“Cards are packed with DWCS fighter” – Former UFC fighter Derek Brunson’s comment on Dana White’s current roster leaves fans with mixed reactions

Derek Brunson revealed the reason behind departing ways with the UFC after a decade long career. Now, he makes his debut in PFL this weekend.

Derek Brunson revealed behind leaving Dana White's UFC (via IMAGO)

Derek Brunson competed in the UFC for over a decade. He lost his last two fights and voluntarily requested the UFC and Dana White to relieve him from the contract. As such, the UFC agreed. Soon after, he signed a deal with the PFL and is now debuting in their final card of the year. There were speculations about Brunson’s reason for departure from the UFC. Now, he shared the real reason for splitting with the UFC.

Derek Brunson stated that he wasn’t motivated by the fights that the UFC offered him. The veteran said that the company had signed a lot of guys and was building them up. At the final run of his career, he didn’t want to face stiff competition against the up-and-comers after having a prosperous career in the UFC. As such, he wanted a fresh start and opted to be cut from the UFC. Here is what he said:

The UFC is a lot different from when I first joined. Only the baddest guys fought in the UFC. Now the UFC, they’re signing a lot of guys so they can build more guys up. It’s just bigger so they’ve got a lot more guys.

Derek Brunson (via MMA Fighting)

‘The One’ was ranked in the top 10 for most of his career in the UFC. Derek Brunson put up a five-fight win streak in his last run at the title. He got close to a title shot with a submission victory over Darren Till. But instead, the UFC offered Jared Cannonier for a title eliminator. He lost the fight, and so went his title aspirations. This made him disappointed and frustrated.

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Derek Brunson explains why he split with UFC, reveals what Dana White said to him in call afterward

Full story by @DamonMartin: https://t.co/ELifJKEteY pic.twitter.com/HwO4xa7ZqG
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) November 23, 2023

Later, Derk Brunson lost his fight against Dricus Du Plessis in UFC 285. Next, he was to face Roman Dolidze in UFC 295. But he and the UFC mutually agreed to part ways. Bruson stated there was no ill will between him, Dana White, and the UFC. Now, he is facing Ray Cooper III in his PFL debut this weekend.

Fans react to Derek Brunson’s comments about the UFC

The UFC released Derek Brunson in September following a two-fight skid. ‘The One’ was upset about the politics in the UFC as he had to fight contender after contender despite being close to a title shot. So, Brunson and the UFC had agreed to part ways. Later, he signed a deal with the PFL.

Derek Brunson commented on UFC and Dana White (via X)

In an interview with MMA Fighting, Derek Brunson revealed why he departed from the UFC. He said the UFC was bigger and had a lot of fighters coming up. So, he was to face more contenders to get near a title shot, not to mention the favorability of the UFC. This comment had fight fans arguing on X. Here are some interesting arguments:

It was way better when the roster wasn’t so watered down. The prelims are horrid in this era
— justin (@Official___Fiz) November 23, 2023

https://twitter.com/VincenzoPala/status/1727740593319670197

Hard to disagree when cards are now packed with dwcs fighters
— Caedus (@CaedusMMA) November 23, 2023

Lotta ppl here didn’t read the article lol
— Rodney “Hot Rod” Pallet (@RodneyPallet63) November 23, 2023

If the ufc is so watered down, he should’ve been able to beat some of these guys

The bigger problem in ufc is keeping vets like him around in the ranking far past their prime and holding up divisions from the real contenders

He identified the problem backwards
— Max Persellin (@MPersellin70) November 23, 2023

“They have more guys it’s just like …bigger like…they have more guys” lmao hot take there Derek
— OkayOkay (@GVN9SH1T) November 24, 2023

He’s kinda of right but I like a lot of the new talent coming up
— ⚡️SNOOP⚡️ (@CoferDalan) November 23, 2023

Ufc keeping guys like him would be a great example of his point but thankfully they didn’t
— Sean mullin (@Seanmul31636750) November 23, 2023

Fans had mixed responses to Derek Brunson’s comment about the UFC. Some even misunderstood him. However, Bruson said that the PFL’s format was more suitable to him as he didn’t have to worry about any politics, and all that mattered was winning. As such, the UFC veteran is making his PFL debut against Ray Cooper III this weekend. Further, he will move up in weight class and participate in PFL’s light-heavyweight tournament next year.