MMA News

Tag: Matt Brown

  • UFC Veteran: Jon Jones vs. Alex Pereira ‘Could Be As Big’ As A McGregor Fight

    UFC Veteran: Jon Jones vs. Alex Pereira ‘Could Be As Big’ As A McGregor Fight

    A recently retired UFC fighter believes the promotion could cash in big time by having reigning light heavyweight kingpin Alex Pereira challenge his heavyweight counterpart, Jon Jones.

    The possibility of Jones facing Pereira was barely a topic when the former debuted at heavyweight by winning the then-vacant title back in March 2023. At the time, “Poatan” occupied the throne at 185 pounds.

    But since the end of his middleweight reign the following month, Pereira has moved up to light heavyweight and marked himself as one of the promotion’s leading stars by achieving two-division glory.

    And a string of three straight title defenses in 2023 has left many calling for the Brazilian kickboxing specialist to move up again in pursuit of a historic achievement — championship glory in three separate weight classes.

    Though Pereira was dismissive of an immediate heavyweight jump in the aftermath of his victory over Khalil Rountree at UFC 307 earlier this month, many are hoping for the promotion to push for it should Jones keep hold of his gold beyond next month’s Madison Square Garden event.

    During a recent episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer podcast, former UFC welterweight Matt Brown touched on the topic and was firm in his belief when it comes to the magnitude of the potential clash.

    “I don’t doubt this could be as big as any Conor fight,” Brown said. “This could be promoted to the max. They could do it (International) Fight Week or one of the gigantic cards maybe at the Sphere, something crazy. This could be enormous. Jon’s a smart guy. He’s here for the money now, I think. Legacy and money and Alex is going to bring that. It could be promoted as much as you want to promote. This could be the money fight. It’s heavyweight, too. Heavyweight fights always bring a stigma to them that those lighter fights just don’t bring.

    “Conor obviously brought the trash talk and all the antics, the funny stuff and the cool stuff, there’s a certain aura when Conor comes into the cage,” Brown continued. “But there’s a different aura that can be sold here when Jon Jones, the greatest of all-time, who just beat the greatest heavyweight of all-time — assuming that happens — fighting another guy trying to do the biggest thing of all-time, (become) a three-weight world champion. I can’t think of a bigger fight outside of Conor, but I think it could be as big as any Conor fight.”

    The bout has evidently been discussed internally, with UFC CEO Dana White revealing earlier this year that color commentator Joe Rogan has been pushing for “Poatan” and “Bones” to be matched up.

    For the time being, Jones has his focus on the returning Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. Beyond that, most believe any continued stay in the sport as an active fighter should see him unify the heavyweight title against Aspinall.

    But perhaps the UFC would share Brown’s view on the draw of Jones vs. Pereira instead.

  • UFC Veteran Skeptical Of Francis Ngannou’s Box Office Appeal For PFL

    UFC Veteran Skeptical Of Francis Ngannou’s Box Office Appeal For PFL

    Francis Ngannou is poised to make his eagerly awaited PFL debut this Saturday after signing with the organization last year. He is set to face Renan Ferreira in a highly anticipated title bout for the heavyweight championship.

    This clash will headline the PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants pay-perview, taking place at The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

    The former UFC heavyweight champion departed the promotion following his title defense against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 in January 2022, driven by his long-standing dream to compete in boxing. He faced former heavyweight champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in the ring, but his foray into boxing didn’t go as planned.

    The matchup between Ngannou and Ferreira has become one of the most discussed fights of the year, as it marks the return of “The Predator” to the MMA cage after more than two years away. However, former UFC welterweight Matt Brown believes that Ngannou has yet to reach the level of stardom necessary to generate a significant pay-per-view draw for the PFL.

    During a recent episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer (via MMAFighting), “The Immortal” remarked that while Ngannou’s boxing matches were hailed as marquee events due to his bouts with two of the biggest names in the sport, his upcoming PFL fight may struggle to gain similar traction, primarily because his opponent lacks widespread recognition.

