MMA
UFC Fight Night results: Derek Brunson dominates in submitting Darren Till; calls out Israel Adesanya
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If you weren't giving Derek Brunson any respect heading into Saturday's UFC Fight Night headliner against Darren Till, you better be now.
Brunson, who was the shocking underdog coming in even though he was riding a four-fight winning streak, dominated Till to win via submission (rear-naked choke) at the 2:13 mark of the third round from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. After easily dispatching Till, Brunson made it clear he wants his rematch with reigning middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.
“I’m tired of these guys not mentioning my name,” Brunson said in his post-fight interview. “You know [Israel Adesanya], look at the camera, mention my name. I heard you mentioning Till and [Jared] Cannonier. Cause I’ve been busting my butt, four years after my loss to get back to this point. I’m ready to contend.”
Till came out the aggressor. He stalked Brunson and landed several left hands. A one-two landed for Till. Sick of getting popped in the face, Brunson secured a double-leg takedown. Working in side control, Brunson found a bit of opening and blasted Till with a barrage of ground and pound shots. Brunson transitioned ever so slightly and opened up a series of ground and pound punches. Somehow a bloody Till made it back up to a standing position and proceeded to tap Brunson on the back for a job well done.
Brunson rushed in for another takedown to begin the second, but Till showed good hip posture to stymie the attempt. However, it didn’t last long. Brunson landed a short left uppercut and dumped Till back down to the mat. Like the first round, Till made it up with less than a minute remaining but couldn’t do much with the time left on the clock.
Till’s left eye was nearly swollen shut at the beginning of the third round. A hard left hand gave Till a little bit of confidence. He connected on a couple of kicks, two sharp elbows, and a left hand stunned Brunson. Till landed another left wobbled Brunson. Sensing he was in trouble, Brunson immediately went for a takedown and secured it. Till tried to scramble out, but Brunson maintained control. Till gave up his back, and Brunson took advantage. He locked in the choke, and with nowhere to go, Till tapped out.
The submission win runs Brunson's (23-7) winning streak to five. He hasn't suffered a setback since a first-round TKO loss to Adesanya at UFC 230. "The Last Style Bender" is set to square off again with Robert Whittaker early in 2022. However, Brunson says he's willing to wait for the winner as he's got plenty of money in the bank.
“I’m not broke. I’ll sit and wait [for the title shot],” Brunson said. “I know Izzy and Whittaker got a fight coming up. I’ll sit and wait.
“That gives me five, six months to go ahead and get my body right and prepare for this really last, long title push that I’m trying to make.”
UFC Fight Night main card results
- Derek Brunson def. Darren Till via submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:13 of the third round
- Tom Aspinall def. Serghei Spivac via TKO at 2:30 of the first round
- Alex Morono def. David Zawada via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Khalil Rountree def. Modestas Bukauskas via TKO at 2:30 of the second round
- Paddy Pimblett def. Luigi Vendramini via TKO at 4:25 of the first round
