UFC 319 may have put things in perspective for a former top candidate.
The UFC Middleweight Championship was on the line in the UFC 319 Main Event between Champion Drus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev.
Despite how well completed he is, Du Plessis could not destroy the Takedowns or grip crossings of the very exhausted Chimaev. Chimaev kept Du Plessis five rounds to win the title through a unanimous decision.
This was the first UFC loss of Du Plessis in ten fights. In addition to Chimaev, Du Plessis had not fought against a wrestler since Derek Brunson, who came near his line at UFC 285 in 2023.
Brunson gave DDP one of his toughest fights, but eventually lost via TKO in the second round. The former top candidate he then cited COVID-19.
Du Plessis was the last opponent of Brunson in the Octagon. After that fight, Brunson decided to leave the UFC with a winning record and signed at the PFL in Free Agency, which he now admits was a mistake.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty images
Derek Brunson regrets the leaving UFC for PFL Na Drus du Persis Fight
Brunson has only fought once since his last UFC fight with Du Plessis.
In his PFL debut, Brunson got his hand lifted against former PFL champion Ray Cooper in November 2023. We haven't seen him since.
On the same night his former rival du Plessis took on Chimaev on UFC 319, Brunson revealed that there was regret behind his PFL signing.
“Me: leave the UFC to go to PFL,” Brunson posted a photo of a clown on X.
“I don't know what the hell I thought!” Brunson said about his PFL movement.
Brunson was once ranked #4 in the world in the UFC Middleweight Division. The American wins over people like Darren Till, Kevin Holland, Edmen Shahbayzan, Lyoto Machida and Uriah Hall.
“UFC is the standard,” Brunson said about the UFC in another post.
Brunson fought 21 times in the UFC.
Derek Brunson is currently signed at BKFC
Known as a wrestler in the UFC, Brunson will try to show his strength next time.
At the age of 41, Brunson signed with Bareknuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). UFC Superstar and sub-owner Conor McGregor announced the signing of Brunson in the summer, together with former UFC title finances Yoel Romero and Thiago Santos.
Half of Brunson's 14 UFC victories have come by Knock -Out.
We will see how the UFC vetera rates without 4OZ gloves on, in a brand new sport.