    “He’s not that big of a star,” Brown said. “We watched him fight Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury because of him fighting those guys. He’s not a Conor McGregor, and we’re just going to watch him no matter who he fights. Even if Conor fought some lower-level guy, there would be a drop-off in pay-per-views, right?He’s got to have a ‘B’ side also that’s a ‘B’ side. Francis is fighting a ‘D’ side here. It’s not a ‘B’ side. It’s a ‘D’ side, and Francis just isn’t big enough of an ‘A’ side to draw. We don’t know how much he’s getting paid, but if it’s the amounts we would guess, it’s not going to cover his expense, I don’t think.”

    PFL CEO Peter Murray has confidently proclaimed that the Battle of the Giants card will outshine both UFC 300 and UFC 306 in terms of popularity, setting it up to be the year’s premier MMA event. However, fans will have to wait until the weekend to see if the Ngannou-headlined spectacle lives up to the hype.

  • Matt Brown: Poirier ‘Took McGregor’s Soul’—Questions His Future in MMA

    Matt Brown has raised questions regarding Conor McGregor’s mindset and future in the sport after a planned fight with Michael Chandler fell through. There is speculation about what’s next for the former two-division champion. 

    McGregor last fought in 2022, when he suffered a devastating leg injury in a fight with Dustin Poirier in a trilogy bout that resulted in Poirier’s victory. While speaking about McGregor on The Fighter vs. The Writer, Brown pointed out that McGregor is not grinding like others in the sport and doubts fans will see the same McGregor ever again. 

    While looking back on the fight, Brown feels Poirier changed McGregor in more ways than people realize. 

    “When that [fight] happened, it looked to me that Dustin took his soul that day,” Brown said. “I think we all felt that. Maybe we didn’t know it would be as severe as it is. We thought Conor’s a warrior, he’ll be back soon. But when you back and you watch that fight, Dustin took his f*cking soul.”

    Brown added, “I thought Nate Diaz might have taken a little bit the first time, but Conor bounced back from it. Whatever Dustin did to him, I think Dustin actually took his soul, and he no longer had the desire to compete anymore.”

    UFC President Dana White has stated that he expects the megastar to return to the Octagon in early 2025.

  • UFC Vet ‘Feels Bad’ For Those Sharing A Division With Kayla Harrison: ‘I Don’t Think Anybody Has A Chance’

    UFC Vet ‘Feels Bad’ For Those Sharing A Division With Kayla Harrison: ‘I Don’t Think Anybody Has A Chance’

    A longtime UFC fan favorite is high on Kayla Harrison, so much so that he doesn’t see anybody in the bantamweight division being able to beat her.

    Harrison, a two-time title winner under the PFL banner, will feature on the main card of this weekend’s UFC 307 pay-per-view in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she’s set to make her second outing inside the Octagon.

    After establishing herself as a dominant force outside MMA’s leading promotion, Harrison got her pursuit of gold in the UFC underway in strong fashion this past April with a submission win over former champ Holly Holm.

    To secure a likely title shot down the line, the 34-year-old former judoka is next tasked with getting the better of #2-ranked contender Ketlen Vieira in the “Beehive State.”

    And by the sounds of things, recently retired UFC veteran Matt Brown has little doubt about who will have their hand raised in that matchup…

    Brown On Harrison Joining BW Division: ‘If I’m The Champion, I’m Retiring’

    During the latest episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer, Brown discussed Harrison’s successful arrival into the UFC women’s bantamweight division earlier this year.

    Having seen the manner with which the Ohio native dispatched Holm, “The Immortal” doesn’t see anybody on the roster at 135 pounds capable of halting Harrison’s charge.

    “I feel bad for the girls in that division. If I’m the champion, I’m retiring. If I’m Raquel Pennington or I’m Julianna Peña and I win the fight, I’m out. I’m pulling an Eddie Bravo here. Win the big one and I’m done,” Brown said. “I wasn’t quite as big of a believer until the way I watched her beat Holly Holm. Because I just didn’t know about the weight cut, and how she was going to perform (after) the weight cut, and sometimes people change when they come to the UFC. They’re just not what we thought they were when they were in a different organization.

    “I think she answered every question very clearly. She’s going to come in, and I don’t think anybody has a chance against her,” Brown continued. “We’re on the way to the Kayla Harrison era. I think she wrecks everybody in that division, including Amanda if she comes back. I don’t think anybody stands a chance against Kayla. I think she is a major problem for everybody in there. … She is an absolute terror for this division.”

    Harrison will look to prove Brown right come fight night in Salt Lake City this weekend, when she shares the card with another “terror” in UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira.

