About Will Brooks

Willie Love Brooks (born October 8, 1986) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Lightweight division. A professional competitor since 2011, he is the former Bellator MMA Lightweight World Champion, and has also competed for DREAM, the Professional Fighters League and the UFC.

Brooks grew up in Chicago projects in a broken home with his parents struggling with their demons. After getting kicked out of several schools due to fighting, he took up wrestling at Warren Township High School, but his main focus was playing football. Excelling in football during high school, he ended up going to college to play at Harper College, where he was an All-American in his first year. However, he let go of his dreams of playing in the NFL after sustaining a knee injury, which led to partying, substance abuse and eventually drug dealing. During his time in Harper, he met an old friend from high school in Nick Redding, who ended up changing the course of his life to MMA.

Brooks and his wife have a daughter.