UFC 319 might have put things into perspective for a former top contender.
The UFC Middleweight Championship was on the line in the UFC 319 main event between champion Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev.
Despite how well-rounded he is, du Plessis couldn’t negate the takedowns or grappling transitions from the highly-touted Chimaev. Chimaev held du Plessis down for five rounds to win the title via unanimous decision.
This was du Plessis’ first UFC loss in ten fights. Du Plessis had not fought a wrestler besides Chimaev since Derek Brunson, who came close to ruining his streak at UFC 285 in 2023.
Brunson gave DDP one of his toughest fights but ultimately lost via second-round TKO. The former top contender cited he had COVID-19 afterwards.
Du Plessis was Brunson’s final opponent in the Octagon. After that fight, Brunson decided to leave the UFC with a winning record and signed with the PFL in free agency, which he now admits was a mistake.
Derek Brunson regrets leaving UFC for PFL after Dricus du Plessis fight
Brunson has only fought once since his last UFC fight with du Plessis.
In his PFL debut, Brunson got his hand raised against former PFL champion Ray Cooper in Nov. 2023. We haven’t seen him since.
On the same night his former rival du Plessis took on Chimaev at UFC 319, Brunson revealed there was regret behind his PFL signing.
“Me: leaving the UFC to go to PFL,” Brunson posted a picture of a clown on X.
“I don’t know what the hell I was thinking!” Brunson said of his PFL move.
Brunson was once ranked #4 in the world in the UFC middleweight division. The American has wins over the likes of Darren Till, Kevin Holland, Edmen Shahbayzan, Lyoto Machida, and Uriah Hall.
“UFC is the standard,” Brunson said of the UFC in another post.
Brunson fought in the UFC 21 times.
Derek Brunson is currently signed to BKFC
Known as a wrestler in the UFC, Brunson will look to show his power the next time out.
At 41, Brunson has signed with Bareknuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). UFC superstar and part-owner Conor McGregor announced Brunson’s signing over the summer along with former UFC title challengers Yoel Romero and Thiago Santos.
Half of Brunson’s 14 UFC wins have come by knockout.
We’ll see how the UFC veteran fares without 4oz gloves on, in a brand new sport.