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Tag: Matt Brown

  • Matt Brown Laid Out The Full Stakes Of Conor McGregor’s UFC 329 Return And It Is Lot Of Pressure

    Matt Brown says simply making it to the cage for his UFC 329 fight against Max Holloway may matter as much as winning for Conor McGregor, and that a loss would effectively end his relevance as a world-class competitor.

    Brown addressed McGregor’s comeback on The Fighter vs. The Writer podcast, laying out the stakes plainly.

    “If he doesn’t make this walk, I think it’s going to be unanimous agreement he’s done and he’s never fighting again. If he doesn’t go in there and win, I think it’s going to be a unanimous agreement that no one wants to see him fight again either. Even if he looks good. He goes in, he actually fights Max Holloway, he loses, I don’t see anybody really interested in seeing him fight again. Of course, everybody will watch. He’s a big enough star, he could fight and lose the next five or 10 times and people will still watch. He’s a big enough star, that’s what’s going to happen, but the interest will wane hugely if he doesn’t make this walk and find a way to win. It’s a lot of pressure on his side.”

    Brown said a win over Holloway specifically would be significant given who Holloway has become since their first meeting.

    “Whether he wins or loses, I have to have some respect for Conor for taking the fight against Max Holloway. A known killer who has had a ton of success since last time they fought. If he goes in and makes that walk, that’s a gigantic risk for him. If he loses this fight, his relevance as a fighter drops dramatically. We’ll watch, he could fight another 10 times, I’m sure everyone would watch. But his relevance as a world-class competitor, pretty much drops off the map. Any fights he does after that is kind of like influencer fights or something along those lines.”

    Brown did acknowledge McGregor has a path to victory.

    “I can see the argument where you think Conor would have a good chance. For one, it’s at 170 and Conor has good power at 170. Max is hittable. He’s certainly a hittable guy. Conor has a win over him in the past. Max has been through the ringer. He’s got a lot of miles on those tires. I can see where you can make that argument where it’s not the worst matchup.”

    McGregor has not competed since suffering a broken leg at UFC 264 in July 2021. Holloway has competed eight times since then, all in main events or title fights.

  • Matt Brown Rips Ronda Rousey’s Netflix Comeback: ‘There Are No Redeeming Qualities’

    Matt Brown Rips Ronda Rousey’s Netflix Comeback: ‘There Are No Redeeming Qualities’

    Matt Brown says Ronda Rousey’s comeback felt hollow from start to finish and that she missed a major opportunity to repair her relationship with combat sports fans.

    Brown, speaking on The Fighter vs. The Writer podcast, offered a sweeping critique of Rousey’s approach to the fight, the promotion, and her public persona surrounding the Netflix return.

    “For me personally and I think I speak for a lot of people, there was no redeeming qualities for this card, in terms of making us bigger fans of Ronda. I don’t like how she carried herself. I don’t like how she spoke. I think she’s a narcissist, and I think she’s got a lot of mental issues, and I think she maybe needs to go to therapy or something. If she said she’s coming back for money, I get it. You’re prize fighting. Come back get a bag. There’s no redeeming quality about winning this fight. You fought someone that hasn’t fought in 17 years. What are you proud of? There’s nothing to be proud of there.”

    Brown took particular issue with how Rousey promoted the event, including her public targeting of UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell and her shots at current bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison.

    “I think she’s just kind of a narcissistic person and nothing about this really felt good, in my opinion. The whole thing with this fight card, I don’t think anybody would disagree that this whole fight card from beginning to end was kind of cringe as f*ck. Ronda was just the cringiest person ever with her mean mugging the whole time and looking so angry and all the buildup, all the shit she said leading up to it. Talking so much shit to Hunter Campbell and this kind of vengeful personality that she has and all this anger and frustration. You really just need to go to therapy.”

    Brown said he viewed the comeback as a missed opportunity for genuine redemption.

    “That’s what sucks. This was kind of an opportunity for her to redeem herself for the fans and for the community in general. She certainly did not do that at all. At least I felt that way. To me, it’s not interesting. It’s not interesting, and it’s not fun. She had it written down in her pocket. It’s not exciting. It does not feel authentic.”

    He closed with a direct message about her approach to publicity.

    “We want to love Ronda. This was her opportunity — another of her thousand opportunities — but this was a huge opportunity for her to create a lot of love for her. She could have gotten even more views if she came out all humble and just speaking properly and not making it about Hunter Campbell and the UFC. Not making it about trying to go out on a win. Who the fck is doing her public relations? She’s got the fame and the money, she’s got to have a PR person in her ear saying ‘look, just speak like this.’ Even if you fake it. Just fcking say half-right things. She just can’t do it.”

    Rousey submitted Carano in 17 seconds with an armbar and announced her retirement from fighting again following the win. She has expressed interest in remaining involved with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions in an executive capacity.

  • Matt Brown Calls Out Dana White’s ‘Awesome’ Shooting Comment Using His Own Mass Shooting Survival

    Matt Brown Calls Out Dana White’s ‘Awesome’ Shooting Comment Using His Own Mass Shooting Survival

    Matt Brown has a very specific reason for criticizing Dana White’s description of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting as “f***ing awesome,” and it stems from direct personal experience.

    White attended the dinner as a guest of President Donald Trump and was present when a gunman breached a security checkpoint and opened fire before being subdued. One police officer was shot but survived thanks to a bulletproof vest. In the aftermath, White told reporters he did not duck under a table and called the experience awesome, describing it as a unique moment he fully took in.

    Brown heard those comments and could not let them pass without a response, drawing on something he has rarely discussed publicly. In 2004, Brown attended a Damageplan concert in Columbus, Ohio, when Nathan Gale charged the stage and murdered guitarist Dimebag Darrell Abbott along with three other people before being shot and killed by an off-duty police officer.

    “I’m absolutely flabbergasted. I’ve been in a mass shooting before. I’ve been there when there was a shooting going on, which most people probably haven’t. It is not awesome in any sense of the word. It is not f*cking cool one bit,” Brown said onThe Fighter vs. The Writer. “A dude got shot. Maybe he survived but got shot. That’s a traumatic experience for him. There’s not a single fing thing awesome about that.”

    Brown described standing near the stage when Gale began shooting and watching the officer’s fatal response unfold in real time.

    “I watched Nathan Gale get his head blown off when Officer Niggemeyer shot him. He had to make a decision in about two or three seconds because the shooter had a hostage. He wasn’t even on duty. He comes in and his whole life changed right there. Someone got shot right next to me.”

    He was careful to separate his criticism of White’s word choice from a broader pattern of criticism of the UFC CEO’s public statements.

    “Dana says a lot of stuff I think that we could all have opinions about. I’m not very critical of it. I’m like he’s promoting a fight, what do you expect? But that one, I don’t have a lot of respect for. It was very tone-deaf. You just don’t say that. Even if you somehow oddly feel that, it’s just not what you say.”

