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Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks is a person on a mission. He’ll even let you know so.
The American blended martial artist has the ONE Strawweight World Title in his sights, and he took an enormous step towards that purpose by submitting Filipino rising star Lito “Thunder Child” Adiwang in his promotional debut at ONE: NEXTGEN III in November.
That victory captured the eye of the worldwide fan base, earned Brooks the #3 spot within the strawweight rankings, and made him a critical risk to reigning king Joshua “The Ardour” Pacio, who trains with Adiwang at Staff Lakay.
Brooks actually closed out 2021 with a bang, and he plans to construct off his momentum within the new yr. On this interview with ONEFC.com, the previous wrestling star relives his dominant victory over Adiwang, addresses some in-fight controversy, and directs selection phrases towards a few rivals within the sport.
ONE Championship: There have been loads of feelings going into your match with Lito Adiwang. Take us again to that point. What was it like for you throughout occasion week?
Jarred Brooks: Yeah, it was tough to get there. I bought [to Singapore] a day and a half earlier than the battle, and I needed to quarantine for 12 hours. After which on the weigh-in day, I simply weighed in, did all my PR and media stuff the day earlier than, after which went straight into the battle.
I bought to sleep perhaps eight hours out of that 48 hours. We initially misplaced our flight to Japan, so we bought redirected to London. After which we had a 10-hour layover in London. After I stated, “Pinch me, I really feel like I’m dreaming,” I actually felt like I used to be dreaming.
ONE: How about your debut? What was it prefer to lastly meet Lito within the Circle?
JB: Within the cage once I felt Lito, proper once I felt him so far as grappling sensible, I used to be like, ‘Okay, I believe that is [going to be] easy crusing for me.’
I used to be simply actually making an attempt to see the place he was, so far as a striker. You already know me, man. If I’m going towards the perfect striker on the planet, I’m going to grapple them. And if I’m going towards the perfect grapplers on the planet, then I’m going to strike them. It’s simply how the sport goes.
I wouldn’t say Lito was a weaker opponent than I anticipated, however he was quite a bit simpler than I believed it was going to be. However yeah, it was an awesome battle, and it couldn’t have gone any higher, in my view.
ONE: After the layoff you had, and this being your first time in ONE, how necessary was that win for you?
JB: I’m not normally eager on going loopy after a win, but when I’m in a giant group, and I wish to push myself to get to greater heights so far as a fan base, then I bought to make myself recognized. So, that’s the largest key.
I believe I’ve the blended martial arts half down. It’s simply largely making an attempt to construct followers and making an attempt to maintain interacting with my followers.
ONE: By ending Lito and being so dominant in that match, do you suppose that despatched a message to the opposite ranked contenders within the division?
JB: I believe all people within the division knew who I used to be earlier than I bought in there. However I’m right here now. So, anyone that wishes to return in and check themselves, I’m keen to point out them.
ONE: Not too long ago, Mark Sangiao stated to the Philippine media that Lito didn’t hit you within the groin. Do you’ve any remark about that?
JB: Effectively, I imply, that’s been stated the entire time, proper? He’s been saying that, each Filipino fan goes and saying that too.
So, I don’t wish to come out within the open and say that I’m dominating any individual, however yeah, I used to be dominating him the entire time. I had him in a entrance headlock, and you’ll hear the cup. So I’m like, ‘What are they speaking about right here?’ You see my face after too. Yeah, he kicked me within the leg with a shin, however he kneed me within the groin.
Nothing towards Staff Lakay, okay, however it looks like each time Lito loses, they’ve an excuse. Just like the final time with [Hiroba] Minowa, I don’t suppose Minowa essentially tapped. It didn’t appear to be he tapped.
I dominated your boy, and I believe you’re simply mad about it. You wish to make each excuse within the e book why it occurred, like why it didn’t go your means. I imply, if it occurred to me, I might have nonetheless been in good graces. I might have nonetheless been like, ‘Lito, you probably did a great job. You went out and did your job.’
Mark is a superb coach however simply persist with teaching.
ONE: Now that you’ve a giant win beneath your belt and entered the rankings, who’s the subsequent individual you wish to compete towards?
JB: Minowa’s a great battle for me. He’s younger. I believe that might be a great check for me, preventing any individual that’s within the high 4 that’s suitable.
We each beat Lito. We had the identical opponent, and he beat Alex Silva too. He beat two of the highest guys. I believe that it’s solely proper that we try this first after which make that fairly boy [Joshua Pacio] look a bit uglier.
ONE: Talking of the champ, having simply dominated certainly one of his teammates and listening to the feedback by their coach, do you suppose he’ll wish to achieve some redemption for Staff Lakay?
JB: Yeah, there’s that stress beneath him to must win for his staff. Josh has a preventing IQ, and I perceive that he has a preventing IQ. However on the finish of the day, it is a chess match, and I believe I’ve been doing blended martial arts – the entire blended martial arts – greater than Josh in comparison with his wushu background and stuff like that.
I believe it is going to be a brilliant thrilling battle when it occurs. I’ve to get previous Minowa first. Minowa’s been doing the operating sport for a short while, and I’m going to Arnold Schwarzenegger him.
ONE: Put in your matchmaker cap and design your good 2022. What number of occasions do you wish to compete and towards who?
JB: I’m one battle away from preventing Josh. I believe that Minowa’s primary on the listing. Then we go from there, and we bought Pacio. And that’s as much as him. That’s only a ready sport. I’m able to battle proper after Hiroba, if he needs to go.
However he must get actually, actually ready. I actually wish to have a great battle with Josh, and I don’t need it to essentially go the space, however I wish to really feel that factor behind my head like, ‘Oh, yeah, this man’s actually good.’ You already know?
I’m within the high three. I can do no matter I would like. I really feel like I’m free-range out right here, man. So yeah, be careful, high 5 – anyone on this strawweight division. I really feel like I’m a person on a mission. I’m seeing tunnel imaginative and prescient. I’m right here for it, man.
Learn extra: Adiwang Thinks Loss To Brooks Will Set off ‘Nice Comeback’ In 2022
