"Those were my superheroes" - Jarred Brooks recalls how he developed passion for mixed martial arts
Ahead of his anticipated return to action at ONE Fight Night 24, Jarred Brooks reminisced about how he developed a passion for mixed martial arts.
'The Monkey God' is en route to Bangkok's Lumpinee Boxing Stadium this week, to square off with fellow top contender 'El Gladiador' Gustavo Balart for the ONE interim strawweight MMA world title via Prime Video.
The two combatants are looking forward to testing their skills on the world stage and proving why they deserve to unify their belt with Joshua Pacio, the current reigning divisional champion.
Amped up for his return, Brooks explained why he lives and breathes for this sport, and how watching his heroes from the past have started this obsession to become the best in the world.
Speaking to Sherdog, Brooks said:
"Growing up, I've always loved the UFC, I've always loved Pride [Fighting Championship] and the old Chute Boxe fighters - those were my superheroes."
There's no denying that Brooks is one of the most exciting fighters to watch on the ONE roster. His unyielding courage to go after what he wants is admirable and inspiring.
Fighting for his young family, Brooks is determined to extend his legacy within the MMA community with an interim gold belt strapped across his waist.
"I'm humbled by the experience" - Jarred Brooks has developed a never-quit mindset after losing the strawweight belt to long-time rival Joshua Pacio
Jarred Brooks is more committed than before to pushing through the barriers of self-doubt and clawing his way back up to the mountaintop.
Losing his belt to Joshua Pacio earlier this year in Qatar continues to haunt Brooks to this day. If Brooks hadn't made the mistake of slamming Pacio's head against the canvas, he would probably still be the strawweight MMA world champion.
However, no matter how many times you fall, you never give up. Since that night, Brooks has put a lot of things into perspective, and is, therefore, ready for the task ahead with a humbled mindset.
Speaking to ONE, he said:
"God puts these tests in front of me, and I have to knock them down. I'm humbled by the experience."
ONE Fight Night 24 will air live in US Primetime, free of charge for Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada.