At UFC 319, the UFC Middleweight Championship featured Dricus du Plessis defending his title against Khamzat Chimaev on a highly anticipated main card. Despite du Plessis’s well-rounded skill set, he struggled to counter the relentless takedowns and grappling dominance of Chimaev, who controlled the fight throughout all five rounds, earning a unanimous decision victory and claiming the championship.
This marked du Plessis’s first defeat in the UFC after ten consecutive wins. Notably, his only previous fight against a top-level wrestler had been against Derek Brunson, who nearly interrupted du Plessis’s winning streak at UFC 285 in 2023 by pushing him to a tough second-round TKO finish. Brunson later revealed he was dealing with COVID-19 following that bout.
Derek Brunson Expresses Regrets Over UFC Departure After Facing Du Plessis
Derek Brunson, who was once ranked fourth in the UFC middleweight division and holds victories over stars such as Darren Till, Kevin Holland, Edmen Shahbazyan, Lyoto Machida, and Uriah Hall, has voiced regret about his decision to leave the UFC. His final UFC fight was against du Plessis, after which he signed with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) as a free agent.
Since departing the UFC, Brunson has only competed once, winning his PFL debut against former PFL champion Ray Cooper in November 2023. On the same night du Plessis fought Chimaev at UFC 319, Brunson publicly reflected on his move to PFL with clear remorse.
Me: leaving the UFC to go to PFL,
Brunson posted alongside a picture of a clown on his social media platform X.
I don’t know what the hell I was thinking!
he added, expressing his regret about the switch.
Brunson underscored the UFC’s prestige in another message, calling it “the standard,” emphasizing his high regard for the organization where he fought 21 times.
Derek Brunson’s New Chapter in Bareknuckle Fighting Championship
At 41 years old, Derek Brunson is now signed with Bareknuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), moving into a different combat sport where he aims to showcase his power. Known primarily as a wrestler during his UFC career, half of his 14 UFC wins came by knockout, suggesting a potential for success in the bare-knuckle environment.
Conor McGregor, a UFC superstar and part-owner of BKFC, announced Brunson’s signing over the summer alongside other former UFC title challengers such as Yoel Romero and Thiago Santos. This transition marks a notable shift for Brunson, who will now compete without the traditional gloves of MMA, introducing new challenges and opportunities in his fighting career.
Implications of Brunson’s Journey and Du Plessis’s Title Fight
Derek Brunson’s candid reflection on leaving the UFC puts a spotlight on the tough decisions fighters face when navigating their careers, especially after closely contested fights such as his encounter with du Plessis. Meanwhile, Dricus du Plessis’s loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 establishes Chimaev as the new middleweight champion and shows the difficulties du Plessis faced against a top wrestler, something that Brunson had tested as well.
The evolving careers of both brunson and du Plessis highlight the competitive nature of the UFC middleweight division and the challenges fighters encounter both inside the cage and when choosing their paths outside the Octagon. Brunson’s move to BKFC could provide a fresh platform for his talents, while du Plessis will look to rebound and defend his standing in one of the most demanding divisions in combat sports.