Rewind your mind to January 1, 2014. Now answer who are the top 10 lightweights in the world. No, scratch that—who are the top 20 lightweights in the world?
The majority of people wouldn’t include Will Brooks on that list. Fast forward 11 months, and suddenly he has revealed himself to be one of the elite lightweights regardless of promotion. His Bellator 131 victory on Saturday cemented Brooks as an elite lightweight.
He debuted for Bellator in 2013. He won his first bout and then was knocked out in less than a minute by Saad Awad.
He rebounded with four straight wins including a decision over Awad to get a bit of revenge for his lone professional loss. He went 5-1 in 2013. Entering 2014 he may have had some eyes watching him as a rising prospect but not as a true top lightweight.
With Eddie Alvarez falling out of his title defense against Michael Chandler, Brooks stepped in and announced himself to the world.
It wasn’t that he beat Chandler; it was that he was very impressive in doing so. He took a split decision and became the interim lightweight champion of Bellator. Brooks jumped to the forefront of the organization’s lightweight division with one win.
Alvarez left the company for the UFC, which set up a rematch between Brooks and Chandler for the undisputed Bellator crown.
Brooks put a stamp on his rise up the ranks with a fourth-round TKO at Bellator 131. He put forth one of the most impressive performances of the night and established himself as one of the best lightweights in the world. It was a victory that he and Bellator needed.
The American Top Team product won’t get a chance to test his skills against the UFC’s stable of lightweights, and Bellator’s divisions are fairly thin right now. Regardless, his talent is undeniable. He is a well-rounded fighter with finishing abilities.
At 28 years old, Brooks is in his athletic prime.
The exciting thing about the Chicago native is that he is still learning at a rapid pace. He only made his MMA debut in 2011, and under the tutelage of American Top Team he has grown leaps and bounds in a short amount of time.
Brooks is a charismatic fighter whom Bellator can build upon. He will be a star under the new management. Bellator 131’s production values showed a commitment to making the promotion a global player on the MMA scene, and Brooks will be one of the faces of the company.
This sport can change rapidly, and Brooks’ quick rise is an example of that. With six consecutive victories, he has shown the MMA world he belongs on any top-10 list. He did it by challenging himself and taking the tough fights when offered. And winning them.
Brooks is the best lightweight in Bellator and one of the few elite 155-pounders in the world today.
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