Author: By Thomas Gerbasi

PITTSBURGH, June 26 – The question leading up to Sunday’s heavyweight showdown between Cheick Kongo and Pat Barry was ‘who was the best pure striker?’ And for a while it looked like Barry, but it was Kongo who had the last word in the UFC Live main event with a crushing first round knockout victory that sent the crowd at the Consol Energy Center into a frenzy.

“I had to win this fight,” said Kongo.

Both fighters traded thudding leg kicks in the early going in a painful game of ‘can you top this?’ Kongo used his reach advantage well, but when Barry got close, he dropped Kongo with a flush right hand. With Kongo appearing to be out, referee Dan Miragliotta looked closely, but Kongo got his bearings back and rose, only to get sent down a second time. Again, Kongo rose to his feet, but just when it looked like Barry was about to score the knockout, the Frenchman fired back with two rights. The first one stood Barry up, and the second one sent him down and out, with Miragliotta having no choice but to call the bout off at the 2:39 mark.

With the win, Kongo improves to 26-6-2; Barry falls to 6-3.

BRENNEMAN VS. STORY

Saturday morning, Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania’s Charlie Brenneman expected to be just another spectator for Sunday’s UFC Live show, but within hours, after Nate Marquardt wasn’t medically cleared for his main event bout against Rick Story, Brenneman was called into duty and he made the most of it in front of his home state fans, winning a clear cut three round unanimous decision over the rising welterweight star.

Scores were 29-28 across the board for Brenneman, who improves to 14-2; Story, who was coming off a win over Thiago Alves at UFC 130 on May 28th, falls to 13-4.

Brenneman, who was originally brought in to face TJ Grant before Grant withdrew from their bout due to illness, kept the home crowd happy in the opening round, smothering Story and not allowing him to get untracked. And that was before “The Spaniard” got the takedown and fired off strikes as he held Story at bay for the rest of the opening five minutes.

Not straying from the gameplan, Brenneman kicked off round two with another takedown, but Story was able to reverse position and briefly catch his foe in a guillotine choke before the two broke and stood up. Brenneman made sure he didn’t stay there long, as he took Story down again, and controlled the pace and location of the fight. Story tried to catch Brenneman in a guillotine again, but the Pennsylvanian was never in trouble, and he moved into side control briefly before the bell sounded.

Story came out swinging in the final round, trying to turn things around, but he wound up on the mat in the opening 30 seconds. After a standup and a return trip to the canvas, Story worked for a submission, but to no avail.  Changing gears, Story got into the mount position, but Brenneman held on, leaving Story little room to operate in order to pull off the miracle comeback.

BROWN VS. HOWARD

It wasn’t pretty, but welterweight Matt Brown salvaged his UFC career, breaking a three fight losing streak with a three round unanimous decision win over John “Doomsday” Howard.

All three judges saw the bout 29-28.

The first round was a tough one to score, with Howard’s leg kicks and takedowns being countered by Brown’s more accurate and punishing striking to the head. The pace slowed in round two, with Brown (14-10) controlling most of the action on the mat, but he was unable to put Howard (14-7) in any significant danger. The same could be said for the final round, but with Howard getting more offensive light than in the previous frame. That didn’t appease the fans though, as they booed the lack of action in what was expected to be a Fight of the Night candidate.

MITRIONE VS. MORECRAFT

The Matt Mitrione Experience continues to captivate the MMA world, as the former NFL lineman moved to 5-0 in the main card opener with a second round knockout of fellow heavyweight prospect Christian Morecraft.

After some sloppy striking from both men to start the bout, Mitrione drew first blood with a straight left that produced a flash knockdown. Morecraft rose quickly and rushed his opponent, but Mitrione calmly parried the attack and bloodied his foe’s mouth. With under two minutes left, Morecraft scored with his first good combination of the fight, yet Mitrione’s answering shot put the ball back in his court. Moments later, Mitrione dropped the Ithaca product, but as he moved in, he didn’t land the finishing blow flush. Morecraft was able to smother Mitrione on the mat to make it out of the round, yet it took him a few moments to get to his corner.

Mitrione continued to pepper his tired foe early in round two, but two minutes in, Morecraft (7-2) was able to score his first takedown of the bout. After a brief stall, Mitrione got to his feet, only to get taken to the mat again. After a restart, Morecraft looked spent, and Mitrione, sensing it, closed the show with a three punch combination to the head. Morecraft dropped to the mat hard, and Mitrione simply walked away as referee Marc Matheny waved off the bout at 4:28.

Below are the official weigh in results for Sunday’s UFC Live on Versus event. UFC Live, which is headlined by the heavyweight bout between Pat Barry and Cheick Kongo and the welterweight battle between Rick Story and Charlie Brenneman, airs live on Versus from the CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, PA at 9pm ET / 6pm PT. Fans who “like” the UFC on Facebook can see the rest of the prelim bouts at 5:55 pm ET / 2:55 pm PT.

