It was recently announced that Derek Brunson is no longer a part of the UFC. Due to unknown reasons, the long-time middleweight contender and the promotion have mutually agreed to part ways. Brunson’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, confirmed the news and later officially reported by ESPN and MMA Fighting.
Derek Brunson spent 11 years in the world’s premier MMA promotion and had made 21 outings in the octagon. ‘The One’ was widely known for his spectacular fighting style and his one-of-a-kind persona that made him an instant fan favorite. Brunson’s UFC run saw him rack up an impressive 14-7 record, with two separate five-fight win streaks that nearly earned him a championship opportunity.
While Derek Brunson was slated to fight Roman Dolidze at UFC 295 in November, that bout has now been scrapped. Prior to that, the North Carolina native was on a two-fight losing slide. He suffered a second-round knockout loss to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 285 after being KO’d in the second screen by Jared Cannonier at UFC 271.
While it’s unclear why he pulled out of UFC 295, many believe that to be the reason behind his release. However, there has been no official communication on that matter so far. During his 11-year stint in the UFC, Brunson faced high-profile opponents like Israel Adesanya, Anderson Silva, Yoel Romero, and Lyoto Machida.
Ali Abdelaziz addressed Brunson’s exit and claimed his client is grateful for the opportunities afforded to him over the years. He added that Derek Brunson would be looking for new opportunities in other promotions as a light heavyweight. Abdelaziz also thanked the UFC for their platform and admitted that it helped shape Brunson into a better fighter. However, it was time for the 39-year-old to move on.