Former ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Jarred Brooks is not a fan of fighters who disrespect him, and he wants to make an example out of his upcoming opponent.

“The Monkey God” is set to headline ONE Fight Night 24 on Friday, August 2, when he takes on Cuban sensation Gustavo “El Gladiador” Balart for the ONE Interim Strawweight MMA World Championship inside the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

Jarred Brooks fires back at Balart’s social media taunts

Known for his colorful trash-talking skills ahead of his fights, Brooks hasn’t appreciated Balart’s effort to make fun of him on social media. In an interview with ONE, the American wrestling sensation praised “El Gladiador” for already being a star in his own right but warned him that MMA is his world.

“Gustavo disrespected me on so many levels. Dude, I called this guy a boss baby. Then he puts his face on my body and says that he’s the real champion. OK, that’s very disrespectful,” Brooks said.

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He further added, “Whatever you’re trying to be, ‘Monkey God 2.0.’ No, bro. You’re not even close. You’re 37 years old. You’re an Olympian. You did what you did. But MMA is my game. I played wrestling when I was in college. And now I just go with that with that punch-kick style. You’re going to get everything.”

Balart is a decorated wrestler who has represented Cuba in various international competitions, including the Olympics. He later shifted his focus to mixed martial arts and has been enjoying a promising trajectory, with wins in his last four bouts.

Brooks’ battle against himself

Brooks is not one to discredit his opponents’ accomplishments. A former champion on his country’s talent-laden collegiate wrestling circuit, he recognizes that Balart is a hero. However, given his incredible 20-3 record in MMA, “The Monkey God” believes he is the superior fighter. And it’s tough to argue against him, especially given his three career defeats have come under unfortunate circumstances.

To this day, some fans believe he was the rightful winner of the split decision between him and former UFC champion Deiveson Figueiredo in 2017. He then knocked himself out against Jose Torres in 2018. And most recently, the American star lost the ONE Strawweight MMA World Title by disqualification after illegally slamming Joshua “The Passion” Pacio on his head in their rematch this past March.

As it appears, Brooks’ worst enemy is himself. Thus, whether or not he can claim the 26 pounds of interim strawweight MMA gold at ONE Fight Night 24 could greatly depend on how he controls his aggression – and not so much on the foe he’s facing.