    The pair recently got familiar with one another on the mats, with Harrison teaching “Poatan” some judo moves. Her ability to take the Brazilian down is perhaps strong evidence for Brown’s prediction of dominance for the two-time Olympic gold medalist at 135 pounds.

  • UFC Vet Rejects Notion Jon Jones’ Legacy Will Be Affected By Avoiding Tom Aspinall: ‘It Will Be Forgotten’ 

    UFC Vet Rejects Notion Jon Jones’ Legacy Will Be Affected By Avoiding Tom Aspinall: ‘It Will Be Forgotten’ 

    According to one record-holding former UFC fighter, Jon Jones isn’t at risk of hampering his legacy should he continue avoiding Tom Aspinall.

    The heavyweight title picture remains one of the most prominent and polarizing discussions currently at the surface of the MMA community, largely centering around the presence of two champions.

    First came Jones, who was crowned in his divisional debut 18 months ago. More recently, Aspinall captured interim gold by knocking out Sergei Pavlovich, a matchup that came about at Madison Square Garden after an injury to Jones delayed his clash with the returning Stipe Miocic.

    Since then, one man has recorded their first successful title defense, with Aspinall emphatically exacting his redemption against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 in Manchester this past July.

    But despite the presence of an interim titleholder who has already withstood one challenge, both Jones and the UFC remain steadfast on rescheduling the bout against Miocic. The pair are now expected to give their matchup a second go at reaching the cage this November, once again at the annual MSG-held pay-per-view.

    That fact has left Aspinall and many fans, fighters, and pundits bemused. Some have even gone as far as to suggest that avoiding a unification fight with his interim counterpart will leave a negative, lasting impact on Jones’ legacy.

    According to Matt Brown, news isn’t remembered long enough for that to be the case…

    Brown Doubts Jones ‘Ducking’ Aspinall Will Be Remembered

    During the latest episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer, Brown gave his take on the current championship conversation at heavyweight.

    “The Immortal,” who retired earlier this year as the record holder for most knockouts and finishes in UFC welterweight history, believes that should Jones defeat Miocic at UFC 309 and subsequently retire over meeting the challenge of Aspinall, it would simply be “forgotten” down the line.

    “The fact is, it will be forgotten,” Brown said. “No matter what Tom does. If Jon retires after he beats Stipe, we’re in the age of news is news for a day. Maybe for a day or two, there will be some people on Reddit saying Jon was scared of Tom or whatever. By next week or whatever…he’ll still be the greatest ever. No one’s going to be like, ‘Oh, Jon’s not the greatest ever because he didn’t fight Tom Aspinall.’ I don’t think a single person’s going to say that. They’re just going to talk a little bit of silly stuff for a couple of days and it will be completely forgotten.

    “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t remember Jon ever saying, ‘I’m out here now to try to be the greatest heavyweight.’ He’s like, ‘I’m the greatest fighter, I got that in the bag. I’m the greatest fighter of all time. I’m going to fight a couple heavyweight fights. Yeah, I might be a little bit picky about who I fight. I’m the greatest fighter of all time, b*tch. I get to pick my fights now,’” Brown continued. “I don’t remember him ever saying, ‘I’m out here to attempt to prove I can also be the greatest heavyweight.’ He’s like, ‘No, I’m moving up to get a couple paydays, getting some big fights, having some fun, not have to cut weight, and move on with my life.’”

    Talk of Jones’ potential GOAT status has been a prominent topic as of late, largely thanks to UFC CEO Dana White’s staunch campaigning for the heavyweight kingpin to be moved back to top position in the pound-for-pound pecking order.

    It remains to be seen whether Aspinall will get his wish to share the cage with Jones. But as Brown noted, the Rochester native appears to be paying more attention to his overall place in MMA lore as opposed to a heavyweight legacy.

  • Recently Retired UFC Vet Suggests Israel Adesanya’s Time May Be Up After UFC 305: ‘Maybe 5 Years Ago That Was An Easy Fight For Him’

    Recently Retired UFC Vet Suggests Israel Adesanya’s Time May Be Up After UFC 305: ‘Maybe 5 Years Ago That Was An Easy Fight For Him’

    Israel Adesanya was unable to recapture the UFC middleweight title at UFC 305, meaning that for the first time in his MMA career, he’s coming off of back-to-back losses.

