Derek Brunson got his strength from cheerleading

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12/28/12 10:52 AM

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Saturday night at UFC 155 Derek Brunson will fight Chris Leben. Leben's bumpy road through the fighting life is well chronicled, but Brunson's is in its way compelling as well.

Brunson route to MMA was through wrestling, and cheerleading.

In a recent interview with Ariel Helwani, Brunson discussed his unusual background.

"I was like tossing girls in the air - that's where I got my strength from, just controlling girls in the air. You get core strength, your chest gets all big. It makes you really strong, like you look on steroids, but you don't have to take steroids because of cheerleading."

"Cheerleading is definitely hard on your body. That's why I decided to wrestle in college, not cheerlead."

In his TUF audition video, Brunson shows extraordinary stength, tossing a standing cheerleader from hand to hand (2:30 mark).

12/28/12 11:10 AM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
sk8actr 8 Member Since: 1/1/01 Posts: 856	Great new fighter! You have ignored this user.

12/28/12 11:14 AM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
mmavixen 810 Member Since: 12/28/10 Posts: 6956	As a former cheerleader, I can attest to the fact that male cheerleaders are some of the stronget guys ever. He's not BS'ing... You have ignored this user.

12/28/12 11:17 AM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
ufc98newb 36 Member Since: 9/26/10 Posts: 1863	That's awesome! Reminds me of a kid on my track team who went to states in the 400m his 10th grade year, sucked jr year, became a cheerleader after that and came back his senior year looking like he'd spent 8 months in the weightroom, and dominated again to get to states. but it wasn't any weightroom at all, it was all cheerleading. You have ignored this user.

12/28/12 11:26 AM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
N5Z Member Since: 7/10/09 Posts: 372	The kid seemed very nice and unassuming when I met him despite it not being a good night for him. Not a big fan of his style or camp but will be rooting for him. Nice kid. You have ignored this user.

12/28/12 11:36 AM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
The Swinging Richard 130 Member Since: 7/8/06 Posts: 6495	I can't wait to see him and Leben locked in a cage Saturday night. You have ignored this user.

12/28/12 11:38 AM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
Bry Bry Member Since: 1/1/01 Posts: 19863	i can see him beating leben.. You have ignored this user.

12/28/12 12:36 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
skweezthatthing 1 Member Since: 10/26/07 Posts: 378	WTF? 2 losses in a row makes you UFC ready these days? You have ignored this user.

12/28/12 1:22 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
crowbar 365 Member Since: 1/1/01 Posts: 35035	You have ignored this user.

12/28/12 1:53 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
beastrosoup 3 Member Since: 12/11/11 Posts: 177	Nothing personal but I would love to see a gif of the grandma in wedding crashers at the dinner table You have ignored this user.

12/28/12 1:53 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
fightsfan 1 Member Since: 6/6/04 Posts: 4221	Does he incorporate any Cheerleading moves into his MMA, ie. like a Herkie transition into a guillotine choke? Cheerleaders have high rate of bad injuries, so MMA safer in some ways. There was another fighter who was former Cheerleader, KIt cope maybe. You have ignored this user.

12/28/12 2:04 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
MMALOGIC Member Since: 8/17/08 Posts: 7729	skweezthatthing - WTF? 2 losses in a row makes you UFC ready these days? when you take a fight on short notice it does... You have ignored this user.

12/28/12 2:05 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
MMALOGIC Member Since: 8/17/08 Posts: 7730	too bad showtime cock blocked his tuf spot. You have ignored this user.

12/28/12 4:28 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
bigdee1983420 1 Member Since: 5/21/11 Posts: 86	Representing my home state of North Carolina! Derek's last fight he made a mistake coming in wild with Jacare. He sticks with it,sharpens his tools at Jackson's. Hes got a bright future in my opinion. You have ignored this user.

12/28/12 6:01 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
NINERS76 Member Since: 10/29/11 Posts: 76	He is going to surprise alot of people Saturday. I can see this going 2 ways 1. Leben lands big shot early and KOs him or Derek hits some takedown and tires Leben out and get the decision. This will be a good fight. This is a big opportunity for him. I remember when Leben welcomed somone to the UFC and got tore up. Best of luck You have ignored this user.

12/28/12 6:21 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
The_KoJ Member Since: 3/9/12 Posts: 1158	WAR LEBEN! You have ignored this user.

12/28/12 6:44 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
j2b Member Since: 7/21/09 Posts: 228	It's also where he meet his boyfriend You have ignored this user.

12/28/12 7:37 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
Kings21 8 Member Since: 7/31/09 Posts: 1791	j2b - It's also where he meet his boyfriend Clever. You have ignored this user.

12/28/12 11:37 PM	Ignore \| Quote \| Edit \| Warn Admin \| Vote Down \| Vote Up \| Delete Post
Enemies Member Since: 5/10/10 Posts: 1903	2nd openly gay fighter. Just kidding. Maybe. You have ignored this user.

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