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Tag: Derek Brunson

  • Yoel Romero, Three Other UFC & PFL Alumni Sign With BKFC

    Yoel Romero, Three Other UFC & PFL Alumni Sign With BKFC

    Four former UFC fighters, including a trio of former UFC title challengers, are going from the MMA world to the world of bare-knuckle fighting.

    During the BKFC Champions Summit press conference with Conor McGregor, held at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas ahead of BKFC 48, McGregor announced the additions of Yoel Romero, Thiago Santos, Derek Brunson, and Aspen Ladd to the BKFC roster.

    Romero and Santos were the particular focuses of the announcement — highlighting their striking power and their veteran statuses.

    BKFC Announces Four Signings, Including Yoel Romero And Thiago Santos

    Romero and Santos, in fact, faced off in MMA just a year-and-a-half ago. The two faced off during the PFL vs. Bellator broadcast, with Romero, who was representing Bellator, winning via a clear unanimous decision.

    Romero has not fought in MMA since the win, while Santos had one more fight, a short-notice loss to eventual 2024 PFL heavyweight champion Denis Goltsov during the regular season.

    Romero — a freestyle wrestling silver medalist at the 2000 Olympics and a former freestyle wrestling World and Pan-American champion — went 16-7 in professional MMA, including a 9-4 UFC record. Romero scored victories over the likes of Lyoto Machida, Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, and Chris Weidman, but was unsuccessful in middleweight title challenges of Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya.

    Romero then had a five-fight stint in Bellator, going 3-2 — which included the win over Santos and an unsuccessful title shot against then-Bellator light heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov.

    Santos fought in the UFC for about a decade, but his biggest stretch came when he jumped from middleweight to light heavyweight. Santos would finish Eryk Anders, Jimi Manuwa, and Jan Blachowicz, receiving a title shot against then-champ Jon Jones at UFC 239. Santos would lose in a controversial decision. That would be the start of a downward stretch Santos never recovered from, losing all but one of his fights since the Jones loss.

    After his tenure with the UFC, Santos fought in the PFL, debuting with a loss to Rob Wilkinson — a bout that would be overturned to a no contest.

    Brunson came into the UFC as Strikeforce was being merged with the promotion and slowly being folded. Brunson earned victories over the likes of Lorenz Larkin, Uriah Hall, Lyoto Machida, and Kevin Holland, as well as losses to Souza, Whittaker, Adesanya, Anderson Silva, Jared Cannonier, and Dricus Du Plessis. Brunson fought in MMA once after his UFC days — a win over Ray Cooper III at the 2023 PFL World Championships.

    Ladd debuted in Invicta in 2015 and went unbeaten in five fights before joining the UFC two years later. Ladd won her first three UFC bouts before a loss to Germaine de Randamie. Ladd would struggle with consistent success — and had a near-two-year period of inactivity at one point — before parting ways with the UFC after a 2022 loss to Raquel Pennington.

    Ladd debuted in PFL in November of that year with a win over former Bellator champion Julia Budd. She then competed in the 2023 women’s featherweight season, losing to Olena Kolesnyk but defeating Karolina Sobek. Ladd missed the playoffs but fought in a showcase bout later that year, losing to current UFC women’s bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison.

    Ladd’s last MMA fight came at the Bellator Champions Series event in Paris in May 2024, defeating Ekaterina Shakalova.

  • Derek Brunson Appears To Walk Back Retirement Plans

    Derek Brunson seems to have a new fire lit inside of him.

    Derek Brunson is one of the top middleweights in the world. Prior to his UFC 271 bout, it seemed that Brunson was making a beeline for the title shot. He had won five in a row over the last three years and seemed unstoppable. Unfortunately for him, he was stopped.

    Brunson’s winning streak hit a wall named Jared Cannonier. Cannonier handed Brunson a loss at UFC 271 by KO in the second round. This loss will most likely put Brunson’s title aspirations on hold for a bit, but that hasn’t sent Brunson packing yet.

    Prior to the UFC 271 bout, Brunson took some time to lay out an optimal plan for the rest of his UFC career. He had called his shot to beat Cannonier, then go on to win the belt and then walk away. At 38 years old, he stated that he wanted to spend some time with his family. Now that the first leg of his plan was squashed, he isn’t just going to scrap the rest.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CbL2j1HLBig/

    “I’m tired of seeing guys I fight go on to be World Champions & fight for the belt to be the best middleweight on the planet.” he wrote. “I’ve been in the top 10 for over a decade and currently in the top 5. I gotta do better. Not done!.”

    At the moment, Brunson is ranked fourth in the division and is still a force to be reckoned with. If he plans to continue his quest for a UFC title, he may not be that far off. Perhaps another fight or two within the top five could secure him his spot in line for Adesanya.

    Do you think Derek Brunson still has a shot at fighting for a title one day?

