Bellator’s lightweight champion Will Brooks will finally get the chance to defend his title. ESPN.com first reported on Wednesday that Brooks’ first title defense will come on April 10 against veteran fighter Dave Jansen at Bellator 136.
That event, Bellator confirmed to MMA Fighting, takes place at the Bren Events Center in Irvine, California.
Also announced for the card will be a middleweight fight between longtime kickboxer Joe Schilling (2-3) and Rafael Carvalho (10-3).
Brooks (15-1) defeated Michael Chandler for the vacated lightweight title this past November, backing up his upset victory over Chandler in May as a late-replacement for Eddie Alvarez. The 28-year old Brooks has won six fights in a row in Bellator dating back to 2013.
Jansen (20-2) scored a unanimous decision victory over Rick Hawn back in October. Since losing back-to-back fights in the WEC in 2010, “The Fugitive” has won seven fights in a row under the Bellator banner. He earned his title shot by winning the Season 7 Lightweight Tournament, scoring a victory over Marcin Held in the final.
Schilling is coming off of a violent knockout victory over Melvin Manhoef at Bellator 131. Splitting time as a kickboxer, Schilling is slated to compete on Friday night at Glory 19 against Robert Thomas in Hampton, Virginia.
The Brazilian Carvalho has won ten straight fights, including his Bellator debut against Brian Rogers at Bellator 125 in September.