Season nine lightweight tournament winner Will Brooks will take a fight before getting his title shot as he will meet Nate Jolly at Bellator 120 on May 17th.
The fight booking was announced by Bellator on Tuesday afternoon and this bout will be one of the fights on the pay-per-view broadcast.
Bellator 120 will come from the Landers Center in Southaven, Mississippi and will be headlined by Eddie Alvarez defending the lightweight title against Michael Chandler.
Brooks (13-1) defeated Alexander Sarnavskiy during season nine to win the lightweight tournament and secure his title shot. He is currently on a four fight winning streak and won five fights in Bellator during 2013.
“I’m so happy to be getting back in that cage,” Brooks said. “I would be lying if I said I didn’t have my sights set on Alvarez vs. Chandler III, just like everyone else, but at the same time I know how focused I am for this next fight. I’m really looking at this fight as more of a blessing than anything else. What some people don’t understand is when you get into that tournament, you are doing everything you can to get through it healthy and keep racking up those wins.”
“My coaches and I came in with a game plan for the tournament, and while it obviously paid off, I know there are so many adjustments I still want to make to my game, and I want to show my fans the sort of skills I have. With a full training camp under my belt, I know I’m going to take my game to the next level and really show fans how my game has evolved.”
Jolly (13-5) will be making his Bellator debut against Brooks and has won three of his last four fights. His most recent win came in October at XFC 26 as he defeated Gerric Hayes by unanimous decision.
“I’m coming into this fight with really nothing to lose,” Jolly said. “I’m pumped to be able to fight for Bellator on such a big stage and against a guy that I feel I match up very well against. I always want to fight the best, and I know Will is very well rounded, and I will need to be on top of my game, which will raise my skills as well. It’s going to be a great scrap, and I can’t wait to get it going on May 17th.”
The current Bellator 120: Alvarez vs. Chandler III card is below.
Eddie Alvarez (25-3) vs. Michael Chandler (12-1)
Quinton Jackson (34-11) vs. Muhammed Lawal (12-3, 1NC)
Will Brooks (13-1) vs. Nate Jolly (13-5)