Jarred Brooks’ Shot in the Dark

Jarred Brooks has never been one to shy away from thinking—or operating—outside the box.

The 30-year-old Mash Fight Team product will put his mixed martial arts pursuits on hold when he challenges Mikey Musumeci for the One Championship submission grappling flyweight title in the ONE on Prime Video 13 co-main event this Friday at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. In Musumeci, “The Monkey God” draws one of the world’s most accomplished and celebrated Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners without optimal time to prepare.

“I felt like I would’ve needed six months to get ready for Mikey,” Brooks said. “It was a little bit sooner for me, but the whole world can see that I can go in and possibly beat the best submission artist ever, even on three weeks’ notice. I’m defensively sound in ankle locks, as far as jiu-jitsu goes. It’s just that I haven’t really been put in those positions in mixed martial arts. When he grabs onto something, you have to make sure that you’re twisting out of it quickly, making sure that your knee line gets out of his hip line. Those are the things that I’m looking at as far as what Mikey has advantages in.

“I’m telling you, I’ve got a lot of surprises up my sleeve,” he added. “I’m not doing a jiu-jitsu match. He calls this a match. I’m fighting with this kid. I’m turning a jiu-jitsu match into a fight.”

A four-time gold medalist at the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation World Championships, Musumeci figures to have all his bases covered. The Marlboro, New Jersey, native has compiled a perfect 4-0 record since he linked arms with One Championship a little more than a year ago. Musumeci laid claim to the company’s inaugural flyweight crown in submission grappling when he was awarded a unanimous decision over Cleber Souza on Oct. 1. He has since retained the title in subsequent appearances against Bayanduuren Gantumur and Osamah Almarwai.

“His strengths are everywhere,” Brooks said. “He’s known as the best grappler of all-time, so I think that he’s good everywhere. The dude practices 12 hours a day, so it’s a scary thought that you’re going against somebody who has that mental state and that prowess. I know Mikey, and I know a lot of people that know Mikey, and like I said, I’ve got a couple of surprises for him.

“I think that I will be the most successful on the feet,” he added. “I mean, we’re starting on the feet. It’s not like he can butt scoot towards me, so I think that butt scooting stuff is for the birds in this matchup. I think that I’m just going to be as athletic as possible.”

Brooks has not competed since he struck One Championship flyweight gold in MMA with a five-round unanimous decision over Joshua Pacio at ONE 164 in December. An upset of Musumeci would certainly increase his earning potential and raise his already impressive profile.

“Man,” Brooks said, “if I can beat Mikey at his own game and beat him for the [title], I think then I can start to call my own shots, I mean, as far as going and doing these mixed-rules contests and stuff like that.”