Derek Brunson saw his five fight winning streak come to an end at UFC Fight Night 101 when he suffered a TKO loss to Robert Whittaker, Brunson says that he fought like a chump inside the octagon.
“It really sucks,” Brunson told MMA Junkie. “I put together a streak, and worked really hard. But I came out here and fought with no game plan, like a chump tonight. I’ll take it on the chin. I’m better than I showed. This sport is growing. It’s about patience, rather than getting caught up in five in a row, want a title shot, main event. The goal is to put on a great fight and be smart.”
While Brunson thought he had a “fading” Whittaker nearly beaten in their main event fight, he feels that he rushed things way to much in the fight.
“I had him against the cage, and I felt him breathing really hard,” Brunson told Submission Radio. “I could have really slowed him down and gotten the takedown. But I didn’t make smart decisions. Instead of going to my wrestling, which I knew I had the upper hand, I was more intent on trying to knock him out.”
Brunson was the #8 ranked middleweight heading into the fight, it is not known yet what rank he will be when the new one’s are released this week.
