Gustavo Balart talks about his biggest motivation in life: “They are the reason why I get up and fight”

Veteran Cuban fighter Gustavo Balart has his family serving as the motor that keeps him going in MMA. He is turning to his loved ones again for motivation when he goes out and competes in what could be his biggest fight to date this week.

'El Gladiador' will try to realize his world championship dreams when he vies for the interim strawweight championship belt at ONE Fight Night 24 on Prime Video on Aug. 2 in Bangkok, Thailand.

He will go up against former ONE strawweight world champion Jarred Brooks in the headlining contest of the event happening at the famed Lumpinee Stadium. It will air live and for free in U.S. primetime to North American fans with an active Amazon Prime Video subscription.

In an interview with ONE Championship ahead of his marquee title match, Gustavo Balart turned sentimental as he talked about his family and how they factor in his fighting career.

The 37-year-old warrior said:

"It has been a huge sacrifice for me. I have my family in my mind every second of the day. Thinking of my daughters is what gives me strength to go on. They are the reason why I get up and fight, even if I feel that I can no longer do it. I think having my family here with me would be the best thing I could achieve."

Gustavo Balart comes into ONE Fight Night 24 with a lot of momentum, winning his last four fights, with the most recent back in January against fellow strawweight contender Hiroba Minowa of Japan by split decision.

Looking to stop his ascent is Brooks, who lost the strawweight gold in his last fight against Filipino rival Joshua Pacio by disqualification (illegal slam) and is gunning for redemption.

ONE Championship is holding an interim strawweight championship match with Pacio out indefinitely to recover from the ACL injury he sustained even before he took on Brooks.

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Gustavo Balart ready to take his place in roster of ONE champions

Gustavo Balart said now is the time for him to take his place as a world titleholder in ONE Championship. He is determined to go for it when he competes for the interim strawweight belt at ONE Fight Night 24 on Prime Video on Aug. 2 in Thailand.

Standing in his way is a formidable opponent in Jarred Brooks, the former divisional king who is out for redemption. However he is undeterred by it and hell-bent on seeing his world title dreams through.

He shared on the SerEnro EnlosDeportes podcast:

"Yes, I feel this is my moment. This is my moment. He (Brooks) was already a champion, he had his moment. And I 100 percent feel this way."

Watch the full interview below:

Gustavo Balart has been a professional MMA fighter for nearly a decade now and has an overall win-loss record of 12-4.