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Sunday, Jan 28, 2018

UFC on FOX 27: Derek Brunson Remains Optimistic About Title Run, Following Second Defeat to “Jacare” Souza

Derek Brunson (photo via UFC)

By FCF Staff

Although Derek Brunson’s rise up the middleweight ranks was violently halted by “Jacare” Souza last night at UFC on FOX 27, the 34 year-old is still confident in his abilities to make another title shot run.

Brunson was booked to fight the perennial contender, thanks to KO wins over Dan Kelly and Lyoto Machida, which followed his defeat to champion Robert Whittaker. Since Brunson was KO’d by Souza in their first bout, back in 2012, the powerful wrestler had gone 10-2, before facing the latter again.

After the disappointing bout, which saw Brunson stopped in the first round, he said this (quote via MMA Junkie):

“(It’s) definitely not to the top (after this loss),” Brunson  said. “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.”

“…I can’t blame nobody but myself,” he added. “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.”

Souza, meanwhile, was competing for the first time since last April, when he finished by Whittaker in round two.

posted by FCF Staff @ 11:42 am
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