  • Till: If Brunson Fight Was In The Gym, I’d Have Broken His Skull

    UFC middleweight Darren Till believes he wasn’t himself at UFC Vegas 36, and under different circumstances, he says he’d have laid a beating on Derek Brunson.

    Last September, Till was being pointed at as a potential challenger for reigning 185-pound champion Israel Adesanya down the line. A victory over Brunson in the UFC Vegas 36 headliner was expected to move him to within touching distance of a date with “The Last Stylebender.”

    But spoiling the Englishman’s plans and continuing the unbeaten streak of his blonde iteration, Brunson dominated throughout before securing a third-round submission. While he moved on to face Jared Cannonier in a title eliminator last month, Till has remained on the sidelines since his losing effort inside the UFC Apex.

    But despite appearing to be outclassed on the night, Till believes a clash with Brunson would go very differently under altered circumstances.

    Till: Brunson Felt “So Slow”

    Following the result, Till revealed he entered his fight with Brunson with a torn ACL. While that provided some context behind his lackluster performance, “The Gorilla” has gone into more detail about his mindset and motivation heading into the September event.

    During a recent interview with ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto, Till claimed he could barely recognize himself on fight night. Despite insisting the better man had his hand raised, the Liverpudlian believes in a different environment, he’d have left Brunson in a significantly worse state than the veteran left the Octagon in at UFC Vegas 36.

    “It was tough to take, it was real tough to take. I’m not disrespecting Derek in any way, shape, or form. Blonde Derek Brunson was doing the job,” said Till. “But when I was in there with him, I didn’t feel myself and I felt sloppy, but he just felt so slow, even his takedowns and his striking.

    “For me, if this was in the gym, I’d have [MUTED] broke his skull. I know he’s gonna see this and say, ‘No…’ But under different circumstances—I just couldn’t identify myself in there,” continued Till. “But at the same time, maybe, in my opinion, that night Derek was just the better fighter. I always say this, I never try and give excuses… I don’t wanna disrespect Derek. I still wanna give him his props. He beat me fair and square. The better man, the better fighter that night (won). But it was tough for me to take.”

    While Brunson fell short of securing a title shot and is now potentially looking towards retirement after one last Octagon outing, Till is working hard ahead of his comeback. To return to 100% and begin realizing his potential, “The Gorilla” has turned to the help of a fighter on the opposite end of the spectrum when it comes to form.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CacNclPsOrv/

    For the past few weeks, Till has been training alongside Khamzat Chimaev at the Allstar Training center in Stockholm, Sweden. Having found his positivity and motivation again, the 29-year-old is targeting an ascent up the middleweight ladder, starting with a successful rebound later this year.

    Who would you like to see Darren Till face when he returns to the Octagon?

  • Brunson: Velasquez Shouldn’t Get Jail Time Due To “Temporary Insanity”

    UFC middleweight Derek Brunson gave his take on Cain Velasquez after he was arrested on an attempted murder charge earlier this week.

    Velasquez faces at least 20 years in prison after he intended to shoot an alleged molester of one of his younger relatives. The incident included a high-speed chase, with Velasquez intending to shoot the molester but instead inflicting a gunshot wound to the alleged molester’s stepfather.

    The shooting victim is being treated at a Bay Area hospital and is expected to make a full recovery from his injuries.

    Many around the MMA community have spoken in support of Velasquez in recent days. This includes UFC President Dana White, who hinted that he feels most people in Velasquez’s position would’ve acted similarly.

    In a recent Instagram post, Brunson defended Velasquez’s action and called for a minor sentence.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Cap6AQIvreD/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    “No one said Cain Velasquez handled the situation legally correct,” Brunson said. “From Day 1 of being a loving father, our objective is to guide and protect our kids through life. If the accusations of a 40-year-old man molesting a 4 year old for over a year (even once) is accurate. Cain acted in temporary (temporary definition reads not permanent, even a year could be temporary when comparing to a year) insanity and should receive probation at best. No one was killed. DONT MESS WITH KIDS OR YOU GET WHAT YOU GET #FreeCainVelasquez.”

    Brunson’s comments come shortly after former UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey recently hinted that she would’ve done the same thing if not worse. In a separate Instagram post, Brunson donned a shirt in support of Velasquez and his legal situation.

    But the shirt was apparently just the start of Brunson’s support of Velasquez. Shortly afterward on his Twitter page, Brunson revealed that he and the MMA community have raised $10,000 for Velasquez’s legal fees.

    “As a father I feel you Cain,” Brunson tweeted. “The MMA community got your back! 10k in 2 1/2 days sent to his wife! #FreeCainVelasquez.”

    The investigation into Velasquez and the shooting incident is ongoing. He’s scheduled to face arraignment next week and we’ll bring you the latest right here at MMA News.

