Derek Brunson Signs Multi-Fight BKFC Deal, Could Set Up Darren Till Rematch
Former UFC middleweight contender Derek Brunson signed a multi-fight deal with BKFC and will debut on November 20 in Myrtle Beach.
Derek Brunson is heading to bare knuckle. The former UFC middleweight contender has signed a multi-fight deal with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship and will make his in-ring debut at the upcoming BKFC Fight Night event on Friday, November 20, 2026, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, per MMA Mania.
Brunson, 42, becomes the latest former UFC fighter to cross over to BKFC. He joins a growing roster of former octagon veterans who have found a second act in bare knuckle competition, including Darren Till, who signed his own multi-fight deal with the promotion earlier this year.
That's the part that makes this interesting. Brunson submitted Till with a rear naked choke at UFC Vegas 36, and the possibility of a rematch under bare knuckle rules gives BKFC a built-in storyline. Till has been looking for meaningful opponents since arriving at BKFC, and few matchups carry as much history.
Brunson compiled a 23-8 record during his 21-fight UFC run, where he became a durable gatekeeper at middleweight. He fought a who's who of the division, including Israel Adesanya, Robert Whittaker, Jared Cannonier, and Till. His last striking competition was a unanimous decision win over Ray Cooper III at a PFL event in November 2023, per MMA Junkie. He has not fought since.
No opponent has been announced for Brunson's BKFC debut. At 42, bare knuckle fighting carries obvious risks, but Brunson has always been willing to mix it up on the feet despite his wrestling credentials.
I have mixed feelings on this one. Brunson was always a tough out in the UFC, but he's 42 years old and hasn't fought in three years. Going bare knuckle at that age is a different kind of gamble.
That said, if BKFC is smart, they book the Till rematch immediately. It writes itself. Brunson choked Till out in the UFC, Till has been looking for a dance partner at BKFC, and both guys have something to prove. That's the kind of fight that sells the promotion to casual fans who remember these names from the UFC.
I just hope Brunson knows what he's getting into. Bare knuckle is a young man's game, and the damage adds up faster without gloves. But hey, fighters are going to fight. That's what they do.
KEEP TALKING FIGHTS.
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