Derek Brunson says he’d like to fight two more times then retire
UFC middleweight contender Derek Brunson says he will fight two more times before calling an end to his career.
Derek Brunson’s veteran MMA career could be inching closer to a finish as he prepares for his fight against Jarred Cannonier at UFC 271 this weekend. Brunson, who has had 30 professional career fights, spoke to the media on Wednesday ahead of his high-stakes middleweight contender fight this weekend and revealed he is planning to fight twice more in his career before calling an end to it all.
With 20 fights to his credit under the UFC promotion, Brunson plans to get the job done against Cannonier at UFC 271 and have a rematch with reigning champion Israel Adesanya, and then “riding out” as he put it. Brunson and Adesanya first met at UFC 230, which Adesanya won by first-round TKO. However, since losing to Adesanya, Derek Brunson has put together a five-fight winning streak and he now has his eyes on getting a rematch.
Looking back at his career and time spent inside the UFC, Derek Brunson explained his career mindset heading into UFC 271.
Derek Brunson says he intends on fighting two more times, and then walking away from mixed martial arts. pic.twitter.com/GRmny7zDbe
— The Mac Life (@TheMacLife) February 9, 2022
“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 got a good brain on my head. I don’t want to fight until I can’t fight no more, I’m in the best shape, I’m feeling good, that’s all I’m thinking about right now, beating Cannonier, beating Izzy [Adesanya], riding out, and that’s it.”
Although there is a chance that UFC 271 does not go according to his plan, Brunson doubled down on his plans to walk away after two fights, saying win or lose, he will stick to his word.
“Just two more times. I spend a lot of time getting ready for these fights, away from my family, and I’m 38. I’m missing soccer games and stuff like that for my daughters and that’s more important to me than chasing money. I’ve been smart with my money, made enough money. I have no excuses, I’m in really good shape, I feel really good, I’m motivated. I don’t ever plan on losing but I just know you can’t do combat sports forever and end peacefully and I feel like I got a super good brain, my head is good, no injuries, so I think finish my goal, finish my task, complete the mission, get the title and say ‘Peace, I’m out.'”
If he is set to his plan, Derek Brunson will forever be remembered as a high-ranking contender who put on exciting fights, and now towards the end of his career, he plans to go out on his terms with his health in tact and family priorities set.
