Will Brooks officially became a free agent today. He could sign with any of the plethora of MMA promotions across the globe, and he wasted no time. As reported first by MMAJunkie, former Bellator Lightweight Champion Will Brooks is UFC bound.
Will Brooks, A Big Addition For UFC
Brooks has long been looked at as one of the premier talents in the world not currently fighting under the UFC banner. The American Top Team fighter is 17-1. He has notable wins over Michael Chandler (twice), Dave Jansen and Saad Awad. His lone defeat came at the hands of the aforementioned Awad.
Along with the news of his signing, “Ill Will” officially has his first opponent inside the octagon. He will face-off with Ross Pearson, a veteran of 20 fights inside the promotion. The pair will battle, in a likely co-main event slot, at The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale event. The event takes place on July 8th. It is headlined by a women’s strawweight division title fight. Joanna Jedrzejczyk will defend her title in a rematch against her rival coach on TUF, Claudia Gadelha.
Bellator MMA’s Situation
Bellator released Will Brooks from his contract last month. An acrimonious relationship had developed between the fighter and the company. Since Brooks’ contract was due to end soon, the promotion “made a decision not to renew it” and released him early.
With the lightweight title vacated, Bellator has booked a bout between former lightweight champion Michael Chandler and Patricky “Pitbull” Freire to decide the new belt holder. That fight takes place next Friday at the company’s Dynamite 2 event.
Main Image:
Main Photo Caption: Mixed martial artist Will Brooks poses on arrival for the 2015 MTV Movie Awards on April 12, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. AFP PHOTO / FREDERIC J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)
