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Will Brooks signs with UFC, debuts July 8th

June 15, 2016 by Jason Cruz 9 Comments

The UFC has signed former Bellator lightweight champion Will Brooks.  His first fight comes in less than a month as he faces Ross Pearson on July 8th at the TUF 23 Finale in Las Vegas.

Brooks replaces James Krause.  Off of a two fight win streak, Krause pulled out of the fight earlier this week.

Despite being the lightweight champion of the promotion, he was released last month.  Brooks had been vocal (mostly via social media) about his stay with the promotion.  Many perceived the fighter as a malcontent.  Scott Coker terminated Brooks’ contract and waived all negotiation rights which allowed Brooks to pursue a UFC contract and fight with the promotion almost immediately.

The last reported salary for Brooks was $36,000 to show and $36,000 to win in April 2015.  He had another fight in November 2015 although I was unable to obtain that salary.  So, he may have made a little more than the $72K total from last April.

Payout Perspective:

It will be interesting to see what type of salary Brooks will make in the UFC.  I don’t think he will be paid as much as Eddie Alvarez received from the outset when he began with the company.  One has to think it will be a pay cut at the start.  However, if he is truly a top fighter in the lightweight division, I would think that he would be able to ascend in salary sooner than later.

Filed Under: contracts, UFC

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. fight fan says

    June 15, 2016 at 3:47 pm

    Not sure if anyone caught this yet, but looks like the sale may be coming

    https://www.yahoo.com/news/rumors-surrounding-ufc-sale-heating-134420739.html

    Reply
  2. E TOPS says

    June 16, 2016 at 3:38 am

    People complain about Dana, about fighters pay, Reebok,USADA,etc. well you about to get your wish. I think for the UFC, its best for business to be under a huge umbrella.

    Reply
  3. tops E says

    June 16, 2016 at 3:52 am

    Hahaha….dw pied piper leaving followers?

    Reply
  4. Jason Cruz says

    June 16, 2016 at 7:20 am

    @FF

    Yes, the bids will be revealed today. $4B is said to be the sale price.

    Reply
  5. Random Dude says

    June 16, 2016 at 11:02 am

    Good move by the UFC to pick up Will Brooks. Horrible move by Bellator to let him go.

    Word on the street is that the Fertitta brothers want to get an NFL team in Las Vegas, especially with an NHL team coming now.

    Seems especially true given that Lorenzo’s son is at the beginning of college football at Notre Dame.

    Reply
  6. E TOPS says

    June 16, 2016 at 12:13 pm

    Remember all this debt talk Tops E always talking about.

    1. Obviously, the groups looking to buy UFC pass $4 billion don’t care about a small debt. Its cupcakes to them.

    2.. Fertittas and Dana White cash out and became richer.

    3. Tops E………..still waiting for PBC to turn a profit.

    Reply
  7. tops E says

    June 16, 2016 at 2:38 pm

    I thought the ufc will be bigger than the nfl? Hahahaha….

    Reply
  8. tops E says

    June 16, 2016 at 3:05 pm

    http://espn.go.com/mma/story/_/id/16258572/bidding-buy-ufc-drawing-closer-conclusion…..ultimate fighting china

    Reply
  9. tops E says

    June 16, 2016 at 3:07 pm

    Hahaha…will dw diciples make any of this money? it is after all a movement to the promised land— which is china hahahaha…no wonder fanboys dont want to discuss it theyre employed by the ufc

    Reply

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