Jarred Brooks And Mansur Malachiev Go To War In Flyweight MMA Bout At ONE Fight Night 36
After exchanging words in recent years, former ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks and #2-ranked contender Mansur Malachiev will finally settle their differences in the ring.
However, the two will meet in a three-round MMA bout at flyweight at ONE Fight Night 36 on Prime Video.
This ultimate battle between American and Dagestani wrestling will go down inside Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, October 3, live in U.S. primetime.
Brooks has been a dominant force in the world’s largest martial arts organization since arriving in 2021.
The former strawweight MMA king showcased his world-class skills, running through the opposition and eventually capturing the coveted gold from Joshua “The Passion” Pacio in December 2022. With every performance, “The Monkey God” displayed the punishing wrestling, blinding speed, and overwhelming pressure that made him one of the division’s most feared competitors.
But the Indiana native’s reign was marked by controversy when he was disqualified for an illegal slam against Pacio in their rematch at ONE 166 last year. Undeterred, Brooks bounced back by claiming the ONE Interim Strawweight MMA World Title with a stunning rear-naked choke victory over Gustavo Balart in August 2024.
Most recently, the 31-year-old American suffered another crushing setback in his trilogy showdown with “The Passion” at ONE 171 this past February.
Brooks was stopped via TKO in the second round of their ONE Strawweight MMA World Title Unification bout, which turned out to be a massive stumbling block in his quest to reclaim undisputed gold.
Now, the American finds himself in must-win territory as he looks to work his way back up and rebuild his World Title credentials.
Looking for a fresh start, the Mash Fight Team affiliate will return to the flyweight division to settle a grudge.
Standing in his way is Malachiev, the dangerous Dagestani destroyer who has been steadily climbing the divisional ladder since his ONE debut in June 2023.
The Russian athlete made an immediate impact by submitting Jeremy “The Jaguar” Miado in his first promotional appearance, showcasing the suffocating wrestling and underrated jiu-jitsu that made him a two-division Eagle FC Champion.
Malachiev’s only career defeat came in a closely contested battle against undisputed ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Joshua Pacio at ONE Fight Night 15 in October 2023. Rather than letting that setback derail his momentum, the Moscow-based fighter responded with authority.
Malachiev secured back-to-back victories over former titleholder Yosuke “The Ninja” Saruta and top-5 ranked Bokang “Little Giant” Masunyane, displaying his well-rounded arsenal and stone-cold composure under heavy pressure.
The bad blood between Malachiev and Brooks has been brewing for the past few years. The two have been exchanging heated words across social media and various interviews, with both men claiming superiority in the grappling department.
Now, they finally have the opportunity to settle their rivalry in the ring.
Brooks’ vast World Championship experience will be tested against Malachiev’s surging momentum. For “The Monkey God”, victory would represent the bounce-back performance he needs to revitalize his career.
On the other hand, Malachiev has the opportunity to continue his impressive run in ONE and establish himself as a force in the flyweight division.
Stay tuned to onefc.com for more news about ONE Fight Night 36.