  • Matt Brown Makes Strong Prediction About Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano

    Matt Brown Makes Strong Prediction About Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano

    Matt Brown believes Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano will draw massive numbers on Netflix and leave the audience feeling like they wasted their time, and he has a blunt explanation for why.

    Speaking on The Fighter vs. The Writer, Brown drew a direct comparison between the May 16 fight and the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match, framing both as spectacles that generate interest without delivering the quality of competition that genuine fight fans want.

    “It will do big numbers but who is actually going to care?” Brown said. “How many times are going to walk away from a fight and kind of feel icky and wish that we didn’t watch it? I think we’re going to feel the same thing with this fight. Feel like we wasted our time. Maybe not feel icky but we’re going to feel like we wasted our time.”

    He also argued that fights like this one ultimately drive audiences toward the UFC rather than away from it. “People are going to become fight fans and they’re like, ‘I’m sick of this shit, can I just watch a real fight?’ Oh yeah, we have a place that does that. It has all the best fights in the world.”

    Brown was equally direct about Rousey’s ongoing attacks on the UFC and her comments about bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison, dismissing both as noise that nobody is taking seriously. “She seems like so angry about nothing sometimes. I don’t think anyone’s buying the schtick. Nobody believes that she’s going to do anything with Kayla Harrison.”

    On Carano’s motivations for returning after 17 years away from competition, Brown said the answer is straightforward. “She hasn’t fought in 17 years. Clearly she was done fighting and had no intention to fight again and then she gets a call and they offer her enough money where she’s like, ‘OK, well, I’ll do that.’ It’s hard to believe it’s anything other than a paycheck.”

    He closed with a question about whether anything either fighter could do in the remaining weeks before the fight would generate genuine excitement for the actual bout.

    “Even if they were at each other’s throats and throwing chairs at the press conference, you’d still be like, ‘you two aren’t really going to give us that great of a fight.’ There’s nothing exciting about this.”

    Rousey vs. Carano headlines the Netflix card on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.

  • Matt Brown Doubts Nate Diaz Turned Down More UFC Money

    Matt Brown Doubts Nate Diaz Turned Down More UFC Money

    Matt Brown does not believe Nate Diaz’s explanation for turning down a UFC fight with Conor McGregor, and he laid out exactly why on The Fighter vs. The Writer.

    Diaz recently claimed he rejected a more lucrative offer from the UFC for a McGregor trilogy because he did not want to face the Irishman on what he described as his “last dying f***ing leg” after five years away from competition. Brown is skeptical, arguing that Diaz’s career history tells a different story about his decision-making.

    “Money talks,” Brown said. “He’s making more money with this Netflix fight than he would with the UFC. That’s why he’s not fighting Conor in the UFC. I lean towards believing Dana on this. He got an offer he couldn’t refuse.”

    Brown reinforced the point by noting that Diaz has always prioritized the biggest payday available. “I don’t believe it for a second that he’s not making more money with this Netflix deal, however that plays out, his bank account ends up with more money from this fight than it does in the UFC or he doesn’t take the fight. He’s going to pick the highest bidder. I don’t think that’s unique to him, but I think he understands this is prize fighting. He’s fighting for money. He’s going to take the highest pay.”

    Diaz is instead fighting Mike Perry on May 16 on the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano Netflix card under Most Valuable Promotions. Perry left the UFC on a 1-4 skid before becoming a star in bare-knuckle fighting.

    Brown acknowledged that, on paper, the McGregor fight carries far more cultural weight. “Whereas Conor, dude you already beat him twice, you know what to do. It’s a way, way bigger fight. Whether the viewership numbers reflect that or not, the actual fight and the media, the attention, the fight fans that care, even mainstream, Diaz and Conor is probably the biggest fight the UFC could even make right now.”

    He also suggested the UFC’s offer likely came with conditions such as a multi-fight deal, which may have made the single-fight MVP arrangement more attractive to Diaz, regardless of the headline number. The door for a future UFC return remains open, but Brown is firm that money drove the decision.

  • Charles Oliveira Analysis Package – Movement Martials

    Charles Oliveira Analysis Package – Movement Martials

    WHAT IS MOVEMENT MARTIALS?

    Movement Martials is a combat sports account you should follow if you want to learn how to watch combat sports or even improve as an athlete.

    Movement Martials is a brand account run by two pseudonyms. “Thick”, the strength and conditioning guru and “Kick”, the fight analyst.

    I myself have done multiple podcasts with Kick where we discuss the intricacies of a single matchup.

    Kick and I previewed Charles Oliveira’s fight with Ilia Topuria here:

    This is an extremely underrated account that provides in depth analysis on combat sports as well as detailed strength and conditioning programs. In an era where rage bait content is generated for clicks, Movement Martials stands out to improve your consumption of combat sports content.

    THE PACKAGE

    Contained Chaos: Oliveira vs. Chandler Preview

    Charles Oliveira is an offensive dynamo. From his kicks to clinch striking to submission game, Oliveira is in possession of every finishing weapon The problem is that he has not always chosen the right weapon for every encounter. Take the finishing sequence of his title loss to Makhachev. Oliveira enters from long to mid-range with a flying knee while Makhachev has all the space in the world behind him to retreat. He catches Makhachev primed to counter while he is still recovering his stance, leading to the knockdown. He has a lovely knee, but this was one of the worst times he could have thrown it, there was nothing to set this up or indicate its utility.

    Preview from Movement Martials Substack

    The full article can be found here:

    Contained Chaos: Oliveira vs. Chandler by Movement Martials

    Charles Oliveira Changes his Striking Approach

    Read on Substack

    Redemption: How Charles Oliveira Splattered Beneil Dariush

    The opponent’s lead hand is often in the way of the left hook, and the same is true for the jab that sets up his rear straight. The right high kick can cause significant damage (unlike most open-side right body kicks: no liver) and has a significant impact even through a guard.

    The same way Edwards knocked Usman out and the strike Robert Whittaker hits on everyone, the 1-2 is something of a throwaway shot. If something hits, great, but the real object of the rear straight is to get the opponent to anticipate punches and dip out to avoid the strikes. Even better if they try and parry the 2 which lowers their guard. They avoid a flush punch but invite a shin to the dome. Though it is one of the most classic combinations in kickboxing, same-side punch and kick combinations remain a brilliant strategy to play with opponent’s expectations.

    Preview from Movement Martials Substack

    The full article can be found here:

    Redemption: How Charles Oliveira Splattered Beneil Dariush by Movement Martials

    The King is Back

    Read on Substack

    Collar Ties in MMA

    Featuring Charles Oliveira & Matt Brown:


    Collar Ties are emblematic of MMA. A tool utilized for transitional offense, control, and defense: they are versatile. Just a hand upon the neck and a forearm in the opponent’s shoulder is integral to controlling the standing grappling of a fight rather than allowing yourself to get man handled by a larger grappler. Fight fans have long heard the story of when Anderson Silva forged his UFC star-making performance by brutalizing Rich Franklin with the double collar tie.

