Tag: Derek Brunson

Five Best Fights To Make After UFC on FOX 27

The UFC’s FOX-aired cards seem to be getting a good deal smaller in scope and quality since the UFC signed over television broadcasting rights to FOX. The first event featured a heavyweight title fight, something that would entice perhaps more casual fans to eventually order a PPV. Now, the main cards are extremely top-heavy at […]

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The UFC’s FOX-aired cards seem to be getting a good deal smaller in scope and quality since the UFC signed over television broadcasting rights to FOX.

The first event featured a heavyweight title fight, something that would entice perhaps more casual fans to eventually order a PPV.

Now, the main cards are extremely top-heavy at best, and not noteworthy at worst. Saturday night was a typical FOX card in 2017/2018; some bright spots and a whole lot of waiting and drawn out fights in between.

Regardless, the UFC landscape has changed again, with a once-great middleweight re-emerging as a top contender and a slew of other changes to the chess game that makes up the UFC weight divisions.

Where do the fighters of UFC on FOX 27 go from here? We broke that down in our list of the five best fights to make following UFC on FOX 27:

Andre Fili
Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports

5. Andre Fili vs. Doo Ho Choi

Fili and Choi are two solid but young featherweights who are looking to establish themselves in the division with as much consistency as they can muster.

Choi faltered a bit in his last bout, dropping a TKO loss to veteran Jeremy Stephens, while Fili got back on track with a close split decision over Dennis Bermudez in the UFC on FOX 27 co-main event.

Both men have shown flashes of brilliance during their UFC careers, but have been dealt some stiff competition given their ages and experience.

A fight between the two is perfect for this point and time in their respective careers, and a win for either man woud put them that much closer to the consistency needed to make it to a title shot in a stacked division like featherweight.

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UFC on FOX 27 Does Record-Low Overnight Numbers

Last night’s (Sat., January 27, 2018 ) UFC on FOX 27 from the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, was low on star power, and the overnight ratings would seem to reflect that accurately. According to a report from MMA Fighting, UFC on FOX 27 brought in 1.593,000 viewers and an 0.5 rating in the UFC’s […]

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Last night’s (Sat., January 27, 2018 ) UFC on FOX 27 from the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, was low on star power, and the overnight ratings would seem to reflect that accurately.

According to a report from MMA Fighting, UFC on FOX 27 brought in 1.593,000 viewers and an 0.5 rating in the UFC’s targeted 18-49 demo. Those numbers resulted in an alarming 21-percent drop from last year’s UFC on FOX event, which featured Valentina Shevchenko submitting Julianna Pena in the main event, and a lofty 35 percent dropoff from the same show two years ago, where Anthony “Rumble” Johnson submitted Ryan Bader in the show’s headliner.

The figure breaks the record of the low for a FOX overnight rating that was previously held by last July’s UFC on FOX 22 where Chris Weidman submitted Kelvin Gastelum in the main event.

The figures aren’t a big surprise considering the lack of big personalities on the card, which featured some strong fights and finishes but really only featured Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, who stopped Derek Brunson in the main event, and the Brazilian grappling expert, who is only now beginning to speak English on the mic consistently, isn’t exactly a mainstream star just yet. For example, the event featured Andre Fili vs. Dennis Bermudez in a featherweight co-main event, a solid Fight Night main card bout but not exactly a deserving co-main event for a big FOX-aired show.

It’s important to note that the numbers will be significantly higher when West Coast viewing is factored in, but it’s also important to note that UFC on FOX 27 may not enjoy as big a boost as this would normally provide because most FOX-aired cards end after 10 p.m. and get the biggest numbers when the main event is on. But this main event ended in the first round, the worst that could happen for overall numbers as the increase in final numbers did not have the time required to become a vast one.

Overall, it may have been expected in some sense, yet it’s still a concerning set of circumstances as the UFC heads into the negotiating period for their new television deal this year. It’s also shocking in some form after the Fight Night main event between Jeremy Stephens and Dooho Choi did the biggest number in almost two years just two weeks ago.

