Tag: Derek Brunson

UFC veteran Derek Brunson signs with the PFL, set for November debut against Ray Cooper III

derek brunsonDerek Brunson has now signed with the PFL and will compete in their light-heavyweight tournament after splitting from the UFC. During his decade-long UFC career, Brunson spent a long time hanging around the middleweight top-15 and gained some valuable wins while doing so. The 39-year-old defeated the likes of Lyoto Machida, Uriah Hall and Kevin […]

derek brunson

Derek Brunson has now signed with the PFL and will compete in their light-heavyweight tournament after splitting from the UFC.

During his decade-long UFC career, Brunson spent a long time hanging around the middleweight top-15 and gained some valuable wins while doing so. The 39-year-old defeated the likes of Lyoto Machida, Uriah Hall and Kevin Holland during his tenure, but his time with the promotion is now over. 

Brunson had been booked to face Roman Dolidze in November, but out of the blue it was announced that Brunson was out of the but and shortly after it was announced that he had parted ways with the UFC.

Derek Brunson signs with PFL

It was unclear why the fight had fallen through, or what Brunson would do next. Some speculated that the American would retire but it wouldn’t take long for some big news to drop.

Talking with The Schmo, Brunson’s manager Ali Abdelaziz announced that he had signed with the PFL and would be moving up to 205lbs to fight in the $1 million light-heavyweight tournament.

“Derek Brunson, he signed with PFL, he’s a PFL fighter,” Abdelaziz told The Schmo. “He’s gonna fight before the end of the year. He did a lot for the UFC. UFC did a lot for him. He had a great career, crazy schedule, fought (Robert) Whittaker, fought (Israel) Adesanya, fought Kevin Holland, fought all those guys, Darren Till. Now he’s looking to make his run at the light heavyweight title for PFL.” (H/T BJPenn.com)

Shortly after, Brunson took to social media to make his own announcement.

The PFL move is a fantastic opportunity for Brunson to make one last run and potentially collect a world title, along with a big payday, before officially calling it a career. it was just announced that Brunson would make his promotional debut at middleweight against Ray Cooper III on November 24.

How will Derek Brunson do in the PFL? 

Derek Brunson released from UFC contract after 11 year tenure, November fight with Roman Dolidze scrapped

Derek Brunson released from the UFC after 11 year run fight with Roman Dolidze cancelledDominance MMA leader, Ali Abdelaziz has confirmed his client, veteran middleweight contender, Derek Brunson has been released from his contract with the UFC following an 11-year tenure, despite booking a fight with Georgian challenger, Roman Dolidze at UFC 295 in November at Madison Square Garden.  Per an initial report from MMA Fighting, as per UFC […]

Derek Brunson released from the UFC after 11 year run fight with Roman Dolidze cancelled

Dominance MMA leader, Ali Abdelaziz has confirmed his client, veteran middleweight contender, Derek Brunson has been released from his contract with the UFC following an 11-year tenure, despite booking a fight with Georgian challenger, Roman Dolidze at UFC 295 in November at Madison Square Garden. 

Per an initial report from MMA Fighting, as per UFC officials, Brunson has been released from his contract with the promotion, with his bout against Dolidze, which was scheduled to take place at UFC 295 on November 11., now scrapped.

Confirming Brunson’s departure from the UFC, the aforenoted, Abdelaziz claimed the 39-year-old “has to move on” from competing under the Dana White-led banner. 

“Derek Brunson has been under the UFC umbrella for 11 years,” Ali Abdelaziz said in a statement released to MMA Fighting. “He had an amazing career there. The last seven years he’s been in the top 10 rankings. The UFC was amazing to him there, helped shape who he is today and I’m very grateful for the opportunity he was given. He has to move on and looking forward to what comes next for him.” 

Derek Brunson was scheduled to fight at UFC 295 in November

Most recently competing back in March of this year, Brunson slumped to his second consecutive loss, dropping a second round corner stoppage TKO loss to Dricus du Plessis, which followed a prior knockout loss to Jared Cannonier in the pair’s title-eliminator.

Between 2019 and 2021, Brunson had enjoyed an impressive run of five consecutive victories, defeating the late, Elias Theodorou, Ian Heinisch, Edmen Shahbazyan, Kevin Holland, and former welterweight title challenger, Darren Till in a main event slot. 

Across his storied career, the North Carolina veteran has also landed notable career victories over the likes of Chris Leben, Lorenz Larkin, Sam Alvey, Roan Carneiro, Uriah Hall, and former light heavyweight champion, Lyoto Machida. 

What do you make of Derek Brunson’s 11-year stint under the UFC banner?

Dricus Du Plessis Hoping To Fight Winner Of Alex Pereira Vs. Israel Adesanya

Dricus Du Plessis thinks that an undefeated start to his UFC career is enough to warrant a shot at the winner of the upcoming Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya rematch. “Stillknocks” joined the UFC in 2020 after earning back-to-back stoppage wins, and s…

Dricus Du Plessis thinks that an undefeated start to his UFC career is enough to warrant a shot at the winner of the upcoming Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya rematch. “Stillknocks” joined the UFC in 2020 after earning back-to-back stoppage wins, and so far the South African has yet to taste defeat in the Octagon….

Continue Reading Dricus Du Plessis Hoping To Fight Winner Of Alex Pereira Vs. Israel Adesanya at MMA News.

Derek Brunson Suggests He’s Retiring In Cryptic Tweet After Loss At UFC 285

A tweet from Derek Brunson after his loss at UFC 285 appears to imply that the middleweight veteran might be hanging up his gloves. The 39-year-old entered UFC 285 as the promotion’s #5-ranked middleweight contender, but Brunson was also coming off a k…

A tweet from Derek Brunson after his loss at UFC 285 appears to imply that the middleweight veteran might be hanging up his gloves. The 39-year-old entered UFC 285 as the promotion’s #5-ranked middleweight contender, but Brunson was also coming off a knockout loss to former title challenger Jared Cannonier at UFC 271. That setback…

Continue Reading Derek Brunson Suggests He’s Retiring In Cryptic Tweet After Loss At UFC 285 at MMA News.

‘If Herb Dean Wasn’t Going To Stop It, Glad Someone Did’: Twitter Reacts To Derek Brunson’s Corner Throwing In Towel At UFC 285

It is a rare scene that a UFC fight gets stopped because a corner threw in the towel, but it happened to Derek Brunson at UFC 285. Brunson started off strong in his fight with Dricus du Plessis, ending the first round with a solid amount of ground cont…

It is a rare scene that a UFC fight gets stopped because a corner threw in the towel, but it happened to Derek Brunson at UFC 285. Brunson started off strong in his fight with Dricus du Plessis, ending the first round with a solid amount of ground control time. However caution was thrown to…

Continue Reading ‘If Herb Dean Wasn’t Going To Stop It, Glad Someone Did’: Twitter Reacts To Derek Brunson’s Corner Throwing In Towel At UFC 285 at MMA News.

Derek Brunson: ‘I Won’t Point-Fight Like Many In This Era’

UFC middleweight contender Derek Brunson insists he’s always searching for the finish, a frame of mind he sees as rare in this day and age. This weekend, Brunson will make his first walk to the Octagon in over a year. Entering 2022, the 39-year-o…

UFC middleweight contender Derek Brunson insists he’s always searching for the finish, a frame of mind he sees as rare in this day and age. This weekend, Brunson will make his first walk to the Octagon in over a year. Entering 2022, the 39-year-old was riding an impressive five-fight winning streak that included headline stoppage…

Continue Reading Derek Brunson: ‘I Won’t Point-Fight Like Many In This Era’ at MMA News.