    Oliveira employs the concept of pushing and pulling here as well. Oliveira pins Poirer agains the cage and pulls him into a hard knee to then post off the head to create space and throw an elbow in the open space.

    Collapsing space between upper bodies —> Knees

    Creating space between upper bodies —> Elbows

    Preview from Movement Martials Substack

    The full article can be found here:

    Collar Ties in MMA by Movement Martials

    Charles Oliveira & Matt Brown

    Read on Substack

    Controlling the Scramble Grappler: UFC 296

    Grappling Highlights from UFC 296 With a Dash of Charles Oliveira

    Charles Oliveira was able to do this much more impressively against a slightly less worn version of Tony Ferguson without getting hurt by him in the process. Instead of diving on the single in an all-or-nothing attempt Oliveira cinches up the body lock in order to drive Ferguson to the cage. These moments along the cage give Oliveira time to adjust his grips and shove his knee under Ferguson’s shin.

    With his body lock tightened and knee holding up Ferguson’s leg, he lifts Ferguson up and slams him down. Notably utilizing the body lock rather than single leg puts Oliveira into a more advantageous position while on top.

    Preview from Movement Martials Substack

    Full article can be found here:

    Controlling the Scramble Grappler: UFC 296 by Movement Martials

    Grappling Highlights from UFC 296 With a Dash of Charles Oliveira

    Read on Substack

    Make sure you also check out Movement Martials mini trailer of Charles Oliveira’s Improved Wrestling

    Movement Martials provides unique technical insights in all his articles. All of his articles have helped me improve my own analytical skills and I am positive that they will do the same for you.

    Subscribing to Movement Martials is a step in the right direction to being a knowledgeable combat sports fan. The sport is a lot more enjoyable when you understand what’s going on. You won’t regret it.

    https://linktr.ee/movementmartials?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=6cfdc5f4-fc61-4329-99a2-572fe4f8d78d

  • Conor McGregor is having an identity crisis, says UFC legend

    Conor McGregor is having an identity crisis, says UFC legend

    UFC legend Matt Brown believes that Conor McGregor is currently in the midst of an identity crisis.

    It goes without saying that Conor McGregor is the biggest star in the history of mixed martial arts. He has been able to achieve some truly incredible things in the sport, to the point where he was even able to cross over into professional boxing and take on Floyd Mayweather.

    His greatness speaks for itself, but as we know, Conor McGregor also has his fair share of demons. He has been involved in numerous controversies outside of the cage and while he may be acting as if everything is fine, a lot of people are concerned about what the future holds for him.

    In a recent podcast appearance, Matt Brown became the latest fighter to weigh in on the Conor McGregor situation.

    Matt Brown’s view on Conor McGregor

    “Every fighter knows it becomes your identity,” Brown said. “When you’re a fighter, it becomes who you are. We talk about it all the time with sports psychologists and other fighters, you can’t let this be your identity. You’re more than that. It becomes your identity. I don’t give a f*ck what everybody tells you or what you try to believe in your own head.

    “When you step out of the cage one day, you’ll realize that’s who you were and that was all of who you were. I think Conor’s having a hard time with that, seemingly.”

    “Now his identity kind of got ripped apart by Dustin Poirier,” Brown explained. “Dustin took his soul. Khabib [Nurmagomedov] probably first, but Dustin kind of put the nail in the coffin on that.

    “Now he’s not a winner with that identity. Now he’s not even competing anymore. That’s a lot to deal with for anyone. So you’ve got to have a little bit of sympathy on that side. It is a lot to deal with.”

    Quotes via MMA Fighting

  • Dustin Poirier’s retirement: UFC veteran explains the brilliance of The Diamond

    Dustin Poirier’s retirement: UFC veteran explains the brilliance of The Diamond

    UFC veteran Matt Brown has explained what made Dustin Poirier so special ahead of The Diamond’s retirement fight at UFC 318.

    On Saturday night, Dustin Poirier will make the walk to the octagon for the final time. He is set to retire from mixed martial arts following his main event bout against Max Holloway, which will also see the BMF title being put on the line.

    One thing we know to be true about Dustin Poirier is that he’s an absolute warrior. While he may never have held the undisputed UFC title, he went in there and put on a show against just about everyone he faced. That, in itself, is a testament to who he is as a fighter.

    In a recent podcast, Matt Brown gave his thoughts on what made Dustin Poirier special.

    Matt Brown analyzes Dustin Poirier

    “I think Dustin really maximized everything he has, that he was born with,” Brown said. “I think he did a great job. When he came into the UFC, I remember after Conor [McGregor] beat him, I don’t think anybody thought Dustin Poirier was going to be s***. At that point, I remember interviews asking me what do you think about Conor McGregor? He really hasn’t fought anybody. We didn’t know what Dustin Poirier would be at that time, but I don’t think anybody looked at him like ‘wow this is the next big guy.’

    “He didn’t come in with insane gifts or anything. I love and respect that so much. I hope he has an amazing life after. I hope that his life treats him well. Maybe he gets some books, speaking tours, makes a lot of money and lives a great life, and I think he’s earned every f*cking minute of it.”

    Quotes via MMA Fighting

  • UFC Veteran Blasts Paddy Pimblett’s Weight Gain: ‘If I Were His Coach…’

    UFC Veteran Blasts Paddy Pimblett’s Weight Gain: ‘If I Were His Coach…’

    Former UFC welterweight Matt Brown believes Paddy Pimblett is playing a risky game with his drastic weight gain in-between fights.

    As is often the case, Pimblett has been enjoying himself in the aftermath of his latest assignment inside the Octagon. After successfully cutting the pounds to make the lightweight limit, “The Baddy” put a beating on Michael Chandler in the co-main event of this month’s UFC 314 pay-per-view.

    The Scouser’s culinary habits post-fight are well known, with Pimblett admitting to gains of over 50 pounds during stints between fights. And it didn’t take long for clips to do the rounds showing the former Cage Warriors champion preparing snacks backstage at UFC 314.

    While some see the funny side to Pimblett’s unique approach to nutrition, during the latest episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer, ex-fighter Matt Brown fired a warning at the Liverpudlian.

    “If I were his coach, I would have some concern,” Brown said. “What I tell all of my fighters is we have a short window here. You might be doing this for 15 to 20 years at most. There’s a lot that you can get out of it. Why not squeeze all the f*cking juice out that you can? It’s not a ton of suffering to not put on f*cking 40 pounds after a fight. You can enjoy yourself. Enjoy yourself with some moderation and then be back in the gym next week. Nothing wrong with that.

    “You’ve got to have a good, relaxed mind when you’re training and going through this journey, but particularly when we’re young, we feel invincible. We forget how short all this is,” Brown continued. “We push so hard to get something, and then we get it, and we just relax. It’s not a good way to look at it. He’s in an absolute savage division, too. He better keep his eyes on the prize because he’s in for some bloodthirsty motherf*ckers now. … You’re not in LFA, Cage Warriors, wherever he came from. You’re in with the top motherf*ckers in the world now.”

