The 10 biggest busts in UFC history

#5: Will Brooks

Will Brooks was recently cut from his UFC contract

The most recent entry onto this list, Will Brooks was cut from his UFC contract in the last few weeks, following a hugely disappointing run in the Octagon.

He’d come in with much fanfare as the Bellator Lightweight champion, with two wins over Michael Chandler being his biggest achievement in the Viacom promotion.

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Brooks won his first UFC outing over Ross Pearson, and his first loss – against Alex Oliveira, who came in 6.5lbs over the 155lbs Lightweight limit – was somewhat excusable due to the size difference.

But losing by submission to a pair of former Featherweights in Charles Oliveira and Nik Lentz was massively disappointing.

What went wrong for Brooks is hard to say given he seemed to have a style tailor-made for UFC success. Perhaps it really is a case of the standard of competition being that much higher in the UFC, or maybe it was down to Brooks simply not being able to adjust to the heightened pressure that came with a big UFC contract.

Regardless, he goes down as one of the biggest busts in recent memory.

About the author

Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.

Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.

Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.

His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.

Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.

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Edited by Pratyay Ghosh