    “The Last Stylebender” made it clear in his post-fight interview that he’s not leaving the Octagon for good just yet despite his defeat to Dricus Du Plessis in Perth, Australia.

    In fact, even though he did show some weaknesses, there were a lot of positives to take away from his main event display. Up until he was hurt by a big looping shot, it appeared that he was on his way to swinging the contest his way in the fourth round.

    The big question to answer after he put in a good performance but was ultimately defeated is whether Du Plessis was simply the better man on the night, or is Adesanya not as good as he once was?

    Matt Brown Questions Whether Israel Adesanya Is On A Clear Decline

    There were certainly shades of the Adesanya that blew everyone away with his rise up the middleweight ladder and subsequent title reign.

    His accuracy and shot selection was a work of art but his defense did appear to suffer, and he took some big shots from “Stillknocks.” That eventually led to a mistake on the ground which cost him the fight.

    During the latest episode of Fighter vs. Writer on MMA Fighting, UFC veteran Matt Brown weighed in with his thoughts on this past weekend’s title clash.

    Like many, he liked what he saw from the former champion but he did address some concerns over whether at 35, things aren’t getting any easier for “The Last Stylebender.”

    “I’ve had the question, Izzy is 35, he’s got a lot of miles on him from kickboxing and MMA, is his peak just ending? Is that what happened over the weekend? Is his peak just ending? When he fought [Sean] Strickland, maybe he just had an off night, but maybe he’s slowing down too. Maybe five years ago that was an easy fight for him, and he’s just not in peak form anymore.

    “The way he looked against Dricus, I thought he looked really good, but that could have been him still slowing down a little bit. I thought his defense didn’t look as good as it had in the past, which was kind of the unique thing because he relies so much on reactions. He’s not necessarily a hands tight, high guard, really defensive guy in that sense, really technical. He kind of relies on reactions. When those start slowing down, that’s when guys like Dricus start hitting you. That’s when guys like Strickland start hitting you a lot more. If he’s slowing down a little bit, maybe his time is up?”

    It remains to be seen what lies ahead in the career of Adesanya. In terms of the title picture, it would appear a clash of his former opponents is to come, with Du Plessis expected to run it back with former champ Sean Strickland.

  • Recently Retired UFC Fighter Sympathizes With Tony Ferguson’s Struggles: ‘He’s Like A Cocaine Addict Trying To Reach That High Again’

    One man with experience committing to an exit from active competition knows full well the difficulty that former interim UFC lightweight champion Tony Ferguson is having amid an eight-fight skid.

    Ferguson fell to an unwanted record at this past weekend’s UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi, with fellow veteran Michael Chiesa sending him to the longest run of defeats in the promotion’s history.

    “El Cucuy” was finished inside the first round at the Etihad Arena, tapping out to a rear-naked choke after being comfortably taken down and offering little defense to the submission move.

    In the aftermath, the 40-year-old initially appeared set to announce his retirement. But while the majority seemingly would have supported that move, the best they got was a half-retirement, and event that appeared to be quickly walked back in the aftermath.

    Brown: Ferguson ‘Has To Accept’ His Time Has Gone

    During the latest episode of MMA Fighting’s The Writer vs. The Fighter, recently retired welterweight Matt Brown gave his assessment of Ferguson’s current situation.

    “The Immortal” brought his career to an end this year, having amassed the second most fights in the 170-pound division’s history and falling below only heavyweight powerhouse Derrick Lewis for knockouts.

    Brown retired a year on from his previous appearance, a brutal KO victory over Court McGee. The result ensured he hung up the gloves off the back of a 2-1 record across his final three fights, all of which netted him performance bonuses.

    The ship appears to have sailed when it comes to Ferguson retiring on a similarly strong run of form, and Brown thinks “El Cucuy” is simply chasing a “high” that will never come again.

    “Look, when you lose eight in a row, it doesn’t matter where you’re at in your career…you should probably call it quits,” Brown said. “Something isn’t right. Whatever it is. If you lost your first eight or you lost your last eight. The problem is he had so many wins, he was interim champion, on like a 12-fight winning streak back in the day. So he’s like a cocaine addict trying to reach that high again. When you get eight (losses), it doesn’t matter. If he had lost eight fights in a row at the beginning of his career…he would have quit most likely. He would have been like, ‘Well, this definitely isn’t the sport for me, I lost eight fights in a row.’ But because he’s already had that high, he’s thinking I can get back to that.

