“Derek Brunson Looked Like a Real Seasoned Veteran”- Joe Rogan

UFC commentator Joe Rogan took to Instagram and shared his views on the Middleweight headlining feature for UFC Vegas 5. The event marked the promotion’s return to home turf in Las Vegas after an extended visit to Abu Dhabi. Chiefly, the fight itself saw a sizeable underdog in Derek Brunson stop the surging prospect Edmen Shahbazyan in his tracks.

The veteran voice of the UFC broadcast lauded praise onto Brunson following his statement victory against the 22-year old. He commented on Brunson’s growth in the sport and touched on his ability to shut down an up and comer. Not to mention, Joe Rogan chimed in with his thoughts on Shahbazyan’s future in the division.

Joe Rogan chimes in

Derek Brunson x Edmen Shahbazyan: The story of the fight

In the build-up to the fight, heavy emphasis was being laid on Shahbazyan and his meteoric rise inside the promotion. The Glendale Fighting club prospect was expected to run through the aging veteran in Brunson. Moreover, the 36-year old went in as a four to one underdog in a fight that he was counted out of.

The 22-year old managed to land in significant body shots at varying intervals that managed to push back the veteran. However, it wasn’t enough as he would crumble to Bunson’s pressure early in the third.

The finish marked a pivotal moment in his career and he will be looking to build off his impressive performance. Not to mention, he now avails the opportunity to be booked against top names such as Darren Till or Kelvin Gastelum. Derek Brunson has managed to reinsert himself into the title picture with a few more wins in the weight class.

The 185-pound division is one of the most exciting divisions on the roster. The undisputed champion Israel Adesanya has injected a sense of emergency amongst the division’s elite that is palpable. The elite fighters at the top of the weight class will be looking for their opportunity to stamp their way to title contention.

Source: Joe Rogan IG