“He is trying to be me” - Jarred Brooks says Mansur Malachiev’s attempts at trash talk are "cringe"

ONE interim strawweight MMA world champion 'The Monkey God' Jarred Brooks isn't buying into Mansur Malachiev's hype, and says the Russian's brand of trash talk makes his skin crawl.

Brooks dug into Malachiev after the latter called out the brash American, following his victory over Bokang Masunyane last month.

'The Monkey God' told Sportskeeda MMA in an exclusive interview that he finds Malachiev just a mere copycat.

Brooks said:

"I think he wants to be me and be where I’m at indefinitely. He is trying to be me so bad it’s cringe, [to be honest]."

Malachiev scored a three-round unanimous decision over Masunyane at ONE Fight Night 25: Nicolas vs. Eersel II on Prime Video earlier this month, boosting his stock among the strawweight MMA elite.

With that victory, the Russian has now moved into the no. 2 spot and is next in line for a world title shot.

Needless to say, Malachiev and Brooks appear to be on a collision course, and after a few years of back and forth between the two, they could lock horns soon enough.

Jarred Brooks says Mansur Malachiev simply isn't worthy of sharing the cage with him: "I’m on a different level"

If it were up to Jarred Brooks, he believes potential opponent Mansur Malachiev has no business being in the Circle with him, because he feels the Russian star simply is a cut below him.

'The Monkey God' told Sportskeeda MMA:

"Everyone says we look alike, skill-wise. But we are not the same. I’m on a different level."

Jarred Brooks is one of the most dominant strawweight MMA fighters in ONE Championship history. He has beaten the majority of fighters in ONE's strawweight top five, sans Malachiev and Japan's Keito Yamakita.

Stay tuned to Sportskeeda MMA for all the latest news and updates surrounding this potential strawweight MMA showdown.