Lightweight champ Will Brooks granted release from Bellator MMA

On Saturday afternoon, Bellator MMA lightweight champion Will Brooks was granted his long-awaited release from the organization, president Scott Coker confirmed to MMAjunkie.com.

Bellator MMA decided to terminate Brooks' current deal and waive all negotiation rights so he can explore options in free agency. Brooks' deal would have expired on July 15.

"It was very simple," Coker said. "Will Brooks’ contract is ending, and we made a decision not to renew it. We’re going to give him a full release, so we’re not going to be in the Will Brooks business any longer."

With Brooks' release, the Bellator MMA lightweight championship is now vacant. An announcement regarding an upcoming vacant title fight is expected on Saturday evening's Bellator 154 broadcast on SPIKE. Coker did not give any hints regarding the two men who'll be involved in the title fight, but one could imagine it will be Josh Thomson vs. Michael Chandler, a fight initially supposed to go down on tonight's event. Thomson was forced out of the scheduled co-headlining spot with an injury.

Coker also confirmed the stripping of Vitaly Minakov's heavyweight championship due to inactivity. BloodyElbow.com's Karim Zidan will have more on that on Sunday.

BloodyElbow.com will keep you up-to-date on Brooks' next move in the free agency market, as well as the upcoming fight for the vacant lightweight title.