Former ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Jarred Brooks will look to rebound from his recent title unification setback when he faces Russian grappler Mansur Malachiev in flyweight MMA action at ONE Fight Night 36: Prajanchai vs. Di Bella II on Friday, October 3, live from Bangkok, Thailand. The 32-year-old American wrestler continues his campaign in the flyweight division while maintaining his desire for another crack at undisputed ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Joshua Pacio, who leads their rivalry 2-1 following Brooks’ TKO defeat in their title unification bout.
Jarred Brooks Reveals Malachiev Camp Has Slid Into his DMs
The Mash Fight Team representative disclosed an extensive campaign of psychological warfare from his Russian opponent and his team leading up to their flyweight clash. Jarred Brooks revealed that Malachiev has been persistently trying to get inside his head through direct messages on social media over the past year.
“The past year and a half, this guy’s been sending me direct messages. He doesn’t really understand English that much, but he’s just trying to get into my head. His whole team has been sending me messages and all that stuff,” Jarred Brooks revealed about the buildup to their contest.
The psychological tactics suggest Malachiev views “The Monkey God” as a high-value target, recognizing the American’s status as the #1-ranked strawweight contender and former two-time champion. Jarred Brooks’ wrestling background and five victories in ONE Championship make him a formidable opponent for any flyweight competitor.
Jarred Brooks Identifies Technical Weaknesses In Rival’s Armor
Jarred Brooks provided a detailed analysis of Malachiev’s fighting tendencies, specifically targeting the 33-year-old’s defensive vulnerabilities around submission attempts. “The Monkey God” believes his opponent’s Dagestani wrestling style creates exploitable openings for finishing sequences.
“He leaves his neck out because he is very ‘guillotinable’. He likes to tire his opponents out by letting them push forward and try to finish at a pace that he’s used to,” the American explained his tactical assessment.
Malachiev brings a 13-1 record, along with three ONE Championship victories, into this flyweight contest, including a notable finish of Jeremy Miado in his promotional debut in June 2023. The Russian’s wrestling-heavy approach could create an intriguing stylistic clash against the American’s own grappling credentials.
Pacio Remains Jarred Brooks’ Primary Target
Despite suffering his most recent defeat to Pacio in their title unification bout this past February, Brooks made clear that the Filipino champion remains firmly in his crosshairs. The former interim titleholder expressed unwavering determination to secure another opportunity against the man who handed him his latest setback.
“I did lose. That’s OK, but I’ll be damned if I’m not going to come back. I’m a dog that gets bitten, and then I’m gonna bite you back three times as hard. So ,I’m not worried about what other people have to say, but at the end of the day, Joshua Pacio is still on my hit list,” Jarred Brooks declared with obvious conviction.
This marks Brooks’ second fight in the flyweight division since making his ONE Championship debut in 2021. Victory over Malachiev could position him for bigger opportunities while maintaining his options for an eventual return to strawweight competition.
ONE Fight Night 36 airs live on Prime Video on Friday, October 3. The action begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. The event is free for all Amazon Prime subscribers in the U.S. and Canada.
