Derek Brunson is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 professional

Professional

A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...

 mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts

Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...

 (MMA) fighter who currently fights for Strikeforce

Strikeforce

Strikeforce is a U.S.-based mixed martial arts and kickboxing organization based in San Jose, California. It is headed by CEO Scott Coker and owned by Zuffa, LLC...

.

Background

Brunson was a 3-time Division II All-American wrestler from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke

University of North Carolina at Pembroke

The University of North Carolina at Pembroke , also known as UNC Pembroke, is a public, co-educational, historically American Indian liberal arts university in the town of Pembroke in Robeson County, North Carolina....

. When he finished college he immediately turned his attention to mixed martial arts. He trains at Renzo Gracie Jiu-Jitsu

Renzo Gracie

Renzo Gracie is a Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Carlos Gracie Jr. and a former mixed martial arts competitor in the Ultimate Fighting Championship . He is member of the Gracie family of Brazil. He is the son of Robson Gracie, grandson of Carlos Gracie, nephew of Carlos...

 and Jackson's MMA along with guys such as Georges St-Pierre, Rashad Evans

Rashad Evans

Rashad Anton Evans is an American mixed martial artist from Niagara Falls, New York, currently signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship where he is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. Evans won the heavyweight division of The Ultimate Fighter 2. Evans lost the UFC Light Heavyweight...

, and Jon Jones

Jon Jones (fighter)

Jonathan Dwight Jones is an American mixed martial artist from Endicott, New York. He is the current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion....

MMA career

Brunson made his professional MMA debut in May 2010 against John Bryant where he won by an rear naked choke in under a minute. He has since won his next 5 fights and none of them have made it past 2:30 of the first round.

Strikeforce

Brunson made his Strikeforce

Strikeforce

Strikeforce is a U.S.-based mixed martial arts and kickboxing organization based in San Jose, California. It is headed by CEO Scott Coker and owned by Zuffa, LLC...

 debut on June 24, 2011 at Strikeforce Challengers: Fodor vs. Terry

Strikeforce Challengers: Fodor vs. Terry

Strikeforce Challengers: Fodor vs. Terry was a mixed martial arts event held by Strikeforce. The sixteenth Challengers episode took place on June 24, 2011 at ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington.-Background:...

 against undefeated Jeremy Hamilton. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

In a quick turnaround, Brunson will fight his second fight for Strikeforce just over one month after his debut. He faced Lumumba Sayers on the undercard of Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson

Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson

Strikeforce / M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Henderson was a mixed martial arts event held by Strikeforce. The event took place on July 30, 2011 at Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.-Background:...

 on July 30, 2011. He won the fight via submission in the first round.

Brunson's next fight was on November 18th, 2011 at Strikeforce Challengers: Britt vs. Sayers

Strikeforce Challengers: Britt vs. Sayers

Strikeforce Challengers: Britt vs. Sayers was a mixed martial arts event held by Strikeforce. The 20th Challengers episode took place on November 18, 2011 at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.-Background:...

 against Nate James. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Collegiate Sports

• University of North Carolina at Pembroke
  University of North Carolina at Pembroke
  The University of North Carolina at Pembroke , also known as UNC Pembroke, is a public, co-educational, historically American Indian liberal arts university in the town of Pembroke in Robeson County, North Carolina....
  
  
  • 3-time Division II All-American Wrestler
  • 2002 UCA Small Co-ed National Champs - Cheerleading

Mixed martial arts record

|-
| Win
| align="center" | 9-0
|   Nate James
| Decision (unanimous)
| Strikeforce Challengers: Britt vs. Sayers

Strikeforce Challengers: Britt vs. Sayers

Strikeforce Challengers: Britt vs. Sayers was a mixed martial arts event held by Strikeforce. The 20th Challengers episode took place on November 18, 2011 at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.-Background:...

|
| align="center" | 3
| align="center" | 5:00
|Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

|
|-
| Win
| align="center" | 8-0
|   Lumumba Sayers
| Submission (rear naked choke)
| Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson

Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson

Strikeforce / M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Henderson was a mixed martial arts event held by Strikeforce. The event took place on July 30, 2011 at Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.-Background:...

|
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 4:33
|Hoffman Estates, Illinois

Hoffman Estates, Illinois

Hoffman Estates is a northwestern suburb of Chicago in Illinois. The village is located primarily in Cook County with a small section in Kane County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 49,495 and estimated to be 52,520 in 2003...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

|
|-
| Win
| align="center" | 7–0
|   Jeremy Hamilton
| Decision (unanimous)
| Strikeforce Challengers: Fodor vs. Terry

Strikeforce Challengers: Fodor vs. Terry

Strikeforce Challengers: Fodor vs. Terry was a mixed martial arts event held by Strikeforce. The sixteenth Challengers episode took place on June 24, 2011 at ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington.-Background:...

|
| align="center" | 3
| align="center" | 5:00
|Kent, Washington

Kent, Washington

Kent is a city located in King County, Washington, United States, and is the third largest city in King County and the sixth largest in the state. An outlying suburb of Seattle, Kent is also the corporate home for companies such as REI and Oberto Sausage...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

|
|-
| Win
| align="center" | 6–0
|   Danny Babcock
| KO (punch)
| World Extreme Fighting 45
|
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 1:07
|Jacksonville, Florida

Jacksonville, Florida

Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

|
|-
| Win
| align="center" | 5–0
|   Rhomez Brower
| Submission (punches)
| XFP: The Holiday Fight Fest
|
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 2:27
|Wilmington, North Carolina

Wilmington, North Carolina

Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

|
|-
| Win
| align="center" | 4–0
|   Todd Chattelle
| TKO (punches)
| ICE: Fright Night 2010
|
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 0:14
|Providence, Rhode Island

Providence, Rhode Island

Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

|
|-
| Win
| align="center" | 3–0
|   Edward Jackson
| KO (punches)
| Carolina's Summer Fight Series 3
|
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 0:41
|Jacksonville, North Carolina

Jacksonville, North Carolina

Jacksonville, North Carolina, is a city in Onslow County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 United States census, the population stood at 70,145, which makes Jacksonville the 14th largest city in North Carolina...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

|
|-
| Win
| align="center" | 2–0
|   Chris McNally
| KO (punches)
| Carolina's Summer Fight Series 2
|
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 1:42
|Wilmington, North Carolina

Wilmington, North Carolina

Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

|
|-
| Win
| align="center" | 1–0
|   John Bryant
| Submission (rear naked choke)
| Carolina's Summer Fight Series 1
|
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 0:52
|Wilmington, North Carolina

Wilmington, North Carolina

Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

|