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After 21 fights and greater than a decade on the roster, UFC Middleweight contender Derek Brunson has been launched from the UFC. First reported by UFC Roster Watch and later confirmed by MMAFighting’s Damon Martin, Brunson has not retired. As a substitute, he was launched outright after withdrawing from a deliberate bout versus Roman Dolidze.
The discharge is pretty shocking. As of this week, Brunson was ranked because the seventh greatest Middleweight contender on the earth. Admittedly, he’s additionally 39 years of age and coming off a pair of stoppage losses, although each these defeats got here reverse Prime 5-ranked contenders Dricus Du Plessis and Jared Cannonier. Brunson has talked about retirement beforehand, however I can’t think about he anticipated UFC to make the choice for him.
Luckily, there are different choices for Middleweight free brokers. Brunson’s title has beforehand been introduced up as a possible opponent for Jake Paul’s MMA debut, and now that he’s free to pursue such a possibility, Brunson rapidly turned to social media in an try to get involved with “The Downside Baby.”
It stays to be seen if Paul takes the bait.
As for Brunson’s UFC profession, he can stroll away along with his head held excessive. Brunson spent nearly all of his 11 years on the roster as a ranked contender, defeating main names like Kevin Holland, Lyoto Machida, and Darren Until. As well as, he’s shared the cage with many champions, together with Anderson Silva, Robert Whittaker, and Israel Adesanya. Over the course of his profession, Brunson repeatedly turned away prospects and shocked bettors within the course of.
Insomnia
Roman Dolidze calls out Robert Whittaker for a yr finish scrap. I might dig it!
Don’t have any worry, Battle Circus is returning this month!
I’m at all times in favor of some Ov vs. Ov violence.
Anecdote of the week: Combating and taxes are humorous. I’ve one well-known pal who can not go to a sure nation in Europe after preventing there and opting to not pay the associated taxes. I’ve one other not-so-famous pal who fought professionally and labored in gyms for ten years with out ever submitting a tax return.
John Makdessi confirmed how a lot he created from UFC 293
The UFC expenses fighters for flights and medicals and the Australian Tax is half of what he made pic.twitter.com/hYfSkIgNI5
— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) September 14, 2023
UFC CEO Dana White publicly addresses the notorious NYE slapping video:
It’s a very good factor Adesanya and Strickland didn’t wrestle a lot, as a result of rolling with somebody with lengthy nails is AWFUL.
Alexander Volkov reveals off his bonus-winning choke method:
Valentina Shevchenko is bringing the best depth to the rematch, however the stats are in opposition to her.
Slips, rips, and KO clips
I publish Bas Rutten highlights any time I see ‘em.
I’ve by no means seen somebody pull backside aspect management from prime place to assault the buggy choke. Neat!
A pleasant spotlight of a KSW standout:
Random Land
Up shut and private.
Midnight Music: Folks, 1965
Sleep properly Maniacs! Extra martial arts insanity is at all times on the best way.