  • UFC Veteran Explains Why Conor McGregor Passing On Return Fight Isn’t At All ‘Surprising’

    UFC Veteran Explains Why Conor McGregor Passing On Return Fight Isn’t At All ‘Surprising’

    Conor McGregor’s recent statements suggest he might be finished with fighting, nearly four years after his last UFC appearance.

    At a BKFC event in Florida, McGregor said he turned down a chance to fight again and is now focused on a career in politics. He also said, “I’m happy with what I’ve done,” which sounds more like a goodbye than a hint at a future fight.

    However, UFC legend Matt Brown points out that McGregor has been talking about these kinds of plans since he first became famous. Brown says McGregor is simply following through on promises he made years ago.

    “He told us like 10 years ago what he was going to do,” Brown said on the latest episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer. “Do you remember him talking about it? ‘I’m going to come in, I’m going to take over, I’m going to make money and then I’m going to get the f*ck out.’

    “He said something along the lines of this game is brutal, you don’t want to be in it too long. He told us however many 8 or 10 years ago. He literally told us and he has done it.”

    Brown, despite having previously said that McGregor was likely done with fighting, acknowledges the strong pull of attention and fame that comes with being UFC’s biggest star. The retired fighter understands that this kind of spotlight is hard to let go of.

    However, he believes that McGregor has found other ways to stay in the public eye, like a future in politics and becoming a co-owner in BKFC, which might mean he won’t return to fighting. 

    “This is not surprising at all,” Brown said. “He’s just finally, actually [copping to it]. He loves being in the news. He loves staying relevant and putting his two cents into everything. He’s kept his voice out there and we’ve all paid attention and we’re still talking about it.

    “He’s done a good job of that. A good job of playing the media. I told you before, he’s done. I think he’s just confirming what we already knew.”

  • UFC Veteran Says Leon Edwards Is Making ‘Excuses’ For Belal Muhammad Loss

    UFC Veteran Says Leon Edwards Is Making ‘Excuses’ For Belal Muhammad Loss

    Leon Edwards has blamed his July loss of the UFC welterweight title to Belal Muhammad on less-than-ideal circumstances. While potentially true, one retired fighter says the Brit is still making “excuses.”

    Edwards and his coach, Dave Lovell, have cited the unusually late fight time (approximately 5 a.m. local time) as a major factor, with “Rocky” describing his reactions as “slow” and Lovell estimating his fighter performed at only “30 to 40 percent” of his potential.

    Retired UFC welterweight Matt Brown understands Edwards’ struggles, having experienced similar issues throughout his own career. However, he believes that publicly airing these grievances after a defeat is generally perceived negatively.

    “I understand where Leon’s coming from, especially being in his home country,” Brown said of Leon Edwards on the latest episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer. “He’s certainly accustomed to a certain rhythm, a routine of sleeping and waking. Belal coming from another country, there’s some excitement and everything’s new. The time zone is new. You’re going to be adjusting to the time zone regardless.

    “I guess I could see it a little bit, but we’re right on track with the same thing we always say. You can’t take away from Belal. He fought amazing in that fight. That’s part of being a fighter. You have to deal with shit like that. Things like that have thrown me off in the past, too, 100 percent during fights. I know it. I don’t necessarily say it publicly. But it is factual. It does happen but that’s being a fighter.”

    Brown, a veteran of 15 years in the UFC, recognizes the significant impact that external factors can have on a fighter’s performance. He understands that, beyond skill and ability, numerous outside-the-cage issues have influenced his own outcomes.

    Furthermore, Brown acknowledges that regardless of the candor displayed by fighters and their coaches after a loss, the public reaction from fans, fellow fighters, and the media will inevitably follow a predictable pattern.

    Leon Edwards is set to return to action this weekend, once again on home soil. Unlike last July’s pay-per-view event, Saturday’s UFC London card will take place in UK primetime, perhaps boosting Edwards’ chances of a rebound victory at the expense of Sean Brady.

  • Matt Brown: UFC ‘Overplayed Their Cards’ With Alex Pereira Hype

    Matt Brown: UFC ‘Overplayed Their Cards’ With Alex Pereira Hype

    Alex Pereira’s light heavyweight journey, marked by five consecutive wins, four title fight knockouts, and victories over multiple former champions, had elevated him to another-level status. However, at UFC 313, Magomed Ankalaev ended the Brazilian’s reign, outpointing him in a five-round main event.

    Despite the competitive nature of the fight, Pereira appeared hesitant at times, spending much of the bout under Ankalaev’s pressure and control. The Dagestani strategically avoided takedowns while maintaining control, exposing vulnerabilities in “Poatan’s” previously impenetrable aura at 205 pounds.

    While the loss is a setback, it doesn’t mean Alex Pereira has been fully figured out. Instead, Ankalaev’s calculated approach highlighted areas for the former champion to address, suggesting that his story is far from over.

    “I don’t think exposed is the right word, but I think it humanized him,” UFC legend Matt Brown said of Alex Pereira on the latest episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer. “Because he was living off all this hype. The UFC is masterful at hyping guys up. I think all of us — it’s hard for anybody, even astute followers of the game like me or you or fighters that understand all the intricacies — it’s hard for us to ignore the amount of hype people put into him. They do this all the time.

    “They did it with Conor [McGregor], they did it with Ronda [Rousey], they do it with Alex. It’s a constant thing. Jon Jones is the only guy that’s kind of lived up to that, and I say kind of because he lost to [Dominick] Reyes. He had some close fights, but he’s kind of the only guy who really just lived up to that hype and not lost,” Brown continued. “(Alex Pereira’s) still a great fighter. He’s still everything we thought he was, but the UFC kind of overplayed their cards.”

    Pereira’s rapid rise through the light heavyweight division has sometimes overshadowed the challenges he faced earlier in his UFC tenure.

    While he has been dominant in his title fights at 205 pounds, his knockout loss to Israel Adesanya before moving up in weight serves as a reminder of his past struggles.

  • UFC Vet On Sean Strickland-Eric Nicksick Fallout: ‘A Coach Shouldn’t Criticize Their Fighter Publicly’

    UFC Vet On Sean Strickland-Eric Nicksick Fallout: ‘A Coach Shouldn’t Criticize Their Fighter Publicly’

    Sean Strickland’s lackluster performance at UFC 312, where he suffered a one-sided loss to Dricus Du Plessis, has led to public friction between him and his head coach, Eric Nicksick.

    Since the fight, Nicksick has openly criticized Strickland’s performance, calling it “underwhelming” and “uninspiring.” He cited the challenger’s lack of offensive output and the broken nose he sustained in the fourth round as key factors in the loss.

    Strickland responded by releasing a video detailing the physical struggles he endured leading up to the fight. He also stated that while he still considers Nicksick a friend, he “probably” won’t have him in his corner for future bouts.

