A modern day Gladiator, ‘Ill’ Will Brooks sacrifices a lot to pursue his MMA career. And yes, jeers from fans who don’t really understand the action in the cage bugs him just a little bit.
Uniondale, NY — Will Brooks took to the mic after his decision win over Robert Watley at PFL 5 in Long Island, and had a pointed message for any fans in attendance booing him: he doesn’t care. It was a stark change in crowd support from his appearance at PFL 2, in his native Chicago. There, Brooks was the local hero, a conquering champion returning to his stronghold. In Uniondale, NY at the Nassau Coliseum on Thursday night?
Not so much.
Brooks, who told reporters post-fight that he hadn’t been watching the scorecards or paying attention to the division’s other fights, said that he’s not worried at all about who he faces in the post season. “It doesn’t matter. I have a great coaching staff with me,” he told us. Despite having swapped out a few coaches between his first and second fight of the season, the success has continued. “It don’t matter who it is. We put together a game plan, my coaches watch tape, they tell me what to do, I go out there and do it.”
Despite the win, it was Brooks’ message to fans in his post-fight interview in the cage that many had on their minds following PFL 5. After being heckled for a perceived lack of action, it had clearly gotten under his skin. Backstage after the bout, Brooks told reporters that “I don’t really care. I try to be as professional as I possibly can be, and understand that people get a little bit of alcohol in their system and get a little rowdy. Look this is fighting, we’re cage fighters, people get a little crazy. We’re like the modern day gladiator. ”
Yet as much as he says he doesn’t care, Brooks would later admit that it did get to him just a little. “I get people are going to get amped up. But at the same time, I sacrifice a lot to do this,” Will Brooks said. “Putting in 8 to 12 weeks in a training camp. Not eating what I want to eat, not drinking what I want to drink. Not spending time that I want to spend with my family. Being isolated. To go out there and put on a display for people, and for people to boo you and not understand what you’re doing and pay respect, yeah that bugs me a little bit.”
However, the former Bellator MMA lightweight champion and UFC athlete got the last laugh. “At the end of the day,” he said, “I had to let them know that when they get done booing, I’m going to go cash this paycheck, and I’m going to be all right.” No doubt there, given Brooks is one step closer to a million dollar payday as he heads into the PFL post-season.
For more from Will Brooks following PFL 5, check out our post-fight video above!
