Matt Brown Has No Specific Strategy Against Johny Hendricks
After a disappointing, but very close 5-round decision loss to current champion Robbie Lawler at last July’s UFC On FOX 12, Matt Brown actually has a rare chance in front of him. Coming off a loss, “The Immortal” is likely one win away from a title shot, which could possibly be a rematch with Lawler, if he can get passed former champion Johny “Bigg Rigg” Hendricks at this weekend’s (March 14, 2015) UFC 185.
Coming off of the biggest test of his career, Brown will go up against an equally challenging test in the form of Hendricks, and that’s why he really doesn’t have a specific strategy. Speaking with Bleacher Report, “The Immortal” claims that he doesn’t know what to expect against “Bigg Rigg” and that all he can do is go in there, push himself, and see what happens:
“I just take it one day at a time, man. I don’t put too much pressure on myself. Maybe I get a title shot with a win and maybe I don’t. I have to worry about Johny [Hendricks] first. He’s a super tough guy and one of the best in the world. The only thing I’m thinking about is being completely ready so that I can perform the best I can come fight night and maybe I beat him. I really don’t know what is going to happen in this fight. I never try to expect anything from any fight I’m going into because who knows what will happen? I’m going to go in there and push the fight as hard as I can, push myself as hard as I can and hopefully come out with the W.”
In the top heavy welterweight division, a win over a former champion would likely do the trick for Brown to receive a title shot. The belt has changed hands multiple times since the departure of former 170-pound king Georges St-Pierre, and the division is wide open for opportunity.
Can the vicious Brown get past Hendricks and earn a shot at gold? He may not have a strategy, but you can never count out a fighter with a heart like “The Immortal”.