Newly crowned ONE interim strawweight MMA World Champion Jarred Brooks proved to everyone that he is here to stay. Brooks defeated #3 ranked contender Gustavo Balart at ONE Fight Night 24 and will now go for the title next. ‘The Monkey God’ looked in sublime form and ended the fight in the first round itself via a submission. 

This victory meant a lot to the 31-year-old and he shared an emotional message for his teammates and especially his coaches. Brooks wrote, “I GOT MY BELT BACK !! Want to thank everyone for the support and everyone that stayed up late to tune in. I one million percent could not have done this alone !!! I also got promoted to black belt by master @alexhodi ! It is a complete honor to be your first black belt under the American Jiu Jitsu system at @rootsjiujitsu.

He further thanked his teammates and his wife for their support and wrote, “I thank you @onechampionship and @yodchatri for giving me a second chance at gold and to be your champion! I also want to thank my coaches and training partners @jamesdeonlee @jethro5733 @luvglov @allrangecombat @fightcoachtv @j0n_reyes @escobarthefighter @warriorwaymartialarts All of my students and teammates @rootsjiujitsu as well you guys are the real champions!”

“Last but not least I want to thank my beautiful wife @francesca_dimambro and my family for being my rock and holding it down for me while I did business ! I LOVE MY FANS YALL ARE FAMILY !! Watch me at the end of the year as I want to continue to dominate the World !” he added. 

Although Brooks now holds the interim title, it wasn’t an easy night for him as he had to be at his best against ‘El Gladiador’. 

A closer look at the battle between Gustavo Balart and Jarred Brooks 

At the main event of ONE Fight Night 24, Jarred Brooks seemed to be a man on a mission. ‘The Monkey God’ made it clear before the clash that he wants to redeem himself as a fighter and he did just that with his brilliant performance. 

Gustavo Balart entered the fight high on confidence after his four consecutive victories. But it seems ‘The Monkey God’ had already done his homework about his Cuban opponent. The former Olympic wrestler is known for his exceptional grappling skills and also has the ability to land good strikes. While the Indiana native initially thought of showing his striking skills, he quickly changed his plans to counter the threat of ‘El Gladiador’. 

‘The Monkey God’ managed to secure multiple takedowns before finally submitting his opponent in the first round. Winning the interim title against a formidable foe like Gustavo Balart is indeed commendable but, Brooks took time to show appreciation for his opponent. During the post-fight interview in the middle of the ring, the 31-year-old said, “There’s a difference between thinking you’re gonna do something and then when you’re in the ring it’s completely different. He’s small but man, that guy has some power.”

Brooks then pointed out as to how he had to change his game plan during the fight and made it clear that it was all about adjustment during the fight. The interim champion said, “He’s got great boxing skills. He’s been working with Cuban Olympians his whole camp so I had to adjust, like I said in our interviews – it’s all about adjustments and adaptation.”

Brooks will inevitably face Joshua Pacio for the title next after the Filipino superstar recovers from his ACL injury. However, the journey toward the title was not easy, as Brooks shared the problems he faced during the time. 

Jarred Brooks reflects on the problems he faced after losing his title 

Jarred Brooks is now the interim champion, but the road to this point wasn’t easy. In March 2024, he faced intense backlash because of a controversial move against Joshua Pacio. During their second clash, Brooks slammed Pacio onto the canvas after failing to submit him. 

The Filipino inadvertently landed on his head, which forced the judges to disqualify ‘The Monkey God’ from the clash and award the title to Pacio. After winning the ONE Interim Strawweight MMA World Champion last week, Brooks revealed that he endured significant challenges since his loss. However, he pushed forward, using this adversity as a catalyst for a stronger comeback, ultimately reclaiming ONE gold.

Jarred Brooks, in his post-fight interview, reflected on his journey in the ring, discussing his challenging times. He stated, “You have no idea the amount of pain, agony, and sacrifice I had to endure to get this belt.” Brooks further expressed respect for his grappling coach, acknowledging the intense training that often pushed him to his limits. 

The 31-year-old will be now waiting for his opportunity to face his longtime rival Joshua Pacio for the third time in their careers. For his part, Pacio will be eager to heal up to finally end his chapter with the American fighter. 

Who will you be rooting for, Brooks or Pacio? Comment your thoughts below.