MMA is a sport, but it’s also entertainment.
This adage has not been lost on Jarred Brooks. The wrestler turned elite fighter blasted onto the scene last November in the main event of ONE: NexGen III by submitting top strawweight contender Lito Adiwang in the second round and subsequently called out Hiroba Minowa and divisional champion Joshua Pacio in the post-fight interview.
“You gotta sell fights,” Brooks told The AllStar. “It’s kinda like the poles shift[ing] a little bit. I’m not trying to talk crap or anything like that I’m just here to speak my truths. At the end of the day, people can call it talking trash all they want but I’m glad that people are starting to realize that there’s a business side to this game and you gotta draw viewers in because everybody has seen a fight.”
His wish was granted. The organization booked Brooks against Minowa for January 28 at ONE: Only The Brave in Singapore. The American views this matchup as a title eliminator for the strawweight crown.
The Monkey God
“The Monkey God” is not overlooking his Japanese opponent and has assiduously studied him from beginning to end. He understands every side of Minowa.
“He’s not a first-round fighter, he’s a third-round fighter,” Brooks said. “You gotta come correct. Very tactical. People don’t give him enough credit for what he’s actually done in the amount of time that he has. He’s been fighting since he was like eight [years old] in junior Shooto. I’ve definitely done my research on Hiroba and he has a lot of things that I have to worry about but he has a lot of things to worry about as well.
“We have to see how the fight plays out. A fighter can be different depending on who he goes against. He might shine against people that are really, really good. I’m not saying that he’s just going to look like crap in the first round and give me things. But if he does do that, he’s going to be in some major trouble.
“No disrespect or anything like that but he’s going to figure out that I’m not in there to play any games. And I saw that Chatri [Sidyotong, ONE Championship Chairman] just put out 150,000USD in the last ONE Championship event. I’m looking for that 50,000USD and I’m looking for a title shot so you’re in my way Hiroba and you’re gonna get it.”
The 28-year-old Brooks will be looking to take advantage of Minowa’s timid demeanor and slow starter characteristic. He plans to keep the judges out of the equation.
“At the end of the day, he knows I’m gonna put a grown man ass-kicking on him, Brooks revealed.
“I’m gonna finish him in the second round or earlier in the first. He’s gonna feel my power and he’s gonna feel my strength and I think that’s what’s gonna make him not wanna be in the fight.”
Fighter profile
Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks is a 28 year old male fighter from United States with 17 pro wins and 2 losses. Brooks is scheduled to fight Hiroba Minowa at ONE Championship: Only the Brave on Friday January 28, 2022.
Brooks’s recent form coming into this matchup
Brooks has gone 4-0 in the last 5 professional MMA fights.
- Win vs Lito Adiwang • Submission R2 3:07 • 2021-11-26
- Win vs Haruo Ochi • Decision R3 5:00 • 2019-12-28
- Win vs Victor Altamirano • Submission R2 4:19 • 2019-10-30
- No Contest vs Haruo Ochi • R1 0:10 • 2019-08-18
- Win vs Roberto Sanchez • Decision R3 5:00 • 2018-09-08
