‘Not As Strong A Wrestler As They Think’ – Mansur Malachiev Plans To Expose Jarred Brooks At ONE Fight Night 36
After two years of heated exchanges and broken promises, Mansur Malachiev is finally getting his chance to silence Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks.
The #2-ranked strawweight MMA contender will make his flyweight debut against the former ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion at ONE Fight Night 36: Prajanchai vs. Di Bella II on Friday, October 3, airing live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok, Thailand.
For Malachiev, this isn’t just another fight – it’s the culmination of a rivalry that began when Brooks made a promise he never kept.
Following Malachiev’s impressive first-round submission of Jeremy Miado in June 2023 in his debut outing, the two wrestlers have engaged in a war of words that has captivated fans.
Brooks recently claimed that his upcoming opponent and his team have been sending him direct messages in an attempt to get inside his head, but the Russian contender sees their upcoming showdown as a simple matter of settling their differences where it counts.
The 33-year-old Dagestani wrestler recalled:
“Yes, he’s a chatterbox, because he told me in my debut fight in ONE that if I win this fight, he’ll fight me next since he was the champion at the time. He ended up throwing around disrespectful language, which is why I called him just a big mouth.
“We’ll decide that in the (ring) and settle all the issues that have been raised.”
The move to flyweight represents new territory for the Russian, who has built his reputation in the strawweight division with dominant performances against elite competition.
After suffering a unanimous decision loss to current ONE Strawweight MMA World Champion Joshua Pacio in his second promotional appearance, the Dagestani bounced back with impressive victories over former titleholder Yosuke Saruta and #3-ranked Bokang Masunyane in 2024.
Now, stepping up in weight to face Brooks, Malachiev explained that the weight class is irrelevant when it comes to achieving his ultimate goal.
The Russian contender offered:
“Yes, this is a new weight class for me, but Brooks also fought at 56.5 (kilograms). The weight class doesn’t matter to me. The main thing is to take my belt with the best organization in the world, so I’ll be ready for anything.
“Everything is going well because this is a new weight class and there’s no need to rush.”
While a ONE World Title won’t be on the line when he faces Brooks, Malachiev admitted that fighting the former divisional king still provides significant motivation, especially given their heated history.
He said:
“Of course, if it were for the belt, I’d be even more motivated, but my focus is still on winning, and that’s the most important thing. Brooks held the belt for a long time, and I consider him stronger than the others in the strawweight division.”
Malachiev Promises To Expose Brooks’ Wrestling
Mansur Malachiev’s confidence heading into his clash with Jarred Brooks stems from a deep belief in his grappling superiority – and he’s eager to prove it at ONE Fight Night 36.
The Dagestani wrestler who carries a 13-1 professional record into the bout has made a bold prediction about what fans can expect when two of the strawweight division’s elite grapplers finally collide in a different weightclass.
Speaking about Brooks’ reputation as one of the division’s most dominant wrestlers, Malachiev issued a challenge that is sure to raise eyebrows.
He declared:
“I’ll tell the fans: in the fight with me, they’ll see that he’s not as strong a wrestler as they think.
“I’m trying my best to keep my emotions in check, because in Dagestan [Russia], we’re taught to respect everyone. But this is sport, and I like to prove everything in the (ring), not talk outside.”
The Dagestani predicts that Brooks will attempt to impose his pressure-heavy style from the opening bell, but he’s confident in his ability to neutralize that approach.
With his wrestling pedigree and confidence at an all-time high, Malachiev is expecting a tough battle but believes his grappling credentials will prove superior when they enter the ring.
Malachiev explained:
“I think he’ll try to pressure me. Well, if I let him do it, of course.
“Yes, I expect a tough fight, but I’ll be ready for anything to win, as my wrestling has always been the best in my career.”
When asked for his prediction on how the fight will end, Malachiev kept it simple while acknowledging a higher power.
He concluded:
“My prediction: I’ll win. Of course, if the Almighty so wills. I’ll tell my opponent to be ready for anything. And, I’ll tell the fans not to blink, as the fight will be spectacular and very interesting.”
