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Will Brooks Released From Bellator & Minakov Stripped

1K views 6 replies 6 participants last post by  kantowrestler 
#1 ·
Brooks UFC bound?

Bellator lightweight champion Will Brooks (17-1 MMA, 9-1 BMMA) has been released from the California-based promotion and is now a free agent. Additionally, heavyweight champ Vitaly Minakov (17-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) has been stripped of his title due to inactivity but will remain under contract with the company.

Bellator President Scott Coker today confirmed the moves with MMAjunkie.

In the case of lightweight champ Brooks, who’s ranked No. 11 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA bantamweight rankings, Coker said the promotion has elected to terminate the fighter’s deal and waive all negotiation rights so that “Ill Will” can pursue his free-agency options.

“It was very simple,” Coker told MMAjunkie. “Will Brooks’ contract is ending, and we made a decision not to renew it. We’re going to give him a full release, so we’re not going to be in the Will Brooks business any longer.”

Coker declined to talk specifics regarding Brooks’ deal, but the 29-year-old American Top Team product previously told MMAFighting.com the contract expired on July 15.

Meanwhile, Coker said the company will immediately strip Minakov, who’s ranked No. 9 at heavyweight, of his title, which hasn’t been defended since April 2014.

“We’re going to retain Minakov’s rights with the company, but we are going to strip him of the title for lack of participation, basically,” Coker said. “We hope we can work it out, but we’re going to be moving on from Minakov.”



http://mmajunkie.com/2016/05/bellat...lease-strips-heavyweight-champ-vitaly-minakov
 
#2 ·
Huge news. Brooks absolutely UFC bound. He's hated it at Bellator and it got worse with every Kimbo fight really.

Minakov is both surprising and not. I actually don't get why Bellator hasn't pushed Lashley. I know he spends more time pro wrestling than fighting but he IS 11-2, avenged one of his losses (technically) and even if he's not fighting great guys, that's still not an easy record to get (plus Lashley is winning with ease). They should either give him a real fight (I thought Lashley in RIZIN Vs Fedor sounded perfect) or just give him a title shot. TNA, even though they are no longer associated with Spike/Bellator (thank god, I've seen all the Rampage Vs Tito Vs King Mo I can handle in pro wrestling) would promote the shit out of that too.
 
#5 ·
I'm surprised that the UFC hasn't signed him already and this comes as a shock to me. Then again contracts have probably been done differently since Coker took over and Brooks contract was probably under the old format. As for Minakov I think this is long overdue and I see Bobby Lashley fighting for the title.
 
#6 ·
I see pay being a big stumbling block. Brooks was on $36k/$36K in bellator but probably got a good chunk of change from sponsorship.

As fans we want to see the Bellator champ fight the best in the UFC but I think he'll be asking for $100K base as a bare minimum and I can't see the UFC giving it to him without a fight.

Shame if it goes that way there are some great matchups for him in the UFC.
 
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