Finishing the Fight: UFC Vegas 5

Derek Brunson, UFC Vegas 5 weigh-in
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 31: Derek Brunson poses on the scale during the UFC Fight Night weigh-in at UFC APEX on July 31, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Mixed martial arts fans love a good fight-ending sequence, as often it summarizes the story of the fight in just a few seconds. Getting the finish is a definitive end to a fight that makes a statement: “I was this much better than my opponent at that particular moment in time.”

Every fighter has their go-to moves, especially specialists within certain martial arts disciplines. Their own signature styles that can lead to spectacular finishes. Whether it’s a scary-good rear-naked choke that fighters just can’t seem to avoid once going to the ground or crazy power in a straight left hand that has dropped even granite-chinned fighters with ease, each fighter has a particular finishing move or sequence. Moves that have stuck in fan’s minds and come to define and describe their careers within the cage.

Derek Brunson (20-7 MMA, 11-5 UFC)

Total Number of Pro MMA Finishes: 14 

Via KO/TKO: 10

Via Submission: 4

Total Number of UFC (DWCS and/or TUF) Finishes: 7

Via KO/TKO: 6

(Ed Herman, Sam Alvey, Roan Carneiro, Uriah Hall, Daniel Kelly, Lyoto Machida)

Via Submission: 1

(Brian Houston)

Derek Brunson has had an amazing MMA career and a very successful UFC career based on how he rushes opponents and finishes fights. Derek has been a fight or two away from the belt for most of his UFC career thanks to his exciting style. Brunson has tons of physical strength and a wrestling background so he is usually able to control where the fight takes place.

Brunson has huge power in his hands and the knockout resume in the UFC to prove it. Derek has been in the cage with some of the best fighters in the sport and held his own, evolving as a fighter along the way. Brunson has not gotten a finish in almost 3 years, and he has found a way to snag two decision wins over high-level opponents with a more subdued version of his style. This by by no means indicates that Brunson won’t resort back to his blitzing ways as soon as he senses an opening from his opponent at UFC Vegas 5 on August 1.