Bellator lightweight Will Brooks will set into the Bellator cage for the first time since being eliminated from the season eight lightweight tournament as he will face Cris Leyva on the preliminary card of Bellator 97 in two weeks.
Brooks (9-1) entered Bellator at the beginning of this year and was immediately placed into the Bellator lightweight tournament after opening his career with eight straight victories. After defeating Ricardo Tirloni in the quarterfinals, he faced Saad Awad and was defeated in the first round by knockout.
During this week’s “The MMA Report Live,” Brooks admitted that did has not watched the fight many times and did not put in the work needed to get the victory over Awad.
“I have not watched the fight many times,” Brooks said. “It took me a little bit before I was able to go back and watch the fight because it is very hard to deal with losing especially when you are a competitor and you always want the best out of yourself. It was hard for me to go back and watch it but I have watched it a few times. There is nothing to say about it. I will be completely honest with everyone. I did not put in the work that was required for me to win that fight and Saad [Awad] did.”
He recently made the decision to move his training to Florida on a full time basis and trains at American Top Team in South Florida. Prior to making the move to Florida, he had to explain to his family why he planned to move his training from Illinois to Florida.
“For me, I am a huge family guy and being back home in Illinois, I was always able to go to training, be in training camp and every once in a while when I wanted to see my family. I had to sit down with my family and explain to them exactly what I am trying to do and they were very understanding. Right now, I am in an adjustment period but I feel really good. I have just been focusing on getting ready for this July 31st fight and right now that is where I am at.”
His opponent on July 31st is currently on a four fight losing streak and is coming of first round TKO defeat to Joe Riggs at Rage in the Cage last year. Brooks and his coaches have had trouble finding footage of Leyva so he is making sure he is ready for everything in the fight.
“Me and my coaches have tried to find video and we have not had to much success in that. Right now we are just focusing on being ready to compete. Whenever I come to American Top Team, one thing that they make sure I am ready to do is just to be able to compete in every form and aspect in mixed martial arts. Being that we have not been able to find much video on him, the main idea is to be ready to compete.”
Bellator has not said officially if a win will get Brooks back into a tournament, but a win will likely do this. Brooks is focused on being Leyva in two weeks and wants to get his career back on track with a win.
“I am coming out here July 31st and a lot of people think I am trying to make a redemption after losing but honestly I am just trying to get back on track and show people what I am able to do and get back in the winners column. I am not really focused on the tournament right now. I am just thinking about getting back to winning.”