    “It’s like cocaine. It really is. That’s what walking into an Octagon and beating another man’s ass (feels like), especially the way Tony did where he just f*cking ripped people’s souls out of their bodies. That is a high you cannot get anywhere else, in any other way,” Brown continued. “But you can’t chase that. You’ve got to accept that was the season of your life, and it’s time to move onto a new season.”

    Ferguson is yet to discuss his future since his comments inside the cage and at the post-fight press conference this past weekend. It remains to be seen whether he’ll attempt another outing inside the Octagon, and whether the UFC will even let him.

  • MMA News Today: UFC Commentator Feels Fans Watch Belal Muhammad Fights With ‘Tainted Eye’, UFC Featherweight Star Rants About ‘Corrupt’ Olympics, & More

    MMA News Today: UFC Commentator Feels Fans Watch Belal Muhammad Fights With ‘Tainted Eye’, UFC Featherweight Star Rants About ‘Corrupt’ Olympics, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 31, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • Anik says fans are biased against Muhammad
    • Allen labels Olympic Games as corrupt
    • UFC veteran says Mokaev didn’t have a leg to stand on

    Jon Anik Says Fans Criticism Of UFC 304 Main Event Is Out Of Dislike For Belal Muhammad

    UFC commentator Jon Anik believes that some fans have been too critical of the UFC 304 main event, due to their dislike of Belal Muhammad.

    Whilst the majority of each round was spent with either Muhammad or Leon Edwards holding the other in a dominant position with little action, the momentum of the fight did swing back and forth at points.

    Anik said that to make it clear, he is a huge fan of both men because whilst he may be friends with the new champion, his career will always be tied to “Rocky” and his title reign.

    On the Anik & Florian Podcast recap of this past weekend’s event, he said that some were looking for a way to criticize Muhammad rather than praise him.

    “So I’m not sure what exactly we are looking for, I think a lot of people just watch Belal Muhammad with a tainted eye and that’s why I tweet, “cry”, right. I am a Leon Edwards fan as anyone knows, ‘Shabba Madda Pot’ is my favorite song.

    “My most significant call of my career is Leon Edwards, the favorite moment of my professional career is when Leon hugged me after the fact, six months later. But, it is time to put respect on the name Belal Muhammad.”

    Arnold Allen Criticizes The Paris Olympic Games Amidst Multiple Controversies

    The Paris Olympic Games are in full swing but this particular instalment has been defined by controversy from the very start.

    In a recent series of posts on social media, UFC featherweight contender Arnold Allen voiced his opinions on how the event has become unwatchable over time.

    He may have been planning to spend some time this summer watching the games after returning to the win column this past weekend at UFC 304 but “Almighty” has had to tap out.

    Allen referred to Dutch volleyball player Steven van de Velde who qualified for this year’s games despite being convicted of child rape in 2016.

    Matt Brown Says The UFC Made The Right Call Regarding Muhammad Mokaev’s Contract Status

    UFC veteran Matt Brown weighed in with his thoughts on the recent UFC departure of undefeated flyweight contender Muhammad Mokaev.

    Like many, he admitted that he was surprised at first given the ability and potential that “The Punisher” brings to the table.

    Brown was also able to identify why the UFC would want to walk away from resigning the fighter, if he’s causing issues behind the scenes.

    Crucially, he pointed out how Mokaev isn’t in a position where the juice is worth the squeeze given his profile in the sport and performances, compared to other controversial fighters on the roster.

    During the latest episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer, “The Immortal” said that he understands the promotion’s call after what went down on fight week.

    “I’d probably cut him, too, to be honest,” Brown said. “It is surprising that they would do that, being that his ceiling is pretty freaking high. I’ve watched him fight before. The dude has really, really high ceiling. Young guy with a lot of skills, a lot of talent. But when you’re up and coming like that, you can’t just do that. I think the UFC has shown that before. When you’re an up and comer, you can’t be ruffling too many feathers. Obviously like some but you can’t be doing stupid sh*t like that.

