Former Bellator MMA Lightweight champion, Ill Will Brooks has found a home with the UFC. The news was first broken by MMA Junkie.
Brooks (17-1) signed a six-fight deal and wastes no time facing British UFC veteran Ross Pearson July 8th at The Ultimate Fighter Season 23 Finale.
Brooks was dropped from Bellator MMA in May while still being the current Lightweight champion. According to sources, Brooks didnt generate enough ratings, or have much fan appeal, for the Spike TV based promotion and was released to crown a new star.
However, Brooks can now test his mettle against the UFCs deep lightweight division, where Rafael dos Anjos is the current champion.
MMA has recently seen its stars shuttle between the top televised promotions as a new period of free agency has started for the sport. With high-level former UFC fighters now gong to Bellator after their contracts have expired, and vice versa, the landscape is ripe for new match-ups.
Brooks has long been an undervalued talent coming out of the American Top Team gym, even while a champion. This new chapter is bound to bring bigger challenges and exposure for the former champion.
