Sherdog’s Top 10: Fighters Outside the UFC

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2. Will Brooks
Record: 16-1
Organization: Bellator MMA

Brooks has come into his own in the last two years after bursting onto the scene as a can’t-miss prospect. Now training at American Top Team alongside a sterling list of training partners, he has rapidly developed into one of the most diverse and dangerous lightweights in the world. He can kick at range, exchange punches in the pocket, carve up opponents with knees and elbows in the clinch, wrestle like an All-American and grapple nicely on the mat. In addition to his skills and physicality, Brooks is also a compelling and charismatic personality with real star power.

The Illinois native is on the cusp of turning into something truly special. He can work the mic and the media with aplomb and back up everything he says in the cage, and his performances are beginning to reflect that. Since suffering a knockout at the hands of Saad Awad, Brooks has run off seven consecutive victories, avenged his lone loss and shown dramatic growth from fight to fight. His first win over Michael Chandler was controversial, but the rematch was anything but, as Brooks took apart Chandler piece by piece. Brooks’ first title defense against savvy and skilled veteran Dave Jansen was competitive but showed just how diverse the ATT product’s skills have become.

Lightweight is a deep division, and Bellator can still create a few intriguing matchups for him. A potential third fight with Chandler looms, as does a scrap with Marcin Held. With less than five years under his belt as a professional, Brooks is still a long way from hitting his prime.

Number 1 » A two-time NCAA champion and a member of the 2008 Olympic team, he boasts world-class wrestling credentials and a unique style based on funk. He blends that unorthodox wrestling game with stifling top control and rains down a steady stream of punches and elbows until the final bell sounds or his opponent quits.