    Do you agree with Derek Brunson’s take on Cain Velasquez?

  • Israel Adesanya Pleaded With Jared Cannonier To Beat Derek Brunson

    UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya has revealed the encouragement he gave to top contender Jared Cannonier ahead of UFC 271.

    Two of this weekend’s biggest fights on pay-per-view saw crucial middleweight clashes go down. While the reigning king ran it back with former rival Robert Whittaker in the main event, top-five veterans Cannonier and Derek Brunson collided earlier in the night, with a title shot seemingly on the line.

    Towards the end of the opening round, it appeared the undefeated run of “Blonde” Brunson was set to continue. But after the round-ending horn cut short a rear-naked choke attempt, the tide turned.

    “The Killa Gorilla” came out in the second and made the most of his stand-up advantage. After one early shot appeared to affect Brunson’s movement and posture, Cannonier went in for the kill.

    With a vicious elbow and clean backhand, the #3-ranked 185lber rocked his counterpart and sent him to the ground. From there, some sickening elbows signaled the end.

    Adesanya Gets His Fresh Meat

    While predictions were largely split heading into the contest, with many backing Brunson’s previous form and five-fight win streak, one man was firmly supporting Cannonier on fight night—that man being the champ.

    Having already faced and defeated Brunson on his way to the title in 2018, as well as dispatching most other contenders in the weight class, “The Last Stylebender” favored the idea of facing a fresh challenge next.

    During his appearance at the UFC 271 post-fight press conference, which came after he successfully defended the middleweight gold for the fourth time, Adesanya revealed the encouragement he gave Cannonier during fight week.

    “I just saw bits and pieces. I think he even got rocked. I saw he got taken down, and then he elbowed Brunson. And so I didn’t really take stock. I’ll go back and watch the fight later on and see what it is,” said Adesanya. “But he made a statement. And I even told him after the weigh-ins, I said, ‘Look, please take this guy out so I can get some fresh meat.’ And he said, ‘Bro, I’m trying to work.’ I said, ‘Me, too.’ So I’m a man of my word.”

    With apparent post-fight confirmation from all parties, including UFC President Dana White, it seems Adesanya’s next challenger is locked in. Targeting a June return, “The Last Stylebender” looks set to have the chance to add another name to his résumé in the form of Cannonier.

    Would you like to see Israel Adesanya’s Next Fight be against Jared Cannonier?

  • Derek Brunson Speaks Out Following UFC 271 Loss To Jared Cannonier

    UFC middleweight contender Derek Brunson addressed his fans following a disappointing loss to Jared Cannonier.

    Brunson fell to Cannonier at UFC 271 via second-round knockout after a dominant opening round. He utilized his wrestling and nearly sunk in a rear-naked choke submission as the first round came to a close.

    However, Cannonier was able to find his footing in the second round and overwhelm Brunson with strikes. He would eventually land a lead elbow that dropped Brunson and followed it up with heavy ground-and-pound shots.

    The fight was built up as a No. 1 middleweight contender fight between two of the top-4 middleweights in the UFC. Cannonier will more than likely get the next shot at Israel Adesanya later this year.

    Shortly after the loss, Brunson took to social media to address his fans and update them on how he’s doing physically and mentally.

    “Made a title push. Number 3 vs. 4 in the world,” Brunson said. “I came up short. Life lessons. I’m all good, sad but life will give you [these] moments.”

    Entering UFC 271, Brunson was arguably the hottest middleweight in the UFC with five-straight wins. He hadn’t lost since falling to Adesanya at UFC 230 as the champion made his rise towards the title conversation.

    Brunson has one more fight left on his deal and plans on competing once more in the Octagon before he calls it quits. Brunson made his UFC debut at UFC 155 following an up-and-down tenure in Strikeforce. Leading up to UFC 271, he alluded to retirement following the conclusion of his contract.

    Who do you want to see Derek Brunson fight for his final UFC appearance?

  • Derek Brunson: Sean Strickland Is A Cringe “Weirdo”

    UFC middleweight Derek Brunson has given his firm take on the antics and remarks of his fellow contender Sean Strickland.

    While talk about Strickland has been on the rise in general, it’s picked up in recent weeks owing to his first Octagon outing of 2022. After returning to action and to 185 pounds in 2020, the 30-year-old recorded wins against Jack Marshman, Brendan Allen, Krzysztof Jotko, and Uriah Hall.

    In his second consecutive main event last weekend, “Tarzan” faced his toughest middleweight test to date in the form of Jack Hermansson. While he perhaps didn’t entertain and thrill as much as many had expected on fight night, Strickland successfully extended his undefeated record in the weight class and moved closer to a potential title shot.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZnu543Nifj/

    While his ability inside the Octagon is hard to question, Strickland’s antics and remarks outside of it haven’t followed suit. From controversial comments on homosexuality to his statements on an apparent desire to “kill” inside and outside the cage, “Tarzan” has certainly split opinions with his outspoken personality.

