Balart at ONE Fight Night 24 on Prime Video on Aug. 2 in Thailand.
It will be the headlining match of the event happening at the famed Lumpinee Stadium and available live and for free on U.S. primetime to North American fans with an active Amazon Prime Video subscription.
In an interview with ABS-CBN, Jarred Brooks reflected on his frame of mind heading into ONE Fight Night 24, underscoring that if he gets to put things in proper perspective he will be hard to stop.
The 31-year-old American fighter said:
"My biggest opponent has always been me. I think that me, conquering myself as a man, and my ego and pride and all that stuff, it's gonna either bump me off or break me down. But I'm willing to put my nuts on the table and I always have."
Jarred Brooks will be going for a bounce-back win at ONE Fight Night 24 after losing the ONE strawweight world title back in March to Filipino rival Joshua Pacio by disqualification. He earned a DQ for executing an illegal slam that had 'The Passion' hitting his head first on the canvas.
Looking to thwart him in his push is Balart, who is streaking heading into the contest, riding a four-fight winning streak.
ONE Championship is having an interim strawweight championship match as Pacio is out indefinitely because of an ACL injury he suffered even before he took on Brooks in their last match.
Jarred Brooks confident of overwhelming Gustavo Balart
Jarred Brooks said he is entering ONE Fight Night 24 on Prime Video on Aug. 2 ready and confident of overwhelming Gustavo Balart on his way to winning and claiming the interim ONE strawweight world title.
The 31-year-old Mash Fight Team/Roots Combat Club standout conveyed this in his session on the FightWave YouTube Channel, which was uploaded on July 4, highlighting how he is a cut above Balart.
Brooks said:
"I'm kinda at a million miles an hour, and I take you down, and I hit you, and I try to submit you. But, Gustavo Balart and I are not the same though, as far as mixed martial arts prowess, and I want to show that when it comes to our little tussle on August 2."
Check out what he had to say below:
The winner between Jared Brooks and Gustavo Balart at ONE Fight Night 24 will be up for a unification match once reigning divisional king Joshua Pacio is back healthy from an ACL injury.