Showtime Nixes Derek Brunson From Appearing on Ultimate Fighter After Making the Show

Strikeforce middleweight Derek Brunson‘s trip to try out for The Ultimate Fighter ended unsuccessfully, but not because he couldn’t make the final cut for the reality show.

Brunson was attempting to join the show as a middleweight in the newest installment of the show that began taping today in Las Vegas. His Team Greg Jackson teammate Jon Jones is serving as one of the coaches, but Brunson received some bad news after making the cut for the final 16 fighters chosen for the show.

According to Brunson, after flying out to Las Vegas to begin filming, Showtime put the nix on his appearance on the reality show due to his existing contract with Strikeforce.

“As all of you know, I tried out for The Ultimate Fighter, made the show, flew to Vegas yesterday, weighed in today, filming was about to start. Showtime Network called and said they wouldn’t release me from my Strikeforce contract,” Brunson wrote on Monday.

“So no TUF for me. I want to thank Fox Network for being such professionals in trying to handle the situation. Back to the drawing board.”

Brunson also confirmed the news independently to MMAWeekly.com via text on Monday.

Brunson last competed in Strikeforce in August losing by TKO to former Strikeforce middleweight champion Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza. It marked his second loss in a row after beginning his career with nine straight victories.

It’s unclear what Brunson’s next move will be, or if Strikeforce will put him on their upcoming card in January.

(Photo by Will Fox)