Jarred Brooks Wins Interim Strawweight MMA World Title, Secures Trilogy With Joshua Pacio
Jarred Brooks bagged the ONE Interim Strawweight MMA World Title to guarantee another shot at divisional king Joshua Pacio after he decimated Gustavo Balart at ONE Fight Night 24 on Prime Video.
On August 2 in U.S. primetime, the former undisputed titleholder needed less than one round to tear through his #3-ranked opponent at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
The two colossally confident athletes immediately collided at the center of the ring, where #1-ranked Brooks shot in, dragged his man to the canvas, and clung to his back like an octopus.
From there, “The Monkey God” swam his tentacles over, around, and through the arms of Balart until he was able to apply a rear-naked choke.
The American squeezed hard but Balart defended well until he could no longer defend at all. But before the Cuban could sink into unconsciousness, he tapped at the 4:39 mark of round one.
With the win, Brooks upped his professional record to 21-3, scored his 11th finish, and set up a World Title unification fight with Pacio. Along with the interim belt, he then received his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt in the ring from esteemed coach and multi-time IBJJF World Champion Alex Hodi.
In the 31-year-old’s post-fight interview with ONE Commentator Mitch Chilson, he celebrated by calling out both Pacio and ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Demetrious Johnson.
“I got two [belts], you got one, so let’s match it up,” Brooks said of Pacio before turning his attention to Johnson. “Watch me, I’m coming for you, brother.”
