"Push me to the end of the edge" - Jarred Brooks vows to rise from the ashes after losing world title
Jarred Brooks is out to prove that an animal is most dangerous when its back is against the wall.
After figuring in arguably the most challenging stretch of his mixed martial arts career, 'The Monkey God' is out for redemption this coming Friday, Aug. 2, in the curtain closer of ONE Fight Night 24: Brooks vs Balart on Prime Video.
As far as Brooks is concerned, all will be forgotten if he can beat Gustavo Balart and leave Bangkok's Lumpinee Stadium as the interim ONE strawweight MMA world champion.
While the American has undoubtedly been the most dominant 125-pound fighter in the promotion in recent years, there's still a dark cloud following him after that unfortunate ending to his rematch with Joshua Pacio last March.
An inadvertent illegal slam cost him everything. Now, the 31-year-old is scrambling to pick up the pieces and regain not just the 26 pound gold strap he lost, but his honor as well.
Jarred Brooks told ONE:
"ONE Championship is always taking care of me, but you know, a loss like that takes a lot away from your family, your camp, and your determination for your upcoming fights. So for me, I'm like the opposite kind of mindset, though. To where it's like, 'Oh, you're pushing me to the end of the edge.'"
Jarred Brooks says he learned from the mistakes of his abrupt title reign
Jarred Brooks must get past Gustavo Balart to set up an inevitable trilogy with his rival and reigning ONE strawweight MMA kingpin Joshua Pacio.
In the same interview with ONE, the Mash Fight Team standout promised to do things differently once he reaches the top of the heap anew:
"I'm trying to be a champion [again]. My first ride in anything, I always mess it up. But the second time, I always do it right. I think me being champion, I'm going to do this right next time."
ONE Fight Night 24 will air live at U.S. Primetime, free of charge for those with an existing Prime Video subscription in the United States and Canada.