    Former UFC fighter Matt Brown discussed the situation during the latest episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer, focusing on that public criticism from a coach can feel like a betrayal.

    “First and foremost, we have no idea what’s going on behind the scenes,” Brown said. “There could be a million different things that we’re basing all this off—a couple of paragraphs. Who knows? That’s all we can base it off of, [the way] it looks. It’s unfortunate. I don’t think you should criticize your fighter publicly.”

    While Strickland’s performance is open to critique, Brown believes Nicksick’s approach could have been handled better. He compared the coach-fighter dynamic to a personal relationship built on trust.

    “A coach-athlete relationship is like boyfriend/girlfriend,” Brown explained. “You’ve got their back until you don’t when it’s all said and done. More like a marriage, I guess. It’s to the death. You’ve got their back, and you’re there for them. You’re not fighting for them. All you’re doing is giving your belief on what you think they need to do. They’re trusting you with that belief. It doesn’t mean they’re going to do it, or they have to do it, or they’re bad if they don’t do it, or there’s something wrong if they don’t do it. You don’t know what they’re going through. You don’t know what it’s like standing in front of someone trying to kill you, especially guys that have never fought.”

    Brown also touched on a broader debate in MMA — whether coaches who have never fought professionally can truly understand what their fighters experience inside the cage.

    “I try not to be overly critical,” Brown said. “I like guys like Eric Nicksick, but if you’ve never fought, you’re literally just giving an opinion. I think someone who’s fought, their opinion goes a lot farther. But it’s still an opinion. It’s like if you want to teach someone how to drive a car and you’ve never driven a car before. Do you really want to learn from that person? My 14-year-old son could tell you how to drive a car. He could teach someone how to drive a car, but do you want to learn from him? It doesn’t really make sense.”

    Brown acknowledged that non-fighter coaches can still bring value to a training camp but believes that if they are going to strongly critique a fighter’s performance, they should have firsthand experience in the sport.

    “I try not to be too much of a hater for guys who have never fought, because they can bring a lot of value to a camp, also,” Brown added. “But if you’re going to sit there and act like your opinion is so good, and your belief of what they did was so good, I hope you’ve at least fought before so you can say, ‘OK, I did that, and I believe that you should.’”

    With Strickland’s future cornering situation now in question, it remains to be seen whether he and Nicksick will be able to mend their relationship or if he will seek a new coaching team moving forward.

  • Former UFC Fighter Suggests Sean Strickland’s ‘Constant Sparring’ Is Hurting Him

    Former UFC Fighter Suggests Sean Strickland’s ‘Constant Sparring’ Is Hurting Him

    Sean Strickland is known for his intense and sometimes unorthodox approach to sparring — something that former UFC fighter Matt Brown believes may be holding him back.

    Strickland’s sparring sessions are notoriously intense, pushing his training partners hard while focusing on realistic fight simulations. His sparring habits reflect his personality and approach to fighting as intense, technical, and often entertaining. However, Brown believes the former middleweight champ’s constant sparring could be limiting his growth as a fighter.

    “The problem with the constant sparring — a lot of people talk about the brain damage and stuff like that. I don’t think that’s nearly as big of a deal as people make it out to be,” Brown said on MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer. “But you don’t evolve quite as much. You’re not compartmentalizing little skills and building on them.

    “For instance, I’ve got a guy fighting pretty soon, and today we literally only worked on his jab and stepping outside because he’s fighting a southpaw—so getting his left foot outside of his [opponent’s]. So guys were sparring against him at about 50 or 60 percent, and his only job was to throw a jab and get outside. You’re not throwing right hands, you’re not throwing kicks, so we’re compartmentalizing these little skills.

    “So now when he goes and spars again, he’s going to have a much better jab — hopefully. If what we did worked, he’s going to get outside better, and all those other things are going to open up. I don’t really see Strickland doing that because he’s just sparring all the time.”

    Brown acknowledges the benefits of Strickland’s heavy sparring approach but argues that it comes at a cost.

    “The advantage is he gets his timing very well, he knows exactly what he’s looking for all the time, he knows himself very well as a fighter, he doesn’t get as nervous,” Brown said. “There’s a lot of advantages. But you don’t evolve that way.”

    Strickland is set to challenge current middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis in a rematch for the title on Feb. 8 at UFC 312.

  • UFC Vet Sends Israel Adesanya Advice After Latest Loss: ‘Got To Go Back To Getting Up At 5 AM On Your Silk Sheets’

    UFC Vet Sends Israel Adesanya Advice After Latest Loss: ‘Got To Go Back To Getting Up At 5 AM On Your Silk Sheets’

    Former fighter Matt Brown has weighed in on Israel Adesanya’s recent loss at UFC Fight Night Saudi Arabia.

    The defeat marked Adesanya’s third consecutive defeat and has sparked widespread speculation about his future. According to Brown, having lost four of his last five fights, Adesanya may need to reconsider his championship aspirations in the UFC.

    “He’s got to be thirsty again,” Brown explained on the latest episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer. “He’s got to go back to getting up at 5 a.m. on your silk sheets and not going out on Saturday night. You’ve got to go back to those things you did as a youth.

    “That’s a hard thing to do. It’s not easy. He’s comfortable. He’s had an amazing career. That’s hard to forget all that and go back to training, going back to those day-one things. Should he retire? I think that’s the big question. That’s going to be up to himself, but I would have to agree that he’s probably not getting back to title fights any time soon. Probably never again.”

    Adesanya must make adjustments if he hopes to contend for a championship again. However, the middleweight division, unlike some others in the UFC, lacks an abundance of established stars.

    This raises questions about Adesanya’s long-term goals, as Brown suggests.

    “He’ll have to decide for himself if he wants to retire because he’s held the title for so long. It’s like, do you want to keep fighting middle-of-the-road fights or whatever?” Brown said. “I was trying to think of some fun fights that would just be fun for him. Nothing really came up in my head. I’m sure there are always options out there that would be fun. The other option, if the UFC would let him do it — I know we would all love to see him in some influencer boxing stuff. I’d love to see him fight Jake Paul or something.

    “But what’s he going to do in the UFC? What are you going to do? How excited are you going to get to just fight [random] guys? If you’re not working towards a goal, working towards the title, you’re just putting yourself at risk all the time. Now if he needs the money, that’s a different thing. I’m hoping he doesn’t.”

    As Adesanya approaches his 36th birthday, he may need to reinvent his fighting style. Brown points out that Adesanya’s current approach relies heavily on quick reactions, precise striking, and impeccable timing — attributes that will naturally decline with age.

  • UFC Veteran On Conor McGregor Potentially Fighting In BKFC: ‘That’s A No-Brainer’

    UFC Veteran On Conor McGregor Potentially Fighting In BKFC: ‘That’s A No-Brainer’

    Conor McGregor has continued to tease his return to combat sports in recent years, with speculation surrounding potential matchups in various disciplines.

