UFC 295: In November, Jon Jones is gearing up to defend his newly acquired championship belt against the two-time champion and current No. 3 contender, Stipe Miocic. This event marks the UFC’s return to Madison Square Garden and features the most significant heavyweight championship bout in the organization’s history. With a star-studded lineup, tickets for the event have become the most costly in history. However, before the big night, there’s a major twist as star fighter Derek Brunson not only withdrew from the event but has also been terminated from the company.
Derek Brunson removed from the company ahead of UFC 295 Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic
Over the years, there have been instances where fighters, like Khabib Nurmagomedov and many others, withdrew from events at the last minute. However, a recent and unusual situation occurred when Derek Brunson was removed from the UFC roster even before the event. Here’s what transpired: Brunson was released from the company.
At the age of 39, Derek Brunson found himself on a two-fight losing streak, with his most recent loss occurring at UFC 285. After an impressive 11-year, 21-fight tenure with the promotion, Brunson and the UFC have decided to go their separate ways. Dolidze took to Twitter to announce that Brunson was no longer his opponent and expressed interest in facing either Robert Whittaker or Jared Cannonier instead.
Ali Abdelaziz, who serves as Brunson’s manager, made the following statement:, “Derek Brunson has been under the UFC umbrella for 11 years. He had an amazing career there. The last seven years he’s been in the top 10 rankings. The UFC was amazing to him there, helped shape who he is today and I’m very grateful for the opportunity he was given. He has to move on and looking forward to what comes next for him.”
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The exact reasons for Derek Brunson’s departure, whether related to contract or salary, remain unknown for now. Nevertheless, it marks a farewell to the company where he not only served but also built his wealth and fame. It will be intriguing to see if he explores opportunities with promotions like PFL or Bare Knuckle in the future.