Last Friday, August 2, in the main event of ONE Fight Night 24 on Prime Video, Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks reminded fans that he’s quite possibly the planet’s most dangerous strawweight mixed martial artist.

That night, live in U.S. primetime at the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, the outspoken American scored a first-round submission win over Cuban powerhouse Gustavo “El Gladiador” Balart to capture the ONE Interim Strawweight MMA World Title.

Jarred Brooks commends Gustavo Balart for dropping him down on his back

The win – arguably the most dominant performance of “The Monkey God’s” career – not only garnered Brooks 26 pounds of gold but also earned him a trilogy fight with reigning strawweight MMA king Joshua “The Passion” Pacio.

Despite his dominance, many fans and pundits thought Balart would pose an incredibly stiff test for Brooks. After all, the Cuban is a former Olympic Greco-Roman wrestler who, on paper, has the grappling skills to match the American’s.

But when the two locked horns, it was Brooks who controlled the action on the mat – with the exception of one moment when “El Gladiador” was able to take the top position.

Reflecting on his victory at ONE Fight Night 24, the newly crowned interim titleholder was quick to credit Balart for doing what no other opponent had been able to do before:

“I think I was better than him across the board in every aspect of mixed martial arts. He did put me on my back for the first time in my whole career. So, props to him for that. I was trying to keep him there and trying to get him tired because I knew he was going to get tired within that second to third round.  

 “But yeah, I’m thankful for actually going on my back for once and having to rely on my jiu-jitsu and my other skills.” 

“The Monkey God” is pleased with his latest win

Ultimately, Brooks is supremely proud of his performance in Bangkok. 

Given his foe’s elite grappling credentials, impressive winning streak, and seemingly impossible toughness, “The Monkey God” knows that his submission win represents a serious feather in his cap.

He added, “I was glad to show people that I could finish Gustavo Balart in spectacular fashion. The only time he’s really been finished was with a head kick out of the blue. It’s the first time that he’s ever been submitted, and I’m glad that I could be that guy.”