"You just focus on that guy" - Jarred Brooks relieved he'll face a new challenge after tedious rivalry with Joshua Pacio

While Jarred Brooks understands his career will always be intertwined with Joshua Pacio, it's still nice to take a breather from his longtime nemesis.

Brooks has had 'The Passion' in his mind for the last two years, where they figured in two memorable battles. Needless to say, their rivalry is far from over, especially after the controversial nature of their last encounter.

While a trilogy seems inevitable, Brooks will gladly wait as the strawweight MMA world champion recuperates from a knee injury.

In lieu of the Filipino's recovery, 'The Monkey God' will vie for the interim strap against the third-ranked Gustavo Balart in the finale of ONE Fight Night 24 on August 2 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

For Brooks, this change in opponent is quite a breath of fresh air. The Mash Fight Team affiliate said in an appearance on FightWave's YouTube channel:

"When you go against this kind of opponent for almost like two years, there's no incubation. There's no getting better. You just focus on this guy."

Watch the full interview:

Jarred Brooks and Pacio technically own a win over the other. The American dethroned the Lions Nation MMA star back in 2022. However, he lost the title in the rematch via disqualification due to an illegal slam at ONE 166 last March.

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Jarred Brooks says rough upbringing toughened him up for the challenges of life

Adversity is nothing new for Jarred Brooks. The 31-year-old overcame a lot in life to make a name for himself in the home of martial arts.

As such, the former strawweight MMA kingpin won't let some bumps along the way dampen his spirit.

"Nothing ever makes me lose hope. People think I'm some rich white kid, but no, I've had a rough lifestyle," he told Sherdog.

ONE Fight Night 24 will air live in US Primetime, free of charge for Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada.