38-year-old UFC middleweight sets unrealistic target for 2023
Perrenial UFC middleweight contender Derek Brunson has set an extraordinary target for himself for the upcoming year. The 38-year-old seemingly wants to fight a total of four times in 2023. Brunson recently wrote on Twitter:
"4 fights in 2023 LFG . Where should we start ! 😤👱🏾♂️"
🏾♂️4 fights in 2023 LFG . Where should we start ! 😤👱🏾♂️
A fan noted that four fights a year would be an exceptional feat even if Brunson loses one of them. To which the UFC middleweight replied:
"4-0"
4-0 twitter.com/northkitten/st…
Currently ranked number-5 on the middleweight ladder, Brunson is coming off a brutal TKO loss to Jared Cannonier in an essential number-1 contender matchup. The loss against Cannonier at UFC 271 in February was Brunson's only fight in 2022, which also snapped a five-fight win streak.
Prior to that, Brunson fought twice in 2021 but only once in 2020. The highest number of outings we've seen from the North Carolina native in a year was 3 in 2011, 2016 and 2017.
Brunson was scheduled to fight Jack Hermansson at UFC Orlando on December 3 but was forced to pull out due to an undisclosed injury. The 38-year-old was replaced by Roman Dolidze, who went on to score a huge upset win over Hermansson, earning a March 2023 booking against former title challenger Marvin Vettori.
UFC middleweight Derek Brunson had hinted at retirement prior to his loss against Jared Cannonier
Derek Brunson was seemingly contemplating retirement going into his UFC 271 clash against Jared Cannonier in February. Brunson hoped that a victory against Cannonier would earn him a title shot against Israel Adesanya, which would ideally be his last fight.
The North Carolina native admitted that he did not want to fight until he couldn't fight anymore. Brunson said during the UFC 271 media day:
“Honestly, I plan on fighting two more times. I feel like I’m lucky and blessed to fight in the UFC 20 times and I’m super smart. I’ve got a good brain on my head. So, I don’t want to fight until I can’t fight no more. …That’s all I’m thinking about right now. Beating Cannonier, beating Izzy, and riding out.”
Watch Derek Brunson's comments below:
The UFC middleweight contender even asserted that he would fight only two more times irrespective of the outcome of his clash against Cannonier.