    One man who firmly falls on the side of those criticizing the #7-ranked middleweight contender rather than being entertained by him is Brunson.

    Brunson Hopes “Tasteless” Strickland Changes His Ways

    During his appearance at UFC 271 media day ahead of his crucial clash with Jared Cannonier this weekend, the 38-year-old gave his thoughts on the man two positions below him on the 185-pound ladder.

    “Sean Strickland is a weirdo. I mean, slightly funny. I guess funny in this era,” said Brunson. “But, that’s definitely kind of cringe. Super weird. I heard some of the stuff he said. I don’t know if he’s trying to get a lot of attention or whatever, but I don’t think it’s cool to just be a jerk or an asshole, saying like, ‘Oh, I’ll kill people and I wouldn’t care.’

    “It’s like, if you say, ‘Hey, if somebody harms my family, I’d kill somebody and I wouldn’t care,’ that’s a bit different than saying, ‘I’d just kill a random person and wouldn’t care.’ That’s some tasteless stuff and I don’t really think there’s a place for it,” Brunson continued. “It’s kind of annoying. I hope he changes his ways, for sure.”

    Speaking of killing and dying, here’s Strickland’s latest interesting post…

    “WHEN PEOPLE ASK ME “WHY ARE YOU THIS WAY” There is no god, we’re all animals, life is random, there is no meaning, morality doesn’t exist.. go fuck hookers and do cocaine. If we die now or later it makes no difference……”

    Given the fact this tweet came hours after Brunson’s appearance at UFC 271 media day and his previous comments on how he’ll be if he becomes champion, it seems unlikely Strickland will be following his UFC peer’s advice and changing his ways.

    Do you agree with Derek Brunson? Does Sean Strickland need to tone down his statements?

  • Cannonier Rejects ‘Grappler V. Striker’ Narrative Ahead Of Brunson Fight

    UFC middleweight contender Jared Cannonier wants to prove that he can wrestle with the best of them, including UFC 271 opponent Derek Brunson.

    Cannonier and Brunson are set to meet in a middleweight showcase on the UFC 271 main card. Both men are vying for a potential title shot against the winner of Israel Adesanya vs. Robert Whittaker.

    Cannonier has always been known for his ferocious striking and intimidating presence in the Octagon. His grappling hasn’t been discussed as much by the MMA faithful, but he showed off superb takedown defense in recent wins over Kelvin Gastelum and Jack Hermansson.

    Cannonier will face a tough test against Brunson, arguably the best wrestler in the middleweight division. During his UFC 271 media day press conference, Cannonier seemed to welcome the challenge.

    “I can grapple. I train at The MMA Lab and we got good grapplers, D-1 level wrestlers that I’m learning from,” Cannonier said. “They don’t have to be the same size as me, but we got some big guys in there. I’ve trained with the little guys damn near my whole career. You see how far that’s gotten me.

    UFC Fight Night 160 results, highlights: Jared Cannonier blasts Jack Hermansson for second round TKO - CBSSports.com
    Jared Cannonier, Image: 2019 Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

    “Yeah, I can grapple too. I can wrestle too. I have a pair of wrestling shoes my damn self. They’re probably not as worn out as his, he’s been doing it way longer than me, but my mind allows me to be as good as these other guys when I need be. You may see me taking him down if the opportunity presents itself.”

    Cannonier has won four of his last five fights over some of the best contenders in the division. He has fought at multiple weight classes during his UFC career but seems to have found a home at 185 pounds.

    This is arguably Cannonier’s biggest fight to date and biggest test inside the cage. If he ends up being victorious against Brunson, he’ll likely need to utilize some grappling skills in the process.

    What is your prediction for Jared Cannonier vs. Derek Brunson?

  • Robert Whittaker: Derek Brunson Was Always This Good

    Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker believes fellow contender Derek Brunson has always been as good as his recent results suggest.

    This time three years ago, not many would have expected or predicted Brunson to be in position for a title eliminator in 2022. But that is exactly the spot the veteran has placed himself in. He’s set to face Jared Cannonier at UFC 271 next month, with the winner expected to challenge for gold later in the year.

    To get to this spot, Brunson has built a five-fight win streak that has firmly broken him beyond the status of gatekeeper and into the elite at 185 pounds. After going 0-2 in 2018, Brunson rebounded with unanimous decision victories over Elias Theodorou and Ian Heinisch.

    Then, “Blonde Brunson” arrived.

    Blonde Brunson

    In a main event against the then-unbeaten Edmen Shahbazyan, Brunson showed his quality. He dominated and beat up the youngster on his way to a third-round TKO.