    “Once you’re Jon Jones and you’re putting all those asses in the seats, yeah you get away with some sh*t. Because you’re in business with the UFC. You’re a partner essentially,” Brown continued. “Whereas how many people tune in to watch Muhammad Mokaev? When he goes and fights in PFL, how many people are going to tune in and watch Muhammad Mokaev? So there are double standards or triple standards or whatever. There is different standards for every fighter. He’s not at that level to be getting away with sh*t like that. I don’t know the story but that (sucker-punch) sounds like a cowardly b*tch move, and I wouldn’t want to be in business with someone like that either.”

    Read more on the story here.

    For more MMA news, check out:

  • Green vs. Haqparast Set For UFC 271, Brown vs. Barberena Rebooked For Columbus

    Two fights including UFC veterans have been added to the upcoming schedule of events with live crowds.

    Brown Rebooked Against Barberena Re-Booked For Hometown Event

    Matt Brown
    Image Credit: USA Today Sports

    Matt Brown’s previously attempted fight against Bryan Barberena is back on the schedule, and it is set to happen in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio, USA. The matchup is set to happen on March 26th, per Damon Martin of MMA Fighting.

    Brown was previously booked to face Barberena on a December “Fight Night” card. That fight didn’t come to fruition, as a positive COVID-19 test forced Brown out of the lineup. They were still able to find Barberena an opponent for that event, as he beat UFC debutant Darian Weeks on scorecards.

    Brown is riding the momentum of a finish win he earned against Dhiego Lima in June. The loss put him back to his winning ways for the first time since 2019. He entered the bout on a two-fight losing streak, including an early 2021 bout against fellow veteran Carlos Condit.

    Green vs. Haqparast Scheduled For UFC 271

    Bobby Green
    Bobby Green (Photo: Getty Images)

    The always-active Bobby Green will return for his first fight of the new year at UFC 271, facing Nasrat Haqparast in a lightweight bout. The matchup was first reported on Thursday by Walter Salcido.

    Green finished his year on a high note in November, putting away Al Iaquinta in the first round with punches. This performance snapped a two-fight skid for the veteran, which included a tough three-round battle against the rising Rafael Fiziev.

    Haqparast will be aiming to return to the win column in this fight. He lost his last fight on scorecards, going three rounds against Dan Hooker at UFC 266. Haqparast was on a strong two-fight winning streak before then, handing UFC newcomers Alex Munoz and Rafa Garcia both their first loss.

    Do you have a prediction for Green vs. Haqparast and/or Brown vs. Barberena?

  • Matt Brown Open To UFC Homecoming In Ohio Vs. Kevin Holland

    UFC veteran Matt Brown wants to fight in front of his hometown fans on the upcoming Columbus, OH card and is open to a matchup with Kevin Holland.

    Brown was originally slated to face Bryan Barberena on one of the final UFC cards of 2021 but pulled out after testing positive for COVID-19. While he didn’t experience any severe symptoms, he was sick enough to the point where fighting wasn’t a realistic option.

    Brown is now fully recovered from the virus and is planning on his return to the Octagon. The 40-year-old Brown is looking to earn a second-straight win after knocking out Dhiego Lima earlier this year.

    Brown wants to check another item off his bucket list by fighting on the upcoming Fight Night card on March 26 in Columbus. During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, he tabbed Holland as a potential opponent for his return.

    “[Kevin] Holland is a tough guy with a good name,” Brown said. “That would be a great fight or anybody else. I’m not really too picky. I don’t really pick and choose. I say put a guy in the cage with me and tell me where to be and I’ll be there.

    “If he wants to fight, we’ll fight. If they give me the call, I’m down. Let’s make it happen, Columbus, March 26. Let’s go.”

    Kevin Holland Responds To Matt Brown’s Callout

    After mixed results at middleweight, Holland has turned his attention to a cut down to welterweight for the foreseeable future. He most recently competed against Kyle Daukaus in October in a fight that was controversially ruled a no-contest after a head clash.

    Holland heard about Brown’s comments and conveyed his interest in the possible matchup.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CX8jDtfLez2/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    “I was thinking February 5th,” Holland said in an Instagram post. “Two big mouths on one card. Definitely a respectful callout, OG.”

    Holland and Brown are both appearing to be chomping at the bit for a return to the Octagon. With the two fan-favorites currently unbooked, there does not seem to be anything standing in the way from this fight becoming a reality.

    What do you think about a possible Matt Brown vs. Kevin Holland fight?