This weekend is stacked with mixed martial arts action. The UFC, World Series of Fighting, and Bellator all have major events planned. But looking at all the cards planned for the weekend, Bellator lightweight champion Will Brooks might be the biggest fighter on the upcoming docket. And if he can win at Bellator 136 and look spectacular doing so, “Ill Will” will be one step closer to becoming a larger star in the sport.
Brooks is fighting at a time when MMA doesn’t have a major star holding a lightweight title. When Rafael dos Anjos soundly defeated Anthony Pettis at UFC 185, he snatched away all of the momentum “Showtime” had mustered. Justin Gaethje toils under the dimmer lights of the WSOF stage. In Brooks, Bellator has the opportunity to finally have the kind of champion they’ve coveted for a long time.
“[I plan on] making sure people understand this is not something that just happened,” Brooks told Tristen Critchfield of Sherdog.com. “This is a long story; I’m going to be around for a very long time, and I’m always going to get better. This is just the beginning for me. People are going to see not just what I do in mixed martial arts, but what I do outside of mixed martial arts.”
Brooks’ defense against Dave Jansen at Bellator 136 is the place to start. Brooks’ had some highlight reel moments in both of his wins over Michael Chandler, and adding a spectacular finish over an MMA veteran such as Jansen to that list would further cement his position of prominence in Bellator. However, it’s worth wondering whether Brooks should stick around in Bellator to find out what that position will bring him.
At 28-years old, Brooks is entering what should be considered the prime of his career. Bellator is clearly the number two promotion in the sport of MMA, but it does not boast the bevy of challengers that Brooks would need to cement his claim as a top star in the sport at 155 pounds. He is currently ranked #14 in the MMA Ratings Top 15 rankings (Sherdog, on the other hand, has Brooks in the 8th slot.) Another big win should help move him up the rankings, but that slow climb will not be enough to get Brooks to the position he wants to obtain. The best option would be for Brooks to make the move to the Octagon when the opportunity presents itself.
Imagine Brooks facing other charismatic fighters such as Donald Cerrone, Josh Thomson, or even the man who never lost the Bellator title, Eddie Alvarez. Those opportunities are only available if he elects to leave the circular cage for the greener pastures of the UFC.
Fighting outside of the Ultimate Fighting Championship is a tough situation for any person looking to become a star in MMA. All of the big names and highly-ranked opponents are signed up with Zuffa, so fighting anyone else loses its luster over time. The current Bellator lightweight champion Will Brooks is determined to become a household name, but despite the progress he has made, he might be stuck in that tough situation. Regardless, before he reaches that crucial crossroad of his career, he needs to press ahead on his journey towards greatness, a journey that will continue tonight at Bellator 136.
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Bellator 136: Brooks vs. Jansen takes place on April 10, 2015 at Bren Events Center in Irvine, California.
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