MAIN EVENT
Pat Barry (243) VS Cheick Kongo (234.4)

MAIN CARD ON VERSUS
Rick Story (170.4) VS Charlie Brenneman (170.6)
John Howard (170.2) VS Matt Brown (170)
Christian Morecraft (261.4) VS Matt Mitrione (261.1)

ONLINE FIGHTS
Manvel Gamburyan (145.8) vs Tyson Griffin (145.8)
Javier Vazquez (145.8) VS Joe Stevenson (146)
Curt Warburton (155.6) VS Joe Lauzon (156)
Rich Attonito (170) VS Daniel Roberts (170.6) 
Charles Oliveira (153.8) VS Nik Lentz (155.6)
Matt Grice (145.2) VS Ricardo Lamas (145.4)
Edward Faaloloto (155.4) VS Michael Johnson (155.2)

Due to late medical licensing issues, Nate Marquardt has been pulled from Sunday’s UFC Live main event in Pittsburgh. Stepping in to face Rick Story on the main card will be Pennsylvania’s own Charlie Brenneman, and the Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry bout has been elevated to the main event slot. UFC Live airs on Versus at 9pm ET / 6pm PT.

UFC President Dana White has issued a statement regarding Marquardt’s removal from the card and his future with the UFC. To see it, click HERE.

Ed. Note – Following the withdrawal of Nate
Marquardt, Story will now face Charlie Brenneman at UFC Live on Sunday.

Slightly over two years ago, Rick Story was a rookie in awe of what he was about to be undertaking as he prepared for his UFC debut against John Hathaway in Germany. Now, he’s fresh from a three round win over highly-regarded contender Thiago Alves less than a month ago, and preparing for his first headlining gig against Nate Marquardt this Sunday.

The soft-spoken Washington native has also become an in-demand figure among the media, making this last 24 months the wild ride of a lifetime.  And he’s not complaining.

“I’m getting used to it,” he smiles. “And it just lets me know that I’m where I want to be and that all my training is paying off. It solidifies my position and my commitment to the sport. I know that sounds kinda weird, but when you set goals and the goals end up coming true, it’s pretty sweet and it keeps me motivated.”

After dropping a three round decision to Hathaway at UFC 99, Story has had plenty to keep him motivated. Six fights, six wins, and a growing reputation as a legitimate 170-pound contender. That status was confirmed at UFC 130 last month, as Story showed off an impressive well-rounded game in his unanimous decision win over former world title challenger Alves.

The victory was more than enough reason for the 26-year old Story to celebrate and take a few weeks off. He decided to take two days instead, and that was a good thing considering that just five days after the Alves bout, he received a call asking him if he wanted to step in on short notice to replace the injured Anthony Johnson against Marquardt.

The answer?

“I’m all about it,” he said. “I love fighting frequently because I never get out of shape. When I get that, it’s awesome.”

That response was expected from the hard-nosed Story, the type of kid who would probably fight every week if he was able. But he wasn’t coming off a one round blowout. The Alves bout was a grueling 15 minute battle, and there had to be concerns about turning around and doing it again so soon. Well, not from “The Horror.”

“I had black eyes and stuff and I didn’t jump back into super intense training,” he said. “I jumped back and did some conditioning and stuff, but definitely not sparring for a week and a half, two weeks. As far as that goes, I didn’t really take too much damage (against Alves), so I felt really good after about a week.”

You know what they say about risk and reward, and there’s plenty of both for Story this weekend in Pittsburgh. Yes, he’s taking on a perennial standout in Marquardt who dwarfs him in experience, and he’s doing it on short notice. But on the other side, he knows that the name of Marquardt on his resume will hold plenty of weight, and being the Coloradan’s first opponent at 170 pounds also puts him in a position to provide a particularly painful welcome to the division.

“He’s a pretty well-rounded fighter and I’m sure he’s experienced everything,” said Story of Marquardt. “But he’s probably gonna underestimate my strength because there are a lot of ‘85-pounders out there that I’m stronger than, and most people’s reason for dropping weight is to have that size and strength advantage. That might be something that he’s looking for, but he might not realize that he’s not gonna get it in this fight.”

So what’s the plan of attack? Just the usual Rick Story plan: attack, attack, attack, from the opening bell to the finish.

“That’s the most obvious thing because the weight cut’s gonna suck for him, and it’s pretty much like that for me for every fight,” he said. “I go out there, and a lot of people are sticking to the sport side and the competition, but really, it’s a fight, and a lot of people get uncomfortable when it becomes a fight and there’s not a lot of people that encourage or welcome the fight aspect.”

That’s the aspect of the game that Story lives for. It’s not the interviews, the photo shoots, or autograph signings, though as he pointed out, he’s getting used to those. No, what pushes him is what happens in the Octagon on event night. He’s no businessman, he’s a fighter, and on Sunday, he’s one win away from shaking up the welterweight division. Is that worth calling for a title shot?

“I think so,” he said. “Two guys that fought for the title before, I think that deserves something.”