    In 2021, the North Carolina native turned things up a notch, first by dominating rising contender and 5-0 2020 fighter Kevin Holland, and then by submitting former welterweight title challenger Darren Till in his third consecutive headliner.

    Whittaker: Brunson Seems More Experienced Now

    Now sitting at #4 in the middleweight rankings, Brunson has firmly exceeded expectations and made a late surge towards the title. But while most are surprised by his resurgence, one of his former opponents isn’t.

    During an interview with LowKick MMA, Whittaker, who defeated Brunson via first-round TKO in 2016, suggested not much has changed in Brunson’s approach for him to find his recent success. “The Reaper” said that the middleweight mainstay has always been this good, but has simply faced tough opposition.

    “He kind of fights the same way (as before) doesn’t he? [LAUGHS] He gets in your face, then he grinds you up against the fence, and then takes you down and makes your life a living hell,” said Whittaker. “I think he was always that good, it’s just he fought some good opponents and had some bad nights. He definitely seems more experienced and (is) making smarter decisions.”

    Brunson’s strength of schedule is certainly up there with the best at 185 pounds. His five UFC defeats came against powerhouse and former title challenger Yoel Romero, legendary former champion and GOAT contender Anderson Silva, Brazilian grappling great Ronaldo Souza, current middleweight king Israel Adesanya, and former titleholder and now-top contender Whittaker.

    Brunson will hope to avoid adding Cannonier’s name to that list when they collide in February. Discussing that matchup, Whittaker said the key for Brunson will be taking “The Killa Gorilla” to the ground and keeping him there.

    “Brunson’s a good fighter. You can see, the only guys he’s really lost to have been previous champs, really,” added Whittaker. “I think Cannonier’s a tough guy to beat though. I think to get this win, (Brunson) takes him down and holds him down and makes him uncomfortable and just grinds him out there for three rounds. But Cannonier is very hard to hold down. And he hits like a truck. His standup striking is very technical, very textbook. It’s an interesting fight.”

    As well as Brunson’s likely title eliminator against Cannonier, UFC 271 will also see another crucial middleweight contest go down. In the main event, Whittaker will look to exact revenge on Adesanya in their rematch and regain his spot on the 185-pound throne.

    How do you think Robert Whittaker and Derek Brunson will fare in their respective matchups at UFC 271?

  • Brunson: Cannonier Has To Be Perfect & Lucky To Beat Me

    Derek Brunson says he isn’t going to lose to anything less than a lucky shot at UFC 271.

    UFC 271 is set for Saturday night, and one of the most anticipated middleweight fights of the year is slated between Derek Brunson and Jared Cannonier.

    Brunson is coming into this fight with Cannonier riding high on confidence. He believes he has what it takes to get the victory and set his sights on a title shot. In the leadup to the fight, Brunson spoke to the media during fight week and laid out the one scenario that he could see losing to Cannonier.

    “Jared is a guy who’s opportunistic,” Brunson said. “He stings in there. But I don’t really put him as really great at any one thing. He’s just a solid, tough guy… I feel I matchup really well. He’s gotta come out and fight the perfect fight. He’s gotta like, have a little luck on his side, and catch me. Skill for skill, it’s not even close.”

    Blonde Brunson
    Blonde Brunson

    Brunson and Cannonier were originally set to face off at UFC 270 last month, but the fight was pushed back. Brunson expressed that he felt the reasoning behind the move was to allow himself to stand in as a potential backup to the title fight. He believes that he has the skills right now to fight champion Israel Adesanya for the title; he just has to get past Cannonier.

    Although Brunson is not giving Cannonier much of a chance to beat him, Cannonier is one of the best in the division. He is coming off a very impressive win over Kelvin Gastelum in the summer and is ranked in the #3 spot.

    Brunson has seemed unstoppable in his last five outings. He may be correct in guessing that the winner of this bout will go on to face the champion next, whoever that might be after Saturday night. Brunson will be trying his best to make sure that he will be the next title challenger since his fighting days may be numbered.

    Who do you have winning at UFC 271, Derek Brunson or Jared Cannonier?

  • Brunson Lays Out Retirement Plan: Beat Cannonier, Beat Izzy, Peace Out

    UFC middleweight Derek Brunson has revealed he’s planning on retiring after two more appearances inside the Octagon.

    Brunson’s recent form has certainly been one of the more surprising stories of resurgence in recent memory. Entering 2019, the North Carolina native, who’s been a part of the UFC roster since 2012, was 2-4.

    A pair of two-fight skids, which featured defeats to reigning champion Israel Adesanya, former titleholder Robert Whittaker, GOAT contender Anderson Silva, and Brazilian grappling legend Ronaldo Souza, were separated by triumphs over Dan Kelly and Lyoto Machida.

    But since being finished by “The Last Stylebender,” Brunson has built an impressive five-fight win streak that has seen him climb to within touching distance of a title shot.