    Along with rumors of a boxing bout against Logan Paul, McGregor has also been linked to Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), where he became a part-owner last year and has made appearances at multiple events.

    At this past weekend’s BKFC KnuckleMania 5, McGregor intensified the buzz by facing off with Jeremy Stephens after the American’s victory over Eddie Alvarez. During the event, McGregor reiterated his interest in competing in bare-knuckle boxing, saying he wants to “take off the gloves and throw down.”

    Former UFC welterweight Matt Brown, speaking on the latest episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer, weighed in on the possibility of McGregor stepping into the BKFC ring.

    “I would love to see him do it,” Brown said. “I think it would be amazing. Even though it’s probably not going to happen, I would love to see it. Him and Jeremy Stephens, I think there would be a lot of great hype for that, and I think it would be a good fight, too. I think it would be a really interesting fight, especially in a bare-knuckle style.”

    While the prospect of McGregor fighting in BKFC is intriguing, it seems unlikely that the UFC would allow one of its biggest stars to compete in another promotion. Nonetheless, Brown believes that bare-knuckle boxing is the most exciting opportunity currently available to the former two-division champion.

    “I think that’s a no-brainer. That’s by far the most exciting Conor McGregor fight out there right now,” Brown argued. “Does that happen? I guess it’s a little bit unlikely, but maybe the UFC gets behind it. He did the boxing match with Floyd Mayweather—maybe [the UFC] gets behind this, too. I think Conor would love to do it, primarily for the reason you don’t have to get in the same shape, right? You’ve only got to throw hands, and it’s five, two-minute rounds. He would love that. The conditioning is completely different.

    “Stylistically, I don’t think he has a terrible style for bare-knuckle. It would be interesting. You don’t really know until they get in there. Like, I would have never thought Ben Rothwell had a great style for bare-knuckle. Jeremy Stephens obviously has a great style for it, but he’s one of those guys I’d be concerned about breaking his hands. He throws for the fences every time, and I’m like, ‘Dude, you are definitely going to break your hands in bare-knuckle.’”

    Although a McGregor vs. Stephens bare-knuckle fight remains unlikely, the potential matchup continues to generate discussion and excitement within the combat sports community.

  • UFC Vet Says Paddy Pimblett Is Looking For Attention With Renato Moicano Criticism

    UFC Vet Says Paddy Pimblett Is Looking For Attention With Renato Moicano Criticism

    Paddy Pimblett had harsh words for Renato Moicano following his loss to Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 this past weekend.

    “The Baddy” criticized Moicano for tapping out to a D’Arce choke midway through the opening round, rather than enduring the submission and passing out. Pimblett took to social media, repeatedly urging Moicano to “go to sleep” and accusing him of tapping “after like two seconds like a b*tch.”

    Veteran fighter Matt Brown weighed in on the controversy, attributing Pimblett’s remarks to a desire for attention while speaking on MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer podcast.

    “I’m betting it’s just Paddy trying to talk and be in the news and get his voice out there and just say things.”

    Brown, a seasoned jiu-jitsu practitioner, dismissed the notion that going to sleep in a submission proves anything.

    “You start seeing the tunnel close — that’s what happens when you almost go to sleep. What’s the point at that stage? We all do jiu-jitsu. We know when we’re caught and when the end is inevitable. You either tap or go to sleep. Just tap. There’s no shame in it. You got caught. That’s it.”

    Brown also suggested Moicano likely understands where he went wrong and doesn’t need criticism for choosing to tap. He called the Liverpool native’s remarks “utter nonsense,” emphasizing that there’s no added respect or benefit to losing consciousness in a fight.

    “In training, you’re working to avoid getting caught in a submission—not testing how long your joints can hold out,” Brown explained. “It’s just silly. I think Paddy’s trying to start something with Moicano, maybe angling for a fight. Which is fine, but he knows better. When you’re caught, you’re caught. Tapping or going to sleep doesn’t change that.”

    Brown concluded by reiterating that there’s no advantage to enduring a submission.

    “No one respects you more for going to sleep. You’re not getting a bonus for it. There’s literally nothing you gain by not tapping.”

  • UFC Veteran Breaks Down Why Organizations Like The PFL, Global Fight League Are Destined To Fail

    UFC Veteran Breaks Down Why Organizations Like The PFL, Global Fight League Are Destined To Fail

    Over the last two decades, MMA fans have witnessed numerous promotions rise and fall, with the UFC standing as the dominant force throughout.

    Organizations such as Strikeforce, PRIDE Fighting Championships, WEC and even ambitious ventures like Affliction failed to establish a lasting presence in the combat sports landscape.

    The latest contender attempting to challenge the UFC’s dominance is the Professional Fighters League (PFL), which made waves in 2023 by acquiring Bellator MMA. This acquisition positioned the PFL as the second-largest MMA promotion. However, the transition has been rocky, with high-profile fighters — including champions Patricio “Pitbull” Freire and Patchy Mix — requesting releases due to inactivity and other frustrations.

    Former UFC fighter Matt Brown shared his skepticism about the business strategies of promotions like the PFL during an episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer. Brown argued that the “fighter-first” model, which includes significant payouts like the PFL’s $1 million prize per weight class, might not be sustainable in the long term.

    “There’s only been one truly successful fight promotion in history — the UFC. They didn’t build it by helping fighters. I think that’s where they’re all kind of messing up,” Brown said. “I say that as a former fighter — I want to see everybody get paid and do well. But the UFC built their business by lowballing fighters and still almost went out of business. Even now, people debate how they treat their fighters. So, making it a fighter-centric promotion is admirable, but I have a hard time believing it’s the way to build a lasting business.”

    Brown questioned how the PFL has managed to sustain itself so far and expressed doubts about its ability to compete at the UFC’s level.

    “To be honest, I’m not sure how they’ve existed this far. If they keep doing whatever they’re doing, maybe they’ll keep existing. They bought Bellator, and we thought maybe they’d become a clear No. 2. But they were already claiming that before, acting like they were close to the UFC, and it’s like, no — not really. It’s basically the UFC, and then there’s everybody else.”

    Reflecting on the history of successful promotions, Brown noted that growth often requires a long-term, incremental approach.

    “If you look at the big players in combat sports — boxing and the UFC — they all started small and took years to build. You can’t start at the top unless you have immense resources, like Saudi Arabia throwing billions around to fund cool fights as a luxury. That’s a completely different game.”

    The PFL’s ambitious strategy has garnered attention, but whether it can establish a sustainable model to challenge the UFC’s dominance remains uncertain.

    And the same can be said for the recently announced Global Fight League (GFL), which is set to launch in 2025 and boasts of high pay and advantages fighters under its banner will have.

  • Matt Brown Says It’s ‘Clear’ Conor McGregor Will Not Fight In The UFC Again

    Matt Brown Says It’s ‘Clear’ Conor McGregor Will Not Fight In The UFC Again

    Conor McGregor’s much-anticipated return to combat sports has been a topic of speculation, particularly since his last UFC bout in 2021 ended with a severe leg injury in his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier.

