Will Brooks gives update on rib injury following Alex Oliveira fight

Earlier this month, former Bellator MMA champion Will Brooks stepped into the Octagon to fight Alex ‘Cowboy’ Oliveira on the main card of ‘UFC Fight Night: Portland’ despite the fact that Oliveira weighed-in five pounds over the lightweight limit of 156 pounds in a non-title fight.

While Brooks started the fight out strong, an early rib injury began to hinder his performance. Ultimately, by the third round, the injury was so severe that Brooks, noticeably in pain, was TKOd before being taken out on a stretcher.

While Brooks was still in the Octagon recovering from being TKOd however, Oliveira made several offensive gestures in his opponents direction, drawing him much criticism from viewers.

In a recent Twitter post, Brooks gave fans an update on his injury, saying:

“Physically, I’ve been better. The rib is sore, I’m dealing with a little bit of discomfort. It’s an old injury, I’ve dealt with it before, I’ll figure out how to heal up this time, and heal up properly so I don’t have to deal with this in the future.”

“Mentally, I’m great. I’ve been competing my entire life. I’ve won a lot more than I’ve lost, but I’ve also learned that you have to deal with losses just as well as you take winning. It is what it is. It comes with the territory, and I’ll move forward, and get better.”

The fight was just Brooks second in the UFC. After going on an 8-fight win streak under the Bellator MMA banner that saw him win and then defend the Bellator lightweight championship twice, Brooks signed with the UFC in 2016. In just his first fight inside the Octagon, Brooks defeated Ross Pearson via unanimous decision.

Unfortunately, due to his loss to Oliveira, Brooks has been sidelined indefinitely until he has been cleared by a doctor.