    After rebounding with wins against Elias Theodorou and Ian Heinisch, Brunson hit the form of his life following his transition to the now-infamous “Blonde Brunson.” Since making the hair alteration, the 38-year-old has finished Edmen Shahbazyan and Darren Till and outpointed Kevin Holland, all three of which came in main event contests.

    Having firmly placed himself in the title picture, “Blonde Brunson” will hope to maintain his unbeaten run against Jared Cannonier at UFC 271 this weekend, and secure a second clash with Adesanya, this time with gold on the line.

    Brunson Wants To Ride Out On Top

    While he may be on the best run he’s had across his decade in the promotion, Brunson is still planning on hanging up his gloves soon.

    During his appearance at UFC 271 media day, the #4-ranked middleweight was asked whether he’ll be content waiting for a title shot if Adesanya and Whittaker, who are set to headline this Saturday’s pay-per-view card, complete a trilogy later this year.

    After confirming that a championship opportunity is the only fight he’ll accept if he’s victorious over Cannonier, Brunson laid out his retirement plan, and it’s one that is perhaps further along than most would have expected.

    “I’m gonna sit and wait for a title fight after I win this fight. For sure. I’ve done everything I needed to do in this division,” said Brunson. “Honestly, I plan on fighting two more times. I feel like I’m lucky and blessed to like, fight in the UFC 20 times, and I’m super smart and got a good brain in my head, so I don’t wanna fight until I can’t fight no more. I’m in the best shape. I’m feeling good. So that’s all I’m thinking about right now; beat Cannonier, beat Izzy, and riding out. That’s it.”

    Brunson went on to confirm that regardless of the situation, he’s limiting himself to two more Octagon outings. He cited his desire for more family time and his target of retiring without accumulating significant damage as the reasons behind his decision.

    “Just two more times. You know, I spend a lot of time getting ready for these fights away from my family and stuff, and I’m 38,” Brunson continued. “I’m missing like, soccer games and stuff like that for my daughters. So, that’s more important to me than chasing money and stuff like that. I’ve been smart with my money, made enough money.

    “I have no excuses. I’m in really good shape. I feel really good. I’m motivated. I don’t even plan on losing. But I just know that you can’t do combat sports forever, and end peacefully. I feel like I’ve got a super good brain, my head is good, no injuries, nothing. I think finish my goal, finish my task, complete the mission, get the title, and be like, ‘Peace, I’m out,’” Brunson concluded.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYM7iRlvcTh/

    With toes dipping in the realms of real estate, gym ownership, fight promotion, and management, Brunson certainly won’t be short of new ventures and exciting possibilities moving forward when he does call an end to his fighting career.

    Do you think Derek Brunson has what it takes to beat Jared Cannonier and dethrone Israel Adesanya?

  • Derek Brunson Shares His Theory For Why Cannonier Fight Was Pushed Back

    Derek Brunson is ready to step into the title fight at UFC 271.

    Derek Brunson has his next matchup all set to go, as he will be taking on Jared Cannonier at UFC 271 next weekend. That matchup could potentially decide the next title contender. However, Brunson may not need to wait that long.

    Brunson revealed to MMA Junkie that he will be serving as the unofficial backup to the title fight between Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker who are headlining that card.

    The bout between Brunson and Cannonier was originally slated for UFC 270 that took place in January. The fight was switched to Feb 12. card at the last minute, and Brunson has now explained why he believes that is.

    “The UFC, I think they just wanted backups for the title fight in case someone went down, got injured, they have two guys, ’85-ers, #3- and #4-ranked guys that can jump in for a title shot,” Brunson said.

    Brunson is coming into this fight at UFC 271 having won his last five in the middleweight division. He is ranked fourth behind Cannonier, Marvin Vettori, and Whittaker. Even though he is ranked behind Cannonier, he could very well be the one to fill in since Cannonier recently lost to Whittaker. This is all subject to something going wrong with either Adesanya or Whittaker on that day. Either way, Brunson will be ready if his name is called.

    “For sure, I have been waiting for an opportunity, five in a row, I’ve been waiting for that title shot. So if the opportunity comes up, for sure,” he explained.

    Being able to jump right into a title fight situation would be ideal for Brunson. It would save him the trouble of having to beat Cannonier, which is a steep task. Cannonier is 3-1 in his last four, and since making his debut at middleweight, he has only lost to the former champ Whittaker. Cannonier holds wins over names like Anderson Silva and Kelvin Gastelum.

    How do you think Brunson would fare against either Adesanya or Whittaker in a fill-in situation?

  • Jared Cannonier: Blonde Brunson Gimmick Is Irrelevant To Me

    UFC middleweight contender Jared Cannonier says upcoming opponent Derek Brunson’s blonde “gimmick” will be irrelevant on fight night next month.

