UFC Returns to Charlotte

CHARLOTTE. NC — After an almost eight-year absence, the Ultimate Fighting Championship is returning to the Queen City.

The biggest show in mixed martial arts has plenty of fans across the Carolinas, and the UFC is counting on a Carolina native to bring them to Uptown.

“Always wanted to fight back in North Carolina, especially bring to the UFC to North Carolina,” says Derek Brunson, 8th-ranked UFC middleweight. “And, you know, to fight at the Spectrum is super crazy.”

Wilmington’s Derek Brunson was a three-time All-American wrestler at UNC-Pembroke, with a criminal justice major. International fame in mixed martial arts was far from his mind.

“Actually worked a couple of years as an in-home therapist,” says Brunson. “So I worked with families, setting goals and helping them reach their goals.”

But that wrestling background opened a door to this growing sport.

“I came into the sport as a college wrestler,” Brunson explains. “People telling me I’ll be good at it. I’m like, ehhh, I don’t know…”

Brunson started training, then fighting professionally.

Now he’s a top-ranked contender, and a father, living back in Wilmington; getting ready to headline the UFC’s return to Charlotte, January 27th at the Spectrum Center.

Charlotte was a frequent destination for the UFC in its early days; with UFC 3 at the Grady Cole Center in 19-94 and UFC 5 at the Independence Arena in 1995.

But events have been few and far between since the 90’s. The last UFC stop in North Carolina was 2010 at Bojangles Coliseum. Now the man who has battled around the world — in Brazil, Australia and New Zealand — is ready to bring the fight back home.

And ready to take his shot at the title.

“I’ve paid my dues,” says Brunson, who is 18-5 as a professional fighter. “I fought all the tough fights. I fought all the fights that nobody else wanted to fight, so they had to call me, you know. So, yeah, this is my time.”

Derek will take on Brazilian Jacare Souza, who beat Brunson in 2012, on Saturday, January 27th. MMA fans can pick up tickets for the event starting Friday, December 15.