Gustavo Balart says Joshua Pacio is 'the fight for the real championship' and not Jarred Brooks

Third-ranked Gustavo Balart wants Joshua Pacio's scalp should he walk out of ONE Fight Night 24 as the ONE interim strawweight MMA world champion.

The American Top Team athlete faces Jarred Brooks in the main event of the card, which emanates live from the legendary Lumpinee Stadium on August 2.

Should he get his hand raised in Bangkok, Thailand, the three-time Pan-American Greco-Roman wrestling champion says his radar will be locked on one target – a world title unification war against 'The Passion.'

During a post-training interview with SerEbro EnlosDeportes, Gustavo Balart said:

"I really feel that the fight for me after this one is the fight for the real championship because we already are two of the best in the division."

Watch the full interview here:

While he has eyes on the divisional king, the Cuban Olympian will not overlook his opposite number, a former titleholder and the division's top-ranked contender, who has been in top shape through his ONE Championship campaign.

After all, 'The Monkey God' is a man on a mission, having tasted a disqualification loss to Pacio that forced him off his throne at ONE 166: Qatar this past March.

With that defeat still looming on his mind, the Mash Fight Team representative promises to bring an evolved version heading into his ONE Fight Night 24 assignment.

However, 'El Gladiador' – a victor in his last four fights in the promotion – isn't going to simply let Brooks steal the headlines and quit without putting up a fight.

The 37-year-old has gone from strength to strength throughout his four-year unbeaten run, and he's all fired up to make headway towards the strawweight crown.

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Jarred Brooks impressed by Gustavo Balart's heart despite size disadvantage

Brooks believes Gustavo Balart, who stands at 4-foot-11, makes up for where he lacks in size in a myriad of other ways.

In a separate interview with Sportskeeda MMA, the former strawweight kingpin noted:

"I mean some people say it's not the size of the boat, but the motion of the ocean. And yeah, this definitely applies to him."

"He's got good motion and he always puts in the work, the discipline, and things needed for winning."

North American fans with an active Amazon Prime Video subscription can catch the two duke out in the main event of ONE Fight Night 24 live in U.S. primetime on Friday, August 2.