Derek Brunson calls out “The Last Pretender” Israel Adesanya

Surging UFC middleweight contender Israel Adesanya has recently been angling for a fight with the former champion Anderson Silva. While Silva says he doesn’t know who Adesanya is, there’s another top middleweight who does: Derek Brunson.

Derek Brunson recently took to Twitter to call for a fight with Israel Adesanya. He’s hoping to fight Adesanya at UFC 230 on November 3 in New York City — a card that will feature a trio of other, huge middleweight fights. 

See Brunson’s callout of Adesanya below.

You talk too much. Nov 3, UFC 230 Madison square garden , pull up. This finna be a breeze. The last pretender adesanya @stylebender . ##ExposementParty @AliAbdelaziz00 @danawhite @Mickmaynard2 pic.twitter.com/SBkfnB29MB

— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) July 25, 2018

“You talk too much,” Brunson said in the caption for his post, which included a video. “Nov 3, UFC 230 Madison square garden, pull up. This finna be a breeze. The last pretender Adesanya.”

“Listen here,” Brunson said in the video itself. “You run your mouth a lot. You talk a lot. You mention my name a couple times. Now I mention your name, boy. November the 3rd, Madison Square Garden, UFC 230. Pull up. Embarrassment party. I’m going to embarrass you, boy. You talk too much.”

Derek Brunson last fought in January, when he was knocked out in a rematch with former Strikeforce champion Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza. Brunson produced impressive knockout wins in his next most recent bouts, first against Australian judoka Dan Kelly, then against former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida. He’s 18-6 overall.

Israel Adesanya, meanwhile, last fought earlier this month, when he defeated Hawaii’s Brad Tavares by decision in the main event of the Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale. With this win, he improved to 3-0 in the UFC, having also bested Marvin Vettori by decision and Rob Wilkinson by knockout in the Octagon. He’s 14-0 in sum.

Does a fight between Derek Brunson and Israel Adesanya interest you? Who do you think wins?

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 7/23/2018.