 

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Biggest Winners & Losers From UFC on FOX 27

While last night’s (Sat., Jan. 27, 2018) UFC on FOX 27 from the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, may not have had the name recognition or overall excitement of last week’s UFC 220 pay-per-view and its two title fights, it was a solid card thanks to the performances of a few select – and elite […]

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While last night’s (Sat., Jan. 27, 2018) UFC on FOX 27 from the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, may not have had the name recognition or overall excitement of last week’s UFC 220 pay-per-view and its two title fights, it was a solid card thanks to the performances of a few select – and elite – fighters.

The victors were obvious winners while defeat is never a good thing in the rare company of the UFC, but for some fighters at UFC on FOX 27, it was much more than a matter of simply winning or losing. For them, the ramifications of their fights would have both immediate and lasting impacts on their MMA careers, making the event a critical moment even if it wasn’t highly anticipated by the sport’s viewing public.

Let’s look back at the true biggest winners and losers from UFC on FOX 27.

Jeremy Brevard for USA TODAY Sports

Winner: Jacare Souza

An obvious choice based on his impressive first-round finish over a dangerous opponent in Derek Brunson, Jacare’s win meant so much more than just another victory on his already decorated MMA record.

Most feel he should have already gotten a title shot during his five-fight UFC win streak from 2012-2015, but in the notoriously tough middleweight landscape, there is small roomer for error and Jacare lost two bouts to Yoel Romero and champion Robert Whittaker. The dominant Brazilian jiu-jitsu master needed a win perhaps more than ever in his fighting career following a lengthy absence after Whittaker knocked him out last April and a serious pectoral tear surgery, as the window to truly contend was growing smaller for the 38-year-old vet.

Souza answered all the doubts about his status Saturday night, and he did so by showing his all-around game. Perhaps more so than any man at 185 pounds, Brunson was known for throwing caution to the wind and seeking to knock his opponent out in the first round – often to his benefit and sometimes to his detriment.

But it was Souza who scored the first-round knockout in this match-up, a rematch of their 2012 fight in Strikeforce which Souza also won by first-round stoppage, and he did it without rushing in or risking defeat in a spot where he needed a win. Jacare stalked Brunson like the true alligator his namesake would suggest patiently waits for their prey to make a mistake and head into the water, methodically picking the right time to unleash a vicious head kick that dropped Brunson.

A huge uppercut and some big hooks dropped Brunson a few more times, and although he later complained about the stoppage, it was a merciful one, one that cemented Jacare at the top of the supremely confusing middleweight title picture.

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Derek Brunson Remains Positive After TKO Loss At UFC on FOX 27

Although he lost in his most recent bout, Derek Brunson is staying positive and still has his sights on UFC gold. As seen in the main event of UFC on FOX 27 (UFC Charlotte) on Saturday, January 27, 2018, at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina on big FOX, Ronaldo Souza scored a devastating knockout […]

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Although he lost in his most recent bout, Derek Brunson is staying positive and still has his sights on UFC gold.

As seen in the main event of UFC on FOX 27 (UFC Charlotte) on Saturday, January 27, 2018, at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina on big FOX, Ronaldo Souza scored a devastating knockout victory over Brunson in the first round.

Despite the loss, Brunson believes he can still get a title shot following this latest setback.

By looking at the history books, this marks the second time that Brunson lost to Souza.

If you recall, their first bout went down in August 2012 under the Strikeforce banner. That fight saw Souza win in just 41 seconds by knockout.

“(It’s) definitely not to the top (after this loss),” Brunson told MMAjunkie post-fight. “Definitely not to the top five or anything; I’m back to the drawing board. I don’t know. He might have a couple more years in the sport. I have a little more years than he has left in the sport. I can still get to that top spot.”

Brunson stated to the media who were in attendance for this event that his performance was going according to plan before the KO. Also, he felt that he was well protected from the head kick that ultimately rocked him and set up the finish.

“Everything was going good; I was feeling good,” Brunson said. “I felt I had the speed advantage big time. I saw some (times) where I could have turned it a little more, but I really wanted to stick to my game plan and just be patient and take my time and not make mistakes out there. But I learned the hard way. Definitely have to be a little bit tighter out there as far as defending kicks. Even if I do think I’m seeing things well, just got to be a little bit tighter.

