Former Bellator lightweight champion Will Brooks has signed with the UFC, it was announced today, and is set to make his debut against Ross Pearson at The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale on July 8, in the first of a six fight contract.
MMAjunkie broke the news earlier today, and the details have been confirmed by the UFC.
Brooks was, for a brief time, perhaps the biggest name in free agency after being released from his Bellator contract earlier this year. The Illinois native had been a part of a public falling out with Bellator brass for the best part of the last year, claiming he was under appreciated and as such, under motivated.
In an interview with MMAFighting’s Ariel Helwani, Brooks cited a feeling of needing to achieve bigger goals on a larger stage as a contributing factor to the ill will.
“I’m going to be honest with everybody, when I first got into this sport, I wanted to be a UFC lightweight champion,” Brooks said The MMA Hour. “That’s what I wanted to be, and I cannot lie about that. Earlier in my career, that opportunity didn’t present itself but the opportunity to fight for Bellator did, so I flipped my goals.
“I flipped the mindset that I was in at that time, and I said, ‘listen, I’m going to be the best fighter that I can be for Bellator, I’m going to be a Bellator lightweight champion.’ I accomplished that goal. That was a goal I set. I accomplished that goal, and now I want to move on to my next goal if that opportunity presents itself.”
Following those statements, along with further difficult negotiations Bellator President Scott Coker released Brooks, who at the time was the current Bellator Lightweight champion, from his contract in May.
At the time, Coker stated that “[The decision] was very simple, Will Brooks’ contract is ending, and we made a decision not to renew it. We’re going to give him a full release, so we’re not going to be in the Will Brooks business any longer.”
Brooks is currently riding an eight fight win streak upon entering the UFC, including two notable victories over Michael Chandler. He’ll be meeting Ross Pearson in his debut, who will provide a decent litmus test for Brooks in the bigger promotion.
Pearson has alternated wins and losses in his last eight fights, and most recently was seen defeating Chad Laprise via split decision in March. Pearson is currently unranked according to the UFC Rankings. Should Brooks starch him, however, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Brooks face against top ten opponents sooner rather than later.
The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale takes place July 8 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena.
The night’s official bout order has yet to be set, but the evening’s main card airs on FOX Sports 1 following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass. The event will be headlined by Joanna Jedrzejczyk, who defends her strawweight championship against rival Claudia Gadelha. The two are the most recent coaches of The Ultimate Fighter, and supposedly came to blows moments after filming finished, following a tumultuous relationship all season.
