After years of intense exchanges online, former ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks is set to face his Russian rival Mansur Malachiev in the ONE Championship ring.
Their heated rivalry will culminate in a flyweight MMA clash at ONE Fight Night 36: Prajanchai vs. Di Bella II, scheduled for Friday, October 3, at the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, airing live during U.S. primetime.
What started as light-hearted banter between two elite grapplers has intensified into a personal feud, with Brooks emphasizing American wrestling prowess and Malachiev championing Dagestani skills.
Their competitive back-and-forth has since devolved into personal jabs on social media and interview settings, escalating to threatening direct messages.
Brooks shared insights into Malachiev’s psychological tactics, saying, “For the past year and a half, this guy has been messaging me. He might not fully grasp English, but he’s trying to rattle me. His entire team is also involved.” He commented, “While I find his fighting style quirky, he does possess a typical Dagestani approach with dangerous spinning kicks and hooks.”
Despite recognizing Malachiev’s strengths, Brooks approaches this matchup with immense confidence. As the #1-ranked strawweight MMA contender, he has analyzed his #2-ranked opponent extensively, pinpointing vulnerabilities to exploit right from the start.
This fight presents an opportunity for redemption for Brooks after two consecutive losses. At 32, he is transitioning to flyweight for the second time, viewing this as a fresh beginning to silence his critics.
Brooks Aims to Reclaim Lost Glory
Brooks’ ongoing rivalry with the reigning ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio remains unresolved. Their trilogy ended with Pacio’s shocking comeback victory that left Brooks heartbroken at ONE 171: Qatar in February.
A win against Mansur Malachiev could pave the way for Brooks to challenge Pacio again for the strawweight title. “I’ve faced setbacks, but I’m determined to bounce back stronger. Joshua Pacio remains on my radar,” he asserted.
Pacio is set to attempt becoming a two-division MMA World Champion when he faces newly crowned flyweight king Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri on November 16.
While acknowledging Pacio’s skill, Brooks refuses to back down. “If I don’t get another shot at Pacio, I’ll prove myself against others until the opportunity arises again. I respect him as a champion, but I have something to prove, and that makes me a formidable opponent.”
