Former ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Jarred Brooks is known for his trash talk and surprised everyone by praising Cuban sensation Gustavo Balart’s skills and fighting spirit ahead of their upcoming main event tilt. The pair clashes at ONE Fight Night 24: Brooks vs. Balart, which will take place on August 2 at the Lumpinee Stadium and will air in US primetime on Prime Video.

In a recent interview with the ONE Championship, Jarred Brooks compared his opponent Gustavo Balart to a torpedo, claiming, “I and Gustavo Balart are coming at each other at a million miles per hour. He is a real torpedo, but guess what? I’ve got too much ocean for him. At the end of the day, make sure you guys tune in on August 2nd at 8 PM. We’ll be fighting around 11 PM EST. Make sure you guys watch. I’m going to kick this little motherf*****’s head off.”

Gustavo Balart is currently one of the most dangerous contenders in his division and a valued member of the ONE Championship roster. The 37-year-old Balart has steadily improved, with four consecutive victories, making him a well-deserved title contender.

However, the title is now far from his reach because the Cuban challenger failed to make weight and hydration during Thursday’s three-hour official window. As a result, he is ineligible to win the ONE Interim Strawweight MMA World Championship. Meanwhile, Brooks still has a chance to reclaim the ONE World Title.

Jarred Brooks eyes fresh start

This year hasn’t been kind to Jarred Brooks. At ONE 166: Qatar, he lost his title because of an illegal slam against Joshua Pacio, resulting in the forfeiture of his title to Pacio. Now, motivated to rewrite his story, Brooks aims for a clean slate against Balart. Despite the challenges, Brooks is trying to maintain a positive attitude.

In an interview with the ONE Championship, Brooks talked about learning from his past mistakes. He said, “Life is life and it gives you experience. And I think that I’m too damn good for my own good at the end of the day, so sometimes God has to backtrack you. And that’s what’s happening, I feel like. I gotta put myself back up on my feet and you guys will see that against Gustavo Balart.”

Jarred Brooks’ appreciation for his opponent shows that he is now a changed man. It will be intriguing for his fans to see a more sportsmanlike side of their favorite star. Brooks is an example of someone who shows a man needs to evolve with the times. Who will you be rooting for? Share your thoughts below.