Bellator champion Will Brooks, 'Pitbull' brothers allegedly have physical altercation in hotel

If Bellator wanted a shot of juice into its Friday night tentpole event, it may very well have found it.

In a series of tweets posted Wednesday, lightweight champion Will Brooks claimed to have been attacked by the "Pitbull" brothers, Patricky Freire and featherweight champion Patricio Freire, while on-site in St. Louis for Bellator 145.

Brooks went on to post a picture of a bloody shirt and alleged to have video evidence of the incident. Brooks has since deleted the photo of the shirt.

Pitbull brothers showed me what cowards they are. They jumped me while I was on the phone with my mom.

— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) November 4, 2015

Punch me while I'm being held back by your people. Cowards

— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) November 4, 2015

I've never had to sucker punch or jump anyone I held things on my own but these cowards aren't built like real men

— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) November 4, 2015

I'm still pretty and still focused on my fight even though these cowards jumped me. We have video

— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) November 4, 2015

Video proof

— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) November 4, 2015

Thank you to all my fans checking to make sure I'm ok. I'm just fine and will go out there Friday and put on for my people. #andstill

— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) November 4, 2015

After authorities are able to check out footage I will make sure everyone can see what those cowards are really made of.

— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) November 4, 2015

Brooks and the "Pitbull" brothers have a history of tension. The rivalry came to a head in August when social media trash talk erupted into a lengthy promise by Brooks to slap Patricio Freire in the mouth when the two fighters next saw each other.

For his part, Freire was quick to deny Brooks' allegations and claim that the American initiated the scuffle.

Will Brooks is a liar. He hit Patricky first and came at me, I went after him too and my first punch landed. We were separated.

— Patricio Freire (@PatricioPitbull) November 4, 2015

Then he came again, I knocked him down. He tried to take me down, we were separated again and he started calling us cowards.

— Patricio Freire (@PatricioPitbull) November 4, 2015

He was a man of his word and faced the consequences. Now act like a man and tell the truth. pic.twitter.com/duGEbX9jRK

— Patricio Freire (@PatricioPitbull) November 4, 2015

Bellator officials issued the following statement to MMAFighting.com regarding the incident: "We are looking into the situation and gathering surveillance footage at this time. We have no further comment at this time."

Both Freire brothers declined to comment when contacted by MMAFighting.com.

Brooks and Patricio Freire are slated to defend their Bellator titles against Marcin Held and Daniel Straus, respectively, on Nov. 6 at Bellator 145. The night's main card airs live on Spike TV.

Regardless of what happened, there will be no action taken by the Missouri Office of Athletics, the regulatory body for Bellator 145. Chris Cline, the communications director for the Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions & Professional Registration, told MMA Fighting that the incident is outside the regulation of the commission.