Will Brooks signs with UFC, faces Ross Pearson at TUF 23 Finale on July 8

Time to back up those words.

Former Bellator MMA lightweight champion Will Brooks recently put pen to paper on a new contract with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), one that will see "Ill" try to light it up against the best 155-pound fighters on the planet.

MMA Junkie brought word of the news on Wednesday.

Brooks expressed his desire to sign with UFC after he and Bellator amicably parted ways earlier this year, despite the fact that he was still the promotion's reigning champion.

And it didn't take long for Brooks to get his first fight lined up, getting booked to swing leather against hard-hitting Ross Pearson at The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 23 Finale, which takes place July 8, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Brooks will be coming in red hot with an eight-fight win streak, while Pearson looks to pick up back-to-back victories for the first time in a long time.

Anyone care to offer up an early prediction for this 155-pound tilt?

TUF 23 Finale will feature strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk defending her strap against Claudia Gadelha. To see who else is fighting on July 8 click here.