    Initially slated to face Michael Chandler in July, the matchup fell through due to a broken toe. Despite this, UFC CEO Dana White has repeatedly stated that the Irishman will eventually return to the Octagon.

    However, McGregor himself has hinted that his comeback might take a different route. The former two-division UFC champion recently claimed that discussions are underway for a potential boxing match against social media star and occasional boxer Logan Paul. If this materializes, it would mark a shift away from McGregor’s UFC roots.

    Former UFC fighter Matt Brown shared his perspective during a recent episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer, expressing doubts about McGregor’s return to the UFC.

    “Does he fight Logan Paul? That’s a good question. I don’t know. I’m going to say I don’t know,” Brown remarked. “Does he fight in the UFC? I think that’s a clear no. Does he fight outside the UFC? I think it’s always possible for him to fight outside the UFC, if the UFC allows it. I don’t know if the UFC is going to get behind it. I just don’t know how those deals are going to play out. But does he fight in the UFC? No, and I’m going to leave it at that. He won’t be in the UFC. I don’t think he’ll fight in the UFC ever again.”

    Brown believes the financial incentive to fight Logan Paul far outweighs the challenges of facing elite UFC opponents.

    “There’s so much money to be made doing a Logan Paul fight. Of course, he would do that. He doesn’t have to come back and fight a f*cking Islam [Makhachev] or something or Dustin Poirier or [Nate] Diaz or anything. He just [has to] go and box a guy who is not a pro boxer.”

    As the combat sports world awaits McGregor’s next move, the possibility of a lucrative boxing spectacle with Logan Paul adds another layer of intrigue to his storied career.

  • UFC Veteran Says It’s ‘Clear’ Colby Covington Isn’t Elite: ‘Lived Off His Shtick More So Than His Performances’

    UFC Veteran Says It’s ‘Clear’ Colby Covington Isn’t Elite: ‘Lived Off His Shtick More So Than His Performances’

    One former fighter thinks Colby Covington’s time as an elite UFC welterweight might have been up even before this past weekend’s result.

    Covington had his pursuit of a fourth shot at the undisputed 170-pound crown stalled emphatically by Joaquin Buckley in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night main event at Tampa’s Amalie Arena.

    After a dominant opening two rounds for the rising “New Mansa,” a cut sustained early on by “Chaos” proved too severe for him to continue, with the cageside doctor advising referee Dan Miragliotta to wave off the fight in the third frame.

    The result has left Covington 2-4 across his last six, 0-4 opposite currently ranked welterweights, and down at #9 in the pecking order.

    Given his struggles, many have suggested the 36-year-old has declined and is no longer able to compete with the best the division has to offer.

    During the latest episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer, UFC veteran Matt Brown questioned whether that might have already been the case prior to the year-ending event in Florida.

    “It’s hard to argue he’s really been elite for a while,” Brown said. “He hasn’t done anything elite for a long time. I’m not even sure if the door was already closed. I thought this was kind of his chance to show that he is still an elite welterweight, and he didn’t pass the test. I think that door might have already been closed is the only caveat to that. We’ll see.

    “I guess the question is whether he retires. It’s not even whether he’s an elite welterweight anymore. I think that answer’s pretty clear,” Brown continued. “Is he going to stick around? Is he going to keep fighting? Because he’s kind of lived off of his shtick more so than his performances, right?”

    Covington was quick to reject any talk of retirement post-fight. On the contrary, he claimed this is “just the beginning.”

    With that, it would appear that “Chaos” will be making the walk again in 2025. But after a defeat to a rising name like Buckley, his chances of returning to championship fights have no doubt slimmed significantly.

  • Merab Dvalishvili Gets Support From UFC Veteran For Latest Fan Altercation: ‘Don’t F*ck With Pro Fighters!’

    Merab Dvalishvili Gets Support From UFC Veteran For Latest Fan Altercation: ‘Don’t F*ck With Pro Fighters!’

    UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has been involved in several altercations with fans in recent times. The latest instance came this past weekend at UFC 310 where a video showed him being separated away from a member of the crowd when he was walking to the back with his teammate, Aljamain Sterling.

    Dvalishvili has since shared a video on social media which suggests that the fan was a friend of Umar Nurmagomedov, who he will face at UFC 311 in his first title defense. This additional footage shows how the person grabbed him which kicked off the series of events that led to UFC fighter Dennis Buzukja trading punches with the man.

    Buzukja later explained that the fan had also been trying to antagonize the 135-pound titleholder on their way to the Octagon for Sterling’s contest against Movsar Evloev. One former member of the roster is able to specifically relate to this kind of situation given his own interactions with fans in the past.

    During the walk out for his fight against Demian Maia in Brazil back in 2016, Matt Brown was grabbed and hit by several people in the audience which led to him hitting back.

    In a recent episode of MMA Fighting’s Fighter vs. Writer, Brown reflected on this experience and stood by Dvalishvili for his response to being provoked.

    “I still say these fans, keep to your f*cking self, bro. You don’t f*ck with professional fighters. Most of us are martial artists that are respectful and stuff, but we’re also human beings and we’ll rip your f*cking throat out. Don’t f*ck with us. It’s stupid.

    “You can’t grab a professional. Someone touches me, I’m f*cking them up.”

    Brown also said that in the aftermath of his incident in Brazil, he wasn’t penalized for the altercation and the UFC looked to make changes to stop this kind of thing from happening.

    “I remember Dana [White] changed things after that,” Brown said. “I don’t know what exactly the changes were but basically talking about separating the fans a little bit more, particularly in Brazil, maybe having a little bit better security when guys are walking out. I was right there in touching range, and they were hitting me and pulling my hat off.

    “I’m not just going to sit here and take this, plus I’m completely fired up ready to walk into a fight. You get hit, it’s a natural reaction — you hit someone back.”

  • UFC Veteran: Aljamain Sterling & Chris Weidman Being On UFC 310 Prelims ‘Feels Like They’re Demoted’

    UFC Veteran: Aljamain Sterling & Chris Weidman Being On UFC 310 Prelims ‘Feels Like They’re Demoted’

    Former UFC champions Aljamain Sterling and Chris Weidman will both compete on the preliminary card of Saturday’s UFC 310 event, a decision that has sparked debate among fighters and fans alike.

    Sterling, a former bantamweight champion, is set to face featherweight contender Movsar Evloev. Ex-middleweight king Weidman, meanwhile, takes on Eryk Anders. The placement has left Sterling particularly puzzled, as he expected a higher-profile slot at the event.

    The issue of card placement was a topic on the latest episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer, where former UFC fighter Matt Brown shared insight into how such decisions impact fighters’ morale.

    Brown explained that being on the prelims often feels like a demotion, particularly for established veterans and former champions.

