Will Brooks was sublime as Bellator lightweight champion. After a controversial title win over Michael Chandler, one in which Brooks seemed to go through the process of convincing himself that he could win such a fight, "Ill" Will dominated Chandler in the rematch, knocking him senseless in the fourth round. Then he dominated Dave Jansen, then Marcin Held, taking wide decisions over both men.
Some might say that "dominate" is the wrong word. Brooks ended his last three fights under the Bellator banner looking very confident, and very much in control. And yet, in all four of his title fights, Brooks lost the first round.