EXCLUSIVE | Elias Theodorou willing to fight Derek Brunson after being called out

Elias Theodorou already has his next opponent in mind. Derek Brunson, who is currently ranked eighth in the middleweight division, recently called out the 14th ranked Theodorou. and Theodorou is all for it.

“I think it is a good fight. Obviously, he is a tough competitor,” Theodorou said to BJPENN.com. “He has shown there are ways to beat him, obviously by being on a two-fight losing streak. I’m looking for, if all goes well, to make it three. It is a great fight and he presents challenges but I have shown time and time again that I’m one tough puzzle to solve and I look forward to getting my hand raised.” 

A major reason why Theodorou is interested in the Brunson fight is that Brunson is still ranked inside the division’s top-10. Furthermore, Brunson fights rather similarly to Theodorou’s last opponent Eryk Anders, which should help Theodorou out in training camp.

“I would say that in many means they are very similar,” he said. “They are both southpaws, but Derek fights wilder but does have more tools in his toolbox. In many ways, they are the same kind of fighter in the sense that they will try and knock my block off and I will show him the difference between chess and checkers.”

While Theodorou believes this is a sensible option for his next fight, he also believes the matchup makes sense for Brunson, who is looking to correct his two-fight skid.

“I think he is hoping to get back on the win streak. He thinks he is going to beat me and he wants some confidence,” Theodorou said. “He doesn’t feel confident against top-five guys. He’s looking down to rebuild himself, but he is in for a rude awakening if we do ever fight. I think I have what it takes to beat him.”

If the UFC obliges Theodorou and Brunson and books this fight, Theodorou is hoping it will occur on March 30 in Philadelphia.

“The card they announced was Philadelphia on March 30,” he said. “I think the end of quarter one going into quarter two, and then after I beat (Brunson) I have one or two more fights (in 2019) after that.”

For now, Theodorou continues to train and wait for his next fight, but if all goes according to plan that fight will be against Brunson in Philly.

Who do you think wins a fight between Elias Theodorou and Derek Brunson?

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 1/15/2019