The Case for Mike Brown: Urijah Faber "Is Not a Methodical Fighter"

I spoke with Mike Brown on Saturday on MMA Nation (Saturdays 7 p.m. EST to 9 p.m. EST on 106.7 WJFK). He offered quite a bit of insight, most notably in contrasting his style with Faber's. Here's a rundown of the conversation:

1. Brown categorically does not believe former WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber is physically stronger than him. "I didn't feel any strength really...We never got in a position where we were muscling each other around."

2. When asked about American Top Team teammate J.Z. Calvancante's loss to Tatsuya Kawajiri at DREAM.9, Brown believes J.Z. "fought a little flat. He didn't fight his absolute best". Brown believes if the two fought again J.Z. could win, but in fighting a high caliber opponent like Kawajiri, small mistakes over the course of the bout are incredibly costly. He also believes the time off after the ACL tear probably affected J.Z.'s ability to perform.

3. Brown previously indicated his jiu-jitsu was not up to par when he fought Genki Sudo at UFC 47. When asked what steps Brown took since making the leap to ATT to shore up defensive liabilities in BJJ and to improve his offensive arsenal, Brown remarked that he does not train in the gi, but has been a diligent student of the game. Brown indicated he would attend both the professional and general student classes to be challenged by high-level jiu-jitsu players as well as to be able to try out newer techniques and refine abilities against more average jiu-jitsu players, respectively. But overall, Brown says a team like ATT is going to find the holes in one's game and that over time, those holes begin to close. Before you know it, Brown says, you don't have the same problems you used to.

4. "Without a doubt" Brown says, he would not be the fighter he is today had he not become a member of ATT. Brown believes he would've been a good fighter had he gone to other gyms, but credits ATT with the level of success he's achieved today.

5. When asked to comment on Masakazu Imanari's fight against Bibiano Fernandes at DREAM.9, Brown said he had not seen it, but argued Imanari's style would draw him massive jeering from American crowds: "I know his style and I know what his fights can be like. They can be boring. I know he comes in, throws a wild kick and falls to his back. It makes a boring fight. In the U.S. he'd get booed out of the stadium and he could never win a decision like that [with his style]."

6. Brown believes he is properly marketed and promoted by the WEC. He argues the issue of Faber getting more noticeable treatment from sponsors in an issue between Urijah and his sponsorship, not an issue of the WEC doing enough for Brown.

7. When asked about remaining humble or unassuming - which has always been a Brown trademark - in the face of becoming of champion and a top-ranked fighter and whether or not he feels a new burden because of his status, Brown says he is actually training better now. He says previously he may have even lacked confidence but the success has given him improved his training and outlook.

8. Brown believes he's always known if he could make 145lbs he'd be able to physically boss opposition around.

9. When asked about Faber's improvisation during the middle of fight being a long-term liability for him against physically strong, durable fighters who exercise risk management, Brown believed it's probably too late for Faber to change his style but that it could very well be a problem for him. "I try to not make too many mistakes. I try to stay real tight...And he's an unorthodox fighter. In all of his fights, he gives up his back, he gets taken down, you know, he turns his back to guys. That's nothing new for him. That's his style. He's not a methodical fighter where he's patient, takes his time, keeps tight defense everywhere. That's not his style."

10. If Brown beats Faber again he said he'd like to move forward in his career by taking big fights, irrespective of weight class. Brown believes he's older (33), he's as talented as he's going to get and would like to get paid.

11. When asked for a prediction in the Jose Aldo vs. Cub Swanson fight, Brown believes Aldo might be slightly overrated and hasn't fought opposition as good as Swanson. By contrast, Brown believes Swanson has faced tougher opposition in fights that have been on undercards where folks can't see them. Brown believes in the stand-up Aldo has the edge, but overall thinks the fight is a pick 'em.

12. When asked for a prediction in the Jens Pulver vs. Josh Gripi fight, Brown had very effusive praise for Grispi. He says he trains with a lot of elite fighters from that area who all rave about Grispi in terms of his talents, his length and athleticism.

13. Brown says he's always had big power even before he learned how to box. He says he's knocked out sparring partners in training with headgear and 16 oz. gloves on. The real difference about his striking now, Brown says, is that when he would hit opposition or get close to them he'd grab them and begin to wrestle since that was what he'd been doing for so long. Now Brown is more open, a little looser and lot more willing to let his hands go.

WEC 41: Brown vs Faber II coverage

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