“I can’t blame nobody but myself,” he continued. “I look at the replay and, man, I cover up a little bit tighter, and we’re still in the fight. I felt really good in the fight, was doing well. I saw myself taking him out, but hey, it didn’t go my way. So it’s just back to the drawing board.”

“I know a lot of the matchups I’ve wanted, with the guys ahead of me, no one wanted to really give me those fights,” Brunson said. “It had to be the rematches and stuff like that. The super tough, well rounded, veteran guys and stuff like that. But I’m down to fight anybody. I’ve fought everybody. So it’s just back to the drawing board and keep improving and get that next fight lined up.”

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UFC on FOX 27 Reebok Fighter Payouts: Derek Brunson Tops Everyone

UFC on FOX 27 is in the books, and now it’s time for Reebok to pay the fighters their sponsorship money. UFC on FOX 27 (UFC Charlotte) took place on Saturday, January 27, 2018 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The event marked the promotion’s third visit to Charlotte, and first since March of […]

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UFC on FOX 27 is in the books, and now it’s time for Reebok to pay the fighters their sponsorship money.

UFC on FOX 27 (UFC Charlotte) took place on Saturday, January 27, 2018 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The event marked the promotion’s third visit to Charlotte, and first since March of 2010.

The main card will air on FOX at 8 p.m. ET while the preliminary card will be split broadcasted on FOX at 5 p.m. ET and the promotion’s streaming service, UFC Fight Pass, at 3 p.m. ET.

Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza vs. Derek Brunson in a middleweight bout served as the headliner while Dennis Bermudez vs. Andre Fili in a featherweight bout served as the co-main event. Rounding out the four bout card was Jordan Rinaldi vs. Gregor Gillespie in a lightweight bout and Drew Dober vs. Frank Camacho in a lightweight bout.

The full UFC payouts include:

Derek Brunson: $15,000
Ronaldo Souza: $10,000

Andre Fili: $5,000
def. Dennis Bermudez: $10,000

Gregor Gillespie: $5,000
def. Jordan Rinaldi: $3,500

Drew Dober: $5,000
def. Frank Camacho: $3,500

Bobby Green: $10,000
def. Erik Koch: $10,000

Mirsad Bektic: $5,000
def. Godofredo Pepey: $10,000

Katlyn Chookagian: $5,000
def. Mara Romero Borella: $3,500

Randa Markos: $5,000
def. Juliana Lima: $5,000

Ji Yeon Kim: $3,500
def. Justine Kish: $5,000

Vinc Pichel: $5,000
def. Joaquim Silva: $5,000

Niko Price: $5,000
def. George Sullivan: $5,000

Cory Sandhagen: $3,500
def. Austin Arnett: $3,500

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Jacare Souza vs. Derek Brunson Full Fight Video Highlights

After losing a stinging TKO at the hands of current UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in his last bout, former Strikeforce champ Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza returned for the first time against last April when he faced off with dangerous knockout artist Derek Brunson in the main event of tonight’s (Sat., January 27, 2018 ) UFC on FOX […]

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After losing a stinging TKO at the hands of current UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in his last bout, former Strikeforce champ Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza returned for the first time against last April when he faced off with dangerous knockout artist Derek Brunson in the main event of tonight’s (Sat., January 27, 2018 ) UFC on FOX 27 from the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Many wondered how the aging Souza would look against the hometown fan favorite Brunson, who had rebounded from his own losses to Whittaker and Anderson Silva to rack up two consecutive knockout wins of his own. The two had faced off before as well, with Jacare knocking Brunson out in the first round of their initial Strikeforce meeting in 2012.

The general school of thought was that Brunson had improved by leaps and bounds on the feet since then, and Souza’s main edge would obviously be his legendary Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills in the cage.

However, Souza proved he can still outstrike the best. After some early rushing combos from Brunson, Jacare timed a perfect head kick that dropped Brunson as he followed up with a huge uppercut and a series of hooks that all dropped a wobbly Brunson while he failed to defend himself, leading to a referee stoppage.

Watch the highlights of Jacare’s much-needed knockout victory here:

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