Bellator: Will Brooks to Fight Nate Jolly at May 17th Event
Will Brooks kicking Saad Awad (photo via Bellator.com)
By FCF Staff
Bellator continues to round out the line-up for the promotion’s upcoming, May 17th, pay-per-view event, and the latest addition is a lightweight bout between Will Brooks and Nate Jolly.
The card will be hosted by the The Landers Center in Southaven, Mississippi, and will feature lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez taking on former champ Michael Chandler for a third time.
Brooks (13-1) is coming off a unanimous decision win over Alexander Sarnavskiy in November, to win the promotion’s last lightweight tourney. The American Top Team fighter also defeated John Alessio and Saad Awad during the competition.
“I’m so happy to be getting back in that cage,” Brooks was quoted saying in a press release from the promotion. “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) is coming off a decision win over Gerric Hayes at XFC 26 in October, and is 3-2 in his last 5 contests.
“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 upcoming event will also feature a light-heavyweight tourney final between “Rampage” Jackson and “King Mo” Lawal.
