Derek Brunson has been a mainstay within the UFC since leaving Strikeforce in 2012 and has been competing within the octagon for over a decade. The veteran has seen his personal share of ups and downs since his debut 11 years in the past and has amassed some memorable victories throughout that point.
Simply final month, it was introduced that the 39-year-old would carry an finish to his time within the UFC and we lastly have extra particulars on his subsequent transfer. Talking with The Schmo, Ali Abdelaziz—the famend MMA supervisor—reminisced on his shopper’s time below his former employer.
“Derek Brunson, he signed with PFL. He is a PFL fighter, he is gonna struggle earlier than [the] finish of the 12 months. ” Acknowledged Abdelaziz. “He did loads for the UFC, the UFC did loads for him. He have an amazing profession, he have a loopy schedule. He is fought [Robert] Whittaker, fought [Israel] Adesanya, fought Kevin Holland, fought all the blokes. Darren Until.”
Brunson’s historical past within the UFC runs deep and he has been locked contained in the cage with a number of the best to ever compete within the sport. Though his finest years are possible behind him, Abdelaziz detailed precisely what the middleweight hopes to realize in his new promotion.
“He is seeking to make his run at [the] mild heavyweight title for [the] PFL. PFL is rising worldwide. They’re doing nice issues and you are able to do nothing however respect what they’re doing there.”
PFL has been making large waves lately and is shortly rising to change into thought-about the second-best group within the sport. Their current additions have all hit the bottom operating and ‘The One’ can be hoping to comply with of their footsteps.
Associated: Cedric Doumbe makes 9-second knockout debut at PFL Paris
Previous to his UFC launch, Brunson was scheduled to face Roman Dolidze on the large UFC 295 card in November. There was confusion because the bout fell by way of however Abdelaziz confirmed the fighter and the corporate got here to a mutual settlement on his departure.Â
“I feel, man, generally your time is up. And the UFC is truthfully nice about that. Plenty of different promotions, they attempt to maintain you and so they have all proper to do. His time was up and it was mutual. It was very respectful. I am grateful. I wanna thank Mick [Maynard], I wanna thank Dana [White] for making this occur. It is very easy, very respectful. Derek has nothing unhealthy to say in regards to the UFC, the UFC don’t have anything unhealthy to say about him. I feel UFC did loads for Derek Brunson, you already know? However I feel Derek Brunson’s time there’s executed. And [now] he has to maneuver as much as mild heavyweight and [is] in all probability going to win one million {dollars} on this match.”
🚨 BREAKING: Derek Brunson has signed with @PFLMMA and shifting as much as Mild Heavyweight Division to compete in 1 Mil Event https://t.co/XqaJCYS1Bm pic.twitter.com/NaBcgFDVZg
— The Schmo (@TheSchmo312) October 5, 2023
