Derek Brunson survived an early head kick from Ian Heinisch to emerge with a unanimous decision victory tonight at UFC 241.
Round One:
Heinisch with an early leg kick. He goes upstairs with a head kick and it lands, wobbling Brunson for a moment, but he rises up from his knees and gets straight into the clinch, then slowly walks him over to the cage.
Brunson with some punches to the body then heinisch manages to break free, missing with a strike as he does so.
Leg kick for Heinisch and then one to the body. He goes upstairs with a punch. He tries for a front kick and Brunson lands straight down the middle with a punch.
Head kick attempt from Brunson is blocked and then he presses forward with punches that don’t land. High kick from Heinisch lands to the upper body.
Heinisch attempts to catch a kick but doesn’t quite get it. Body kick for Heinisch and a left hand lands for Brunson.
Body kick for Brunson. Head kick attempt from him blocked. Now Brunson in on a takedown attempt and Heinisch is defending it even as he’s hopping on one leg, and even throws a few punches as he does so.
Knee to the body for Heinisch now as he gets his leg back down. Brunson just misses with a head kick that grazes past his opponent’s head.
Overhand from Heinisch but doesn’t land clean. Counter punch lands for Brunson. Brunson in on another takedown and Heinisch is defending it against the cage. Brunson moves to Heinisch’s back and attempts a big takedown, but somehow Heinisch keeps standing. Brunson does land a punch before the horn sounds though.
Round Two:
Leg kick for Brunson. Body kick from Heinisch. Both fighters coming up a bit short with strikes. Heinisch trying for a takedown, but it doesn’t pay off.
Brunson seems to land a punch and that quickly leads to Heinisch trying for a takedown that’s stuffed.
Body kick for Brunson. Front kick to the body from Heinisch. Big punches for Brunson and Heinisch looked troubled by that and swoops for another takedown without success. Overhand lands for Heinisch now.
Brunson kick is blocked. Two out of three piston-like left hands land for Brunson. Brunson trying to grapple now and landing some punches as he does so, then settles for thhe clinch against the cage.
Brunson on a single-leg, but Heinisch defends it and they go back to striking range. Left hand for Heinisch. Body kick for Brunson.
Head kick attempt from Brunson, but slips and falls. Gets straight back up though. Heinisch wings a punch with lots on it, but misses.
Heinisch partially catches a kick and lands a punch. Brunson kick is blocked. Heinisch takedown stuffed and Brunson punishes him further with a few punches. Front kick to the body for Heinisch.
Round Three:
Body kick for Brunson. Front kick to the body. Leg kick for Heinisch. Overhand left from Heinisch. Heinisch with a couple of punches that land nicely.
However, Brunson then gets to Heinisch’s back and slams him to the mat. Nice scramble from Heinisch to get back upright though.
Brunson clinches up against the cage. They didn’t stay there long though. Nice left hand from Brunson. He lands a hard left hook too.
Heinisch tries for the takedown, but it’s blocked. Right hand for Heinisch. Brunson clinches and trips Heinisch to the mat. He tries to take his back, but Heinisch stands.
uppercut for Heinisch. Brunson clinches up. They separate soon after. Right hand for Heinisch. Jabs for Brunson. Hard left hand counter from Brunson.
Front kick to the body from Brunson. Two jabs for Heinisch. Another front kick to the midsection from Brunson. nice overhand right for Heinisch.
Another one-two for Heinisch. He lands again. Brunson’s head snapped back again. He tries for a single leg but quickly gives up on it.
Body kick for Brunson. Now a knee. Right hand for Heinisch. left and a right land lightly for Brunson. left connects for Heinisch too. Right hand from Brunson. He lands one final one before the round ends.
Decision:
A solid performance then from Brunson, surviving an early scare and then landing the cleaner strikes on the feet in addition to clinch work and takedowns to seal a unanimous decision victory (29-28 x3).
