“This isn't just a game play” - Jarred Brooks says Gustavo Balart will realize he is ‘not a better fighter’

Former ONE strawweight MMA world champion and current number 1 contender Jarred Brooks of the US has been going back and forth with upcoming opponent 'El Gladiador' Gustavo Balart in a bid to entice fans to their matchup this weekend.

But that's all coming to a head soon, according to the 31-year-old Mash Fight Team representative.

Speaking to ONE Championship in a recent interview, Brooks said he is eager to prove to the world and Balart that he is simply on another level.

Brooks said:

"So I think that it might be a little bit easier with Gustavo, but this is a feeling out process, bro. This isn't just a game play. Everybody goes out with a game plan and then they get hit in the face and something happens. I know in the back of my head that Gustavo is not a better fighter than me. Technically, even when he was younger, he wasn't there. He's never gonna be there."

Jarred Brooks is coming off a failed world title defense at ONE 166: Qatar last March, where he lost via disqualification and surrendered his ONE gold to Joshua 'The Passion' Pacio.

But Brooks has a chance to erase the sting of that defeat by beating Balart and capturing gold yet again.

Jarred Brooks to battle Gustavo Balart for interim strawweight MMA belt at ONE Fight Night 24 on Prime Video

Former strawweight MMA world champion Jarred Brooks will face Cuban Olympic wrestler 'El Gladiador' Gustavo Balart for the ONE interim strawweight MMA world title.

The two lock horns in the main event of ONE Fight Night 24: Brooks vs. Balart on Prime Video, which airs live from the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday, August 2.

North American Amazon Prime Video subscribers can catch all the action live and absolutely free. Stay tuned to Sportskeeda MMA for all the updates coming from fight week.