Bellator making news on Fight Day! Will Brooks Released, Minakov stripped.

[Lukewarm Carl]

Bellator lightweight champion Will Brooks (17-1 MMA, 9-1 BMMA) has been granted an immediate release 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 the lightweight champ, Coker said the promotion has elected to terminate Brooks’ deal and waive all negotiation rights so that “Ill Will” can pursue his options in free agency.

“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.”


Bellator cuts lightweight champ Will Brooks, strips heavyweight champ Vitaly Minakov

 

[WineDineSixty-Nine]

It seems to me that eliminating potential bidders in the free agent market, before any bidding has begun, is incredibly short sighted. Perhaps it would have beneficial to kick ass all the way through your contract, then leave, if that was your intention all along.

 

[jason73]

brooks better hope he doesnt get the ben askren treatment from zuffa

 

[Lukewarm Carl]

It seems to me that eliminating potential bidders in the free agent market, before any bidding has begun, is incredibly short sighted. Perhaps it would have beneficial to kick ass all the way through your contract, then leave, if that was your intention all along.

I don't think that it was specifically Will's intention to be released like this. I'm sure that he wanted to fight out his contract and then become a free agent. But considering that he's been a squeaky wheel for a while and Coker hasn't been offering him a fight, nor promoting him at all, this release is kind of a worst case scenario for him. He's faded from any notoriety that he had with any casuals and now there's one less viable bidder on the market.

Hopefully ONE and WSOF make some solid offers so that the UFC can't lowball him completely.

 

[TheEmperorRises]

Good. He didn't want to be with Bellator anymore, so I'm glad to see they're not holding him hostage.

And stripping Minakov is the right thing to do. Should have been done months ago.

 

[Jehannum]

I don't think that it was specifically Will's intention to be released like this. I'm sure that he wanted to fight out his contract and then become a free agent. But considering that he's been a squeaky wheel for a while and Coker hasn't been offering him a fight, nor promoting him at all, this release is kind of a worst case scenario for him. He's faded from any notoriety that he had with any casuals and now there's one less viable bidder on the market.

Hopefully ONE and WSOF make some solid offers so that the UFC can't lowball him completely.

I think he'll get the same deal quite a few champions have got coming in, career wise. Win debut, get title shot.

but we gotta wait and see

 

[teamquestnorth]

Brooks' non stop whining and crying fucked himself over.

Now he gets to wear Reebok and get 8/8 while fighting on fight pass.

Smart move bro

 

[TheEmperorRises]

Best thing for Bellator would be if Brooks goes to the UFC and wrecks shop.

 

[Jehannum]

Best thing for Bellator would be if Brooks goes to the UFC and wrecks shop.

lol but he would be the UFC champion, whether he was previously Bellator or not. not much of a win really

 

[Left Hook Larry]

Best thing for Bellator would be if Brooks goes to the UFC and wrecks shop.

not gonna happen imo

 

[Clappin'Daddys]

Long time coming, didn't will brooks state that bellator made him a nice offer, but he'd prefer to be in the UFC? Shooting himself in the foot. If you tell the world your real intentions, you are only releasing any leverage you've had.

I will root for brooks going forward, but I don't see him getting monster paydays any time soon. The UFC only has wsof to "bid" against in the states.

Idk what's up with minakov, I thought they have made amends. This is interesting news. Coker is sill dealing with a lot of old bellators mess.

 

[Wild]

It seems to me that eliminating potential bidders in the free agent market, before any bidding has begun, is incredibly short sighted. Perhaps it would have beneficial to kick ass all the way through your contract, then leave, if that was your intention all along.

I think they just got tired of dealing w/ Will's shit.

 

[TheEmperorRises]

not gonna happen imo

We'll see

 

[TheEmperorRises]

lol but he would be the UFC champion, whether he was previously Bellator or not. not much of a win really

You don't think it would be good for Bellator if their champ went over and won 5 or 6 in row against the best the UFC has to offer..?

 

[Jehannum]

You don't think it would be good for Bellator if their champ went over and won 5 or 6 in row against the best the UFC has to offer..?

I'm not saying it wouldn't have some benefit, but if the best thing they have going for them is that their ex-fighter is now a champion for the largest org ... well they have some serious problems. Will Brooks would be the champion, not Bellator, that's just an org that puts on events

 

[Wild]

Going to be interesting to see if he thinks the grass is greener after being in the UFC a couple of years.

 

[TheEmperorRises]

I'm not saying it wouldn't have some benefit, but if the best thing they have going for them is that their ex-fighter is now a champion for the largest org ... well they have some serious problems. Will Brooks would be the champion, not Bellator, that's just an org that puts on events

I just meant the best thing for them in this situation. Promoting a fighter whose on his way out would be a waste of time, and giving him fights and having him potentially knocking off more contenders does you no good either.

 

[hit4me4]

I just meant the best thing for them in this situation. Promoting a fighter whose on his way out would be a waste of time, and giving him fights and having him potentially knocking off more contenders does you no good either.

That's exactly what I thought. So you either have him beat people that you ARE in the business of promoting, or you hand him tougher fights that he could wreck someone elses momentum. If he doesn't want to be there, let the guy go. Fighters First, right?

 

[warriorx559]

View: https://twitter.com/illwillbrooks86/status/731615016269545472

 

[ECC170]

anybody know how much Brooks was making In Bellator?

 

[Lukewarm Carl]

anybody know how much Brooks was making In Bellator?

For 131 his disclosed pay was 31+31 and at 136 it was 36+36. I couldn't find anything for his most recent win over Held. But if it wasn't significantly higher then the UFC could sign him to a big pay bump and still not break the bank at all.

 

[Kingtony87]

if UFC pulled this move there would be outcry

 

[Bozy]

if UFC pulled this move there would be outcry

Yeah but there's also a outcry over which rest room to use for gods sake. So people just like to bitch.

 

[WineDineSixty-Nine]

I don't think that it was specifically Will's intention to be released like this. I'm sure that he wanted to fight out his contract and then become a free agent. But considering that he's been a squeaky wheel for a while and Coker hasn't been offering him a fight, nor promoting him at all, this release is kind of a worst case scenario for him. He's faded from any notoriety that he had with any casuals and now there's one less viable bidder on the market.

Hopefully ONE and WSOF make some solid offers so that the UFC can't lowball him completely.

Yeah...that was my point.

 

[WineDineSixty-Nine]

I think they just got tired of dealing w/ Will's shit.

No shit. This is a subtle fuck you from Coker.