    Since back-to-back losses to Ronaldo Souza and Israel Adesanya appeared to suggest he’d slipped to the role of veteran gatekeeper at 185 pounds, Brunson has been in the form of his life. What did his change in fortunes coincide with? A new blonde hairstyle.

    “Blonde Brunson” debuted against Edmen Shahbazyan in the UFC Vegas 5 main event in 2020. At that point, the 38-year-old was already on a two-fight win streak, having had his hand raised against both Elias Theodorou and Ian Heinisch. But while Brunson’s career had previously been a tale of beating those below but often falling short against the elite, “Blonde Brunson” was a different beast.

    After brutally handing hot-prospect Shahbazyan his first loss, Brunson went on to halt the charge of five-time 2020 victor Kevin Holland last March, before submitting former welterweight title challenger Darren Till in his third-straight main event.

    Brunson is now set for the chance to stake his claim for a title shot and a rematch with “The Last Stylebender.” If he’s to do so, he’ll have to get through Jared Cannonier, who boasts championship aspirations of his own. The pair are set to collide on the UFC 271 main card on February 12.

    Cannonier: Brunson’s Blonde Hair Won’t Stop An Ass-Whooping

    While the “Blonde Brunson” gimmick is unbeaten in the Octagon to date and has firmly broken free of the gatekeeper shackles non-blonde Brunson was in three years ago, Cannonier has reminded his upcoming opponent that whatever color hair he has, it won’t change the result.

    During a recent interview with LowKick MMA, “The Killa Gorilla” credited Brunson for being able to keep himself relevant with another iteration of himself. However, the former heavyweight and light heavyweight fighter noted it has no relevancy to their fight, which he believes will see the 38-year-old get his “ass whooped.”

    “I mean, it’s a gimmick. Good for him. He’s found another gimmick that keeps him relevant for a little while longer,” said Cannonier. “But that shit is irrelevant to me. Those are all antics and that has absolutely fuck all to do with me whooping your ass. So that’s it.”

    After a damaging loss to Robert Whittaker at UFC 254 in October 2020, both physically and his surge towards the title, Cannonier rebounded in style when he returned to action in 2021. In a main event contest against perennial contender Kelvin Gastelum, “The Killa Gorilla” returned to to the win column with a comfortable victory on the scorecards.

    Sitting at #3 in the division with a 4-1 middleweight record, which includes wins against Anderson Silva and Jack Hermansson, Cannonier will be looking to book a date with Adesanya when he faces Brunson at next month’s pay-per-view.

    If Cannonier has his way, he’ll be turning “Blonde Brunson” into “Blood Brunson” come February 12.

    Do you expect Jared Cannonier to get the better of “Blonde Brunson” at UFC 271?

  • Derek Brunson Welcomes Charles Oliveira Into A Sacred Club

    Derek Brunson has welcomed UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira to join him in celebrating a successful 2021 for “the culture.”

    The culture that Brunson is referring to is that of blonde excellence. Since making the career-altering change to his hair color, Derek Brunson underwent a transformation: from overlooked gatekeeper into the seemingly unbeatable Blonde Brunson.

    Derek Brunson's tweet - "Built different ❗️❗️❗️ @HenryCejudo & @giga_chikadze here's some help with the Blonde Brunson flex , your one freebie! ???? " - Trendsmap
    Blonde Brunson

    Blonde Brunson made his UFC debut last year when he derailed the hype train of Edmen Shahbazyan with a TKO victory. Shahbazyan hasn’t quite been the same since, and neither has the MMA world after the arrival of Blonde Brunson.

    In 2021, Blonde Brunson has remained undefeated. First, he was able to silence “Big Mouth” Kevin Holland with a one-sided victory in March. He then outdid himself in his second consecutive main event by defeating Darren Till via rear-naked choke in the third round of another dominant performance in September.

    Blonde Brunson will enter 2022 looking to remain undefeated. But before he rings in the new year, Brunson took a moment to share his spotlight with a blonde brother from another mother, UFC lightweight champion Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXy3hDDrN6A/

    “One time for the culture . The culture went 4-0 in 2021 #undefeated #BlondeBrunson #BlondeCharles” Brunson posted on Instagram.

    Brunson also offered congratulations to Oliveira directly, who gladly accepted his membership into this sacred club. The lightweight champ even sealed this blonde alliance with a virtual fist bump.

    Image

    Charles Oliveira did not have a shabby 2021 run himself by any means. As Brunson referenced, Oliveira also went 2-0 this year. He first captured the UFC lightweight championship at UFC 262 by defeating Michael Chandler via TKO in a vacant title bout. He then followed that up by defeating Dustin Poirier in the UFC’s final pay-per-view bout of the year to retain the title at UFC 269.

