LAS VEGAS — The UFC has signed veteran lightweight Will Brooks to a multi-fight contract after Bellator released its reigning champion last month.
Brooks will make his UFC debut July 8 in Las Vegas against Ross Pearson, the mixed martial arts promotion announced Wednesday (Thursday, Manila time).
Brooks (17-1) won the Bellator lightweight title in 2014 and defended the belt twice in 2015, but Bellator took the unusual step of stripping his title and making him a free agent in May after Brooks' repeated public criticism of the promotion.
Brooks has won eight consecutive fights. He will enter the UFC's crowded 155-pound division with a bout against the veteran Pearson (19-10) on the undercard of The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
