***** Watch Full Fight Highlights Here!!! *****
Darren Till and Derek Brunson went to war tonight (Sat., Sept. 4, 2021) in a main event Middleweight clash from inside UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada, at UFC Vegas 36. Brunson entered his third consecutive main event slot in the midst of a career renaissance, the outcome of a smarter approach to combat sports. By keeping his chin tucked and staying patient, Brunson has put together a strong four-fight win streak. Till, meanwhile, is still highly ranked, but the charismatic Englishman really needed to return to the win column if he was ever going to make good on his promise to challenge Israel Adesanya.
Though not an official title eliminator, one man took another step closer to Middleweight gold. Strap in for tonight’s main event and follow along below for live updates and highlight clips:
Round One
Till takes the the center immediately and lands a left hand. Brunson fires back, and Till scores a knee from the clinch. Brunson finds a left. 1-2 from the Englishman. Another. A third! Brunson hits his knees on a takedown attempt and gets it immediately. Brunson looks down half guard and lands short punches. Big left hands from Brunson! The wrestler is doing real damage with his ground strikes, and Till feels it. Huge elbow from Brunson! Till looks out of his element beneath such a big, strong wrestling specialist. Till returns to his feet with 60 seconds remaining. Nothing significant is landed before the bell. 10-9 Brunson
Brunson in on the takedown and GnP early! #UFCVegas36 pic.twitter.com/B60UTedlbd
— UFC (@ufc) September 4, 2021
Round Two
Till sticks a jab and denies a sloppy shot. Good left hand scores for Till, who very nearly is taken down afterward but manages to deny the shot. Brunson returns to the shot, but it’s again stuffed. Till digs a nice knee to the mid-section and breaks away. Clean uppercut from Brunson sets up a takedown, and this one is completed into half guard once again. Brunson is mostly focused on control, but he still lands a few big shots. Till makes it back to his feet in the final seconds of the round. 10-9 Brunson
The grappling from Brunson is an issue through round 2??. #UFCVegas36 pic.twitter.com/EEwXgtPnRv
— UFC (@ufc) September 4, 2021
Round Three
Till stings Brunson with a clean left early. Another left connects, and Till stuffs a takedown along the fence. Good knee and elbow connection from Till, following by a low kick. Another clean low kick scores for Till. A third! Brunson does not like the low kicks. Brunson lands a left. Till lands a harder left and Brunson is hurt! Brunson dives into a takedown and lands in the mount! Till gives up his back and is flattened out! Just as momentum was going the other way, Brunson locks in the choke and finishes Till!
DOMINATION
@DerekBrunson calls for a rematch with the champ after submitting Till. #UFCVegas36 pic.twitter.com/0q8dzG2z2u
— UFC (@ufc) September 4, 2021
Result: Derek Brunson defeats Darren Till via third round rear naked choke (HIGHLIGHTS)
For complete UFC Vegas 36: “Till vs. Brunson” results and play-by-play, click HERE!