Johny Hendricks and Matt Brown fought at UFC 185.
That sentence alone should make any MMA fan dance around with excitement.
This fight promised fireworks from the second it was booked. Arguably the hardest-hitting slugger in the division versus a man who can absorb punishment like none other and has never lost via TKO?
Yes, please.
In execution, Hendricks vs. Brown didn’t quite live up to the billing. This is the unfortunate world of mixed martial arts, friend.
While Hendricks’ power is significant, he comes from a wrestling-first background, and he showcased that lifelong skill set at UFC 185, grinding out a unanimous-decision win primarily through his takedowns and top control.
We didn’t get a slugfest, but we got a clear-cut victory Saturday nonetheless.
What We’ll Remember About This Fight
We’ll remember the disappointing nature of this fight.
Fans wanted blood and punches, but they got takedowns and grabbing instead. Disclaimer: I love the ground game. I really do. But Hendricks wasn’t looking to finish once the fight hit the mat. He didn’t pass guard or go for broke with his ground-and-pound. He just…maintained position.
That’s no fun for anyone.
Thanks to his sensational takedowns and Brown’s inability to do anything against them, Hendricks turned a Fight of the Night contender into a forgettable affair.
What We Learned About Hendricks
Hendricks can wrestle and eat strikes. Nothing new there.
Unfortunately, we learned little to nothing about Hendricks’ game in this one. There were moments where he flashed some nice leg kicks and some more-polished hands, but for the most part, this was a standard Bigg Rigg victory.
Move along, folks.
What We Learned About Brown
Brown continues to struggle against grappling wizards.
He could not slow Hendricks’ wrestling attack in Round 1 and was exhausted after more of the same in Round 2.
Nine of Brown’s 12 career losses came via submission, a result of his inability to keep stronger grapplers from pressuring and overwhelming him on the mat.
Now, he’s lost a 13th time as a professional mixed martial artist, and the reasoning is mostly the same. His opponent wouldn’t stand and bang with him, and The Immortal didn’t have a viable Plan B.
This loss and the method in which it happened should come as a surprise to precisely no one.
We didn’t learn much about Brown’s specific skill set, but we did learn that he’s not a title contender at welterweight. Toughness can only take a fighter so far, and Brown has already stretched that limit.
What’s Next for Hendricks
Hendricks should get the winner of the UFC 189 welterweight title showdown on July 11 between champion Robbie Lawler and Rory MacDonald.
The UFC had already arranged a trilogy between Lawler and Hendricks in January but scrapped those plans, booking MacDonald in Bigg Rigg’s place.
With another win under his belt now, Hendricks will almost certainly get a chance to reclaim his 170-pound strap.
What’s Next for Brown
Brown is still arguably the most fun welterweight in the UFC…when he’s not being smothered.
There are a select few guys in the division who can grind The Immortal into the canvas, but every one of them resides in the top 10 and will keep Brown from ever reaching gold.
He should face Tarec Saffiedine next, and let’s see who deserves to stick around at the top of the division.
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