Derek Brunson was feeling a little bit overlooked and disrespected heading into his headlining bout against Edmen Shahbazyan at UFC Fight Night 173.
Despite a resume that includes victories over the likes of Lyoto Machida, Uriah Hall, Ian Heinisch, Lorenz Larkin, Chris Leben and bouts against Israel Adesanya, Robert Whittaker, Ronaldo Souza and Yoel Romero, the Wilmington, North Carolina, native was a considerable underdog against the previously unbeaten Shahbazyan.
“I had to get off social media all week,” Brunson said at Saturday’s post-fight press conference.