James Wilks vs. Matt Brown at UFC 105
by Scott Haber on Aug 19, 2009 1:45 PM EDT
31 comments
Two Ultimate Fighter alums will clash in a welterweight fight at UFC 105 in Manchester, England when season nine winner James Wilks (6-2, 1-0 UFC) meets season seven fan-favorite, Matt Brown (10-7, 3-1 UFC) on the main card, according to MMA Junkie:
A source close to the event told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) the bout is "close to finalized" and that bout agreements could be signed shortly.
Wilks is a British native, although he has lived in California for many years and runs his own gym there (Lightning MMA). Competing on Team U.K. on TUF, the BJJ brown belt was a bit of an unknown, but his outstanding submission skills and solid muay-thai propelled him all the way to the finale against the highly-touted DaMarques Johnson. Wilks put on a grappling clinic, nearly ensnaring Johnson in a heel hook and an armbar, before quickly transitioning to a rear naked choke for the first round submission victory.
Matt "The Immortal" Brown saw his stock rise rapidly on TUF thanks to his balls-to-the-wall striking style, and particularly his brutal knockout-by-kick of Jeremy May. Although he couldn't get past eventual-winner Amir Sadollah on the show, Brown made a case for his continued presence in the UFC following the season's completion, with brutal stoppages of Matt Arroyo and Pete Sell, an armbar submission of Ryan Thomas, and a razor-thin split decision loss to Dong-Hyun Kim. Currently a blue belt in BJJ under Jorge Gurgel, Brown was scheduled to face fellow highlight-reel Anthony Johnson at the TUF 9 Finale in June, but nagging injuries kept both men on the shelf.
Although still not yet announced, UFC 105 is expected to take place on November 14, 2009 at the MEN Arena in Manchester, U.K. The card will air via tape-delay on SpikeTV in the U.S.
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Luke Thomas is going to TKO Wilks.
The mat is my church, the ground is my heaven, Jiu-Jitsu is my religion. And once you hit the ground you're in my world. My world is like the ocean, I’m like a shark and most people don't even know how to swim - Draculino
by AboveThisFire on Aug 19, 2009 1:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
This should be a good one!
Wilks seems like he has all around great skills. I see him working out to be one of the better TUF winners for UFC.
Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."
by xFenixKnightx on Aug 19, 2009 1:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah this is an intriguing fight.
It ends in an armbar or a strangle regardless.
by capital L on Aug 19, 2009 7:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is this going to be another TUF card passed off as a UFC numbered event?
Beverly Hills 90210.......Denver Broncos 7.
by SSreporters on Aug 19, 2009 2:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Is it in England?
Then yes.
The mat is my church, the ground is my heaven, Jiu-Jitsu is my religion. And once you hit the ground you're in my world. My world is like the ocean, I’m like a shark and most people don't even know how to swim - Draculino
by AboveThisFire on Aug 19, 2009 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
BJ Penn is fighting Deigo at 105, so its a large UK card. At least Bisping is not the headliner
by szucconi on Aug 21, 2009 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow
I usually am kind of blah about the UK cards, but this is an intriguing matchup! Can’t wait!
I'm the kind of girl who loves to watch a GOOD fight!
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by funnytiger on Aug 19, 2009 2:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I thought Matt Brown was a former marine who weighed about 240? How is he going to make 170?
Keep firing Assholes!
Evil always triumphs because good is dumb.
by Ubernoober on Aug 19, 2009 2:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Nope.
The mat is my church, the ground is my heaven, Jiu-Jitsu is my religion. And once you hit the ground you're in my world. My world is like the ocean, I’m like a shark and most people don't even know how to swim - Draculino
by AboveThisFire on Aug 19, 2009 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
:(
The mat is my church, the ground is my heaven, Jiu-Jitsu is my religion. And once you hit the ground you're in my world. My world is like the ocean, I’m like a shark and most people don't even know how to swim - Draculino
by AboveThisFire on Aug 20, 2009 8:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He’s done it before. I can’t begin to imagine how, though.
Bolts from the Blue // "Game over." - Jamal Williams
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken
by Richard Wade on Aug 19, 2009 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Speaking of missing jokes…
Bolts from the Blue // "Game over." - Jamal Williams
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken
by Richard Wade on Aug 19, 2009 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Very interesting fight
As far as a TUF alum’s first fight outside of the Ultimate Fighter, Matt Brown is a tough fight for just about anyone. It seems like the UFC is giving a few of these winners some competitive fights instead of giving them easy wins for their first fight after TUF. I have to wonder if the UFC sees any value in some (not all) of these TUF winners these days. With TUF winners like Mac Danzig and Kendall Grove being stuck in mid-tier purgatory, I wonder if the UFC sees the Wilks’, the Pearsons’, and the Escuderos’ as winners who will most likely be stuck in the mid-tier of the UFC?
by chrisbboy82 on Aug 19, 2009 3:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think at this point, if a didn’t really stand out on the show as a crowd draw then they are going to be thrown to the lions and if they prove that they deserve to stay great, if not, the UFC used them for TUF ratings and to build up other fighters in already strong divisions.
"Japan is half-Machida" - iiowyn
by Day Man on Aug 19, 2009 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I remember liking Matt Brown on TUF then swearing vengeance when he beat one of my bjj coaches last year. Then I realized I couldn’t get down to 170 without starving myself and cutting off an appendage or two. By the way, what makes Matt Brown immortal? He should come out to Queen’s “Born to be King” or whatever the real name for that song is.
by black dragon on Aug 19, 2009 3:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think he survived a heroin overdose or something. Either way, it’s a tough first match for Wilks.
by MMAEruption on Aug 19, 2009 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
"By the way, what makes Matt Brown immortal?"
When he was younger, he ODd on heroin and his heart stopped for a few minutes before he was revived. The story was part of a great interview that was posted here a few months ago.
by Scott Haber on Aug 19, 2009 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And yes the highlander song would be epic
"Japan is half-Machida" - iiowyn
by Day Man on Aug 19, 2009 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
MMA Weekly is saying that DaMarques will be fighting on this card too, he’s fighting Peter Sobotta
http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=9401&zoneid=13
by Shaun32887 on Aug 19, 2009 3:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It seems like DaMarques is getting the much easier fight (obviously coming off of a loss), but sometimes I see the UFC building these winners slowly, not giving them a very tough fight right away.
by chrisbboy82 on Aug 19, 2009 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think the level of opponent depends on how much Dana likes you. I mean, he must hate Mac Danzig. After Bocek, he got Guida, Neer, and Miller. But other guys have had it easier.
by MMAEruption on Aug 19, 2009 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Cole Miller isn’t exactly an easy fight for Efrain Escudero. I have to wonder who the UFC is going to put up against Ross Pearson.
It seems like the UFC is wising up about some of these TUF winners. Danzig and Grove have proven that some of them just will not become top-tier fighters.
by chrisbboy82 on Aug 19, 2009 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It’s his first fight, this is his Bocek. Who knows who he fights after this?
by Shaun32887 on Aug 19, 2009 6:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Matt Brown hands the TUF winner his first octagon loss.
by poundnground on Aug 19, 2009 4:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Luke Thomas is about to get his murder on.
This shirt is "dry clean only", which means it's dirty.
by SamCupitt on Aug 19, 2009 8:51 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
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