    “When they put us on the prelims, you feel like you’re kind of demoted,” Brown said.

    He elaborated on the stark difference in atmosphere, noting the impact of performing in front of smaller crowds compared to the energy of a packed arena later in the event.

    “Especially when you’ve got a guy like Chris Weidman, who’s a former champion, and Aljamain Sterling, who’s a former champion. They feel like they’re demoted. I guarantee. I feel that way when I’d get put on the prelims. Like you don’t care about me as much. Like you think I’m on my way out.”

    Brown underscored that every fighter aims to climb the card toward main events, as those slots reflect respect and relevance in the promotion. For veterans like Sterling and Weidman, prelim placement at UFC 310 may feel like a sign the promotion sees their careers winding down.

    The conversation around card placement highlights a deeper issue in how fighters’ legacies are perceived and celebrated within the UFC. As Sterling and Weidman prepare for their bouts at UFC 310, the debate continues over whether their preliminary card placement is a missed opportunity to showcase their enduring star power.

  • UFC Veteran: Stipe Miocic ‘Didn’t Really Want To Be There’ Against Jon Jones

    UFC Veteran: Stipe Miocic ‘Didn’t Really Want To Be There’ Against Jon Jones

    Matt Brown believes Stipe Miocic seemed devoid of drive during his clash with Jon Jones.

    Miocic challenged reigning heavyweight champion Jones in the main event of UFC 309 last Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The former longtime titleholder endured a dominant opening round, finding himself on his back as “Bones” rained down heavy shots from the top position.

    Unfortunately for Miocic, the subsequent rounds provided no relief. He failed to mount any offense and ultimately fell victim to a devastating spinning back kick to the body in the third frame, marking the fight’s decisive conclusion.

    Miocic appeared to grapple with significant Octagon rust, returning to competition after a prolonged hiatus following his knockout loss to Francis Ngannou at UFC 260 in March 2021. At 42 years old, the Ohio native’s age also seemed to play a role, with his movements noticeably lacking the sharpness and agility he once showcased.

    During a recent episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer on MMA Fighting, “The Immortal” weighed in on Miocic’s performance against Jones, remarking that the former champion appeared far beyond his years and looked athletically diminished at UFC 309.

    “As bad as he looked athletically — he looked his age, also — I say he looked past his age, to be honest,” Brown said. “Straight legs, no hate on Stipe. It just looked like he didn’t have it at this point, and why should he? He came to challenge himself at the highest level with the greatest ever and didn’t pass the challenge.”

    Brown further expressed that Miocic, in his eyes, seemed visibly disinterested and was lacking urgency.

    “Stipe, to me, looked like he didn’t really want to be there. He’s there for the challenge and maybe the money. I don’t know what his motivations were exactly. But it didn’t look to me like he really wanted to be there.”

    After his defeat, Miocic officially announced his retirement from active competition, bringing an end to a storied career. He concluded his tenure in the cage with a 20-5 record, with 14 of those victories coming by way of knockout.

  • UFC Vet Questions Jon Jones’ Handling Of Aspinall Avoidance: ‘Should Have Sent A PR Trainer To Him’

    UFC Vet Questions Jon Jones’ Handling Of Aspinall Avoidance: ‘Should Have Sent A PR Trainer To Him’

    Former longtime UFC welterweight Matt Brown believes heavyweight champion Jon Jones should have approached his refusal to fight Tom Aspinall differently.

    Jones is currently days away from his first defense of the 265-pound crown, which he captured at the expense of Ciryl Gane in March 2023. Having been sidelined through injury since, “Bones” will meet returning former champ Stipe Miocic in the UFC 309 main event.

    The pair were originally set to collide last November prior to Jones’ injury. An interim champ subsequently joined the fray when Aspinall knocked out Sergei Pavlovich, but that fact hasn’t stopped “Bones” from pursuing Miocic.

    His decision to avoid unifying the title has proved to be a controversial one. And UFC 309 fight week has even seen Jones suggest that the continuation of his fighting career beyond this weekend would only be to face light heavyweight titleholder Alex Pereira.

    During a recent episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer show, Brown pointed to that statement as a big mistake on Jones’ part.

    “The fact that he brought up that he is going to fight again, and it’s not going to be the current interim champion, that’s a mistake on his part,” Brown said. “UFC should have sent a PR trainer out there to him or something. ‘How about we don’t talk about the future and focus on what we’re doing now. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.’

    “But he crossed the bridge and opened up the door. He has to know when he says that, there’s going to be criticism that he’s ducking,” Brown continued. “It’s not a good look. Jon don’t give a f*ck. He just says it.”

    Should Jones be set to stick to his stance post-his planned victory this weekend, it would appear that Aspinall will be relying on a late-notice withdrawal from Miocic to make his dream of fighting the all-time great a reality.

    The Brit is currently in New York City to weigh in as backup fighter for the UFC 309 main event. Beyond his assignment on the scale this Friday, the interim champ’s next step is unclear.

  • UFC Vet Chimes In On Pereira vs. Topuria Fighter Of The Year Debate: ‘Alex Didn’t Knock Out P4P Greats’

    UFC Vet Chimes In On Pereira vs. Topuria Fighter Of The Year Debate: ‘Alex Didn’t Knock Out P4P Greats’

    Matt Brown believes that Ilia Topuria has the edge over Alex Pereira in the discussion for UFC Fighter of the Year.

    “El Matador” secured the featherweight title by knocking out Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February. Subsequently, Topuria successfully retained his belt last Saturday in the main event of UFC 308, making history as the first fighter to knock out Max Holloway.

    Meanwhile, “Poatan” successfully defended his light heavyweight title three times in just six months, with all victories coming by way of knockout. He began this impressive streak by stopping Jamahal Hill in the first round at UFC 300 in April. He then defeated Jiri Prochazka on two weeks’ notice at UFC 303 in June. Most recently, Pereira stopped Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307 earlier this month.

    With less than two full months remaining in 2024, Pereira stood out as the leading contender for Fighter of the Year. However, “The Immortal” contends that Topuria’s impressive knockout victories over two of the top 145-pounders in history had already secured him the year-end accolade, placing him ahead of the Brazilian and all other contenders.

    During a recent episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer (via MMA Fighting), Brown noted that while “El Matador” might have one fewer win than Pereira this year, the caliber of his opponents in title fights has set a new benchmark for competitive excellence.

    “Alex didn’t knock out three pound-for-pound greats. Ilia knocked out two pound-for-pound greats,” Brown said. “As great as those guys were that Alex fought, they weren’t Holloway or Volkanovski… I don’t think you can compare to that. I’m all on the Ilia train for Fighter of the Year. Again, I wish we could give something to Alex. What he did was remarkable but it wasn’t Max Holloway and Volkanovski.”

    “I think he’s got a lock for Fighter of the Year this year. He’s got a long reign ahead of him. He’s still got a long way to go to be up there with the [Georges St-Pierre’s] and Anderson Silva’s, but he’s right on that path.”