    Now that Blonde Brunson has welcomed Oliveira into the blonde family this Christmas season, Brunson will now look to enter a sacred group that Oliveira is already in: the UFC champion’s club.

    To do so, he first must get past Jared Cannonier at UFC 271 on February 12 to remain undefeated and draw one step closer to capturing his own world championship—for the culture.

  • Derek Brunson vs. Jared Cannonier Moved To UFC 271 In February

    The middleweight title eliminator between Derek Brunson and Jared Cannonier has been moved to UFC 271 on February 12.

    ESPN was the first to report the new date for the bout. The event is set to be headlined by Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker and is scheduled to take place in the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.

    Barring the unexpected, this match will be widely viewed as a #1-contender bout to determine who faces the winner of Adesanya/Whittaker 2, with one of the two men potentially acting as a replacement option for the main event.

    Both Brunson and Cannonier have compelling arguments for a title shot. In Brunson’s case, he is currently riding an impressive five-fight winning streak, including most recently finishing former UFC title challenger Darren Till in September. For Cannonier, he was victorious in a bout in August in defeating Kelvin Gastelum, thus making it four wins out of his last five fights.

    With this adjustment, here is the updated lineup for UFC 271:

    UFC Middleweight Championship Bout: Israel Adesanya(c) vs. Robert Whittaker

    Jared Cannonier vs. Derek Brunson

    Alex Perez vs. Matt Schnell

    Alexander Hernandez vs. Renato Moicano

    Roxanne Modafferi vs. Casey O’Neill

    Douglas Silva de Andrade vs. Sergey Morozov

    Mark Madsen vs. Vinc Pichel

    Fabio Cherant vs. Carlos Ulberg

    Orion Cosce vs. Mike Mathetha

    Maxim Grishin vs. Ed Herman

    Ronnie Lawrence vs. Mana Martinez

    AJ Dobson vs. Jacob Malkoun

    Who do you think will emerge victorious in this middleweight title eliminator between Derek Brunson and Jared Cannonier?

  • Cannonier Vows To “Turn Blonde Brunson Into Blood Brunson” At UFC 270

    UFC middleweight Jared Cannonier is confident he’ll become the first man to defeat “Blonde Brunson” when they collide at UFC 270.

    The two top-five contenders are set to meet in an apparent title eliminator at the first pay-per-view of 2022. Having competed across three different weight classes in the UFC, a victory would likely lead to Cannonier’s first title shot on MMA’s biggest stage.

    Since moving down to 185 pounds, “The Killa Gorilla” has gone 4-1. Three straight victories over David Branch, Anderson Silva, and Jack Hermansson established himself in the championship conversation. While a loss on the scorecards and a broken arm at the hands of former champ Robert Whittaker stalled his charge to the top, Cannonier revived his title aspirations with a main event win against perennial contender Kelvin Gastelum in August.

    Brunson, meanwhile, has transcended from the status of divisional gatekeeper to contender with an impressive five-fight winning streak since a defeat to current champ Israel Adesanya. After decision triumphs over Elias Theodorou and Ian Heinisch, “Blonde Brunson” entered the scene and dominated Edmen Shahbazyan, Kevin Holland, and Darren Till. The veteran will be looking to secure a rematch with “The Last Stylebender” at Cannonier’s expense come January 22.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CVyuh3ConYP/

    Despite his opponent’s hot form, Cannonier is confident he’ll impose his will and end Brunson’s unbeaten run as a blonde fighter when they enter the Octagon together. In an interview with The Schmo, the 37-year-old revealed his intention to adjust Brunson’s new moniker in a brutal way.

    “Get ready. I’m about to bust open this UFC middleweight division wide open as soon as I turn blonde Brunson into blood Brunson, because I’m gonna bloody him up, I’mma batter him up. Ground beef Brunson, whatever the hell you wanna call him, I’mma beat this man up. Then I’m gonna move on to my title, and I plan on doing the same thing to each and every person after that.”

    Cannonier: I’m A Terrible Matchup For Brunson

    Despite mostly being known for his standup skills, which has helped him record nine knockouts in his 19-fight professional career, Cannonier believes he has the grappling pedigree to hang with the best in that regard.

    For that reason, “The Killa Gorilla” believes his all-round abilities make him a terrible matchup for Brunson, who has often been criticized for his technique on the feet.

    “I think it’s a perfect matchup for me. It’s a classic grappler vs. predominant striker in myself. But I can grapple with the best as well. And I feel that, you know, this is a perfect matchup for me, a terrible matchup for him. So yeah, I plan on going in there and making that happen.”

    A victory for either man should see them book a meeting with either Adesanya or Whittaker for the second half of 2022. The reigning middleweight king is expected to defend his title against former champ “The Reaper” at the UFC 271 pay-per-view in February.

    Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC 270, Jared Cannonier or Derek Brunson?