Matt Brown is a helluva nice guy, but for some reason, people want to lie to him. Inexplicably, opponents promise standup wars for the ages with “The Immortal,” and we all buy in, including Brown, but then the night ends, not with a toe-to-toe slugfest, but with a submission win for the other guy.

First it was Chris Lytle, then Brian Foster. But who could blame them? If the Ultimate Fighter alum has an Achilles heel, it’s his ground game. And with eight of his ten losses coming via tap out, it’s no surprise that noted sluggers Lytle and Foster did the smart thing.

So while the fight world is expecting World War III between Brown and John “Doomsday” Howard this Sunday, Brown is well aware that the best intentions go out the window sometimes after a few well-placed shots to the face.

“Why wouldn’t he (Howard) come in and try to shoot a takedown?” asks Brown. “That’s where I’ve lost all my fights. So maybe he’s gonna look for an easy night. But I’ve been working tons on my ground and wrestling, so I think it will be harder than maybe he thinks it would be. But it (the fight) could go a million different ways.”

If the 30-year old Ohio native has his wish, he would love to keep it standing, and Howard’s history and his attitude dictate that there’s a good chance of living up to those expectations. But as Brown is quick to point out, even if Howard stands and trades with him, that doesn’t mean it’s an easy night for him.

“A fight’s a fight,” he said. “I’m pretty used to having different challenges every time, and even if he will stand with me like he says he will, and I assume that he will, it doesn’t take away the challenge because he’s still dangerous on the feet. I believe I’m a better striker than him and he’ll probably look for a takedown at some point, but that’s still a challenge. It’s not like ‘oh, he’s going to stand with me, so now it’s an easy fight.’ It’s still a tough fight and he’s a powerful guy. He hits hard and he’s a dangerous guy, so it’s just a different challenge now.”

It’s not the only one either. Brown enters Sunday’s bout with a three fight losing streak, and since he’s never minced words before, he’s not going to now. He knows that another consecutive loss could cut his UFC career short.

“I know the reality of the situation, and it’s that if I don’t win, I get cut,” said Brown, 4-4 in a UFC stint that began in 2008. “There’s no way you lose four in a row and don’t get cut, and you don’t deserve to not get cut if you lose four in a row. I thought I deserved to be cut after my last fight (against Foster), but I was blessed with another opportunity, and I’m coming into this fight like it’s my first UFC fight. This is my chance and the best thing I can do is make the most of it. I’ve already had the question a million times, is this a must win? Every fight is a must win. This one just has a different reason why it’s a must win, and it’s so I can keep my UFC contract. And even more than that, I want to prove that I belong here. I believe that I do and I believe that I’m good enough to be here.”

In his wins over Ryan Thomas, Pete Sell, and James Wilks, and even in a spirited decision loss to unbeaten contender Dong Hyun Kim, Brown has proven himself as a hard-nosed, hard-hitting battler who always shows up to fight. He’s earned his paycheck every time out, even in defeat, and he’s prepared to do it all again this weekend. So he’s tossing the gravity of the end result to the side and focusing simply on making this the start of a brand new winning streak.

“There’s almost no way to not put more pressure on yourself in this situation, but that’s why I’m coming in looking at it from a totally different view,” he said. “I’m not looking at this as I lost three in a row and I have to win this one. I’m looking at it like I’m walking into the UFC for the first time on June 26th and this is my chance to do something in the UFC. I forgot about the losses, it’s like I’m a new person and no one has ever seen me before, and everything is brand new to me now and I’m coming in as a brand new fighter.”

Brown also has a fresh start as a man as well. A new father to twin boys, he and his fiancée Colleen have settled down with a new home in Ohio, and even though he isn’t working in Washington anymore, Brown has found peace and good training in his native state.

“I’m back with the family, I bought a house and it’s a little more comfortable,” he said. “I’m able to train more, train harder. The twins are happier, it’s a bigger home, and they get to see the family and my family gets to see them grow up.”

Daddy Brown is far removed from his wilder days, when the last thing you would have expected was to see him settled down and happy. Not to mention mowing the lawn and changing diapers.

“Me and my buddy were just talking about that yesterday,” he laughs. “Five years ago, we used to always hang out at this one guy’s house. I lived there and we would hang out, just poor, struggling fighters going out to the club every night and just doing what young fighters do. I was mowing my lawn and he said ‘I never saw you with a house, mowing a lawn, and babies.’ It’s crazy to think about, and you never know where life’s gonna take you. But you’ve got to grow up sometime I guess.”

Well, not necessarily, but Brown is doing a good job of it, and right on time, as he’s hit that old standby of a milestone – 30 years old. But he’s not playing the numbers game, he’s just found what works for him and he’s going with it.

“You just take every day and do the best you can that day,” he said. “I don’t think about the age or anything. Other people mention it, but I just say ‘today, let’s do the best we can’ and that will ensure that tomorrow is a good day.”

He’s hoping that Sunday will be a good day as well, and he’s going into this fight smarter than he ever has, knowing that what people say and what they do are often two different things.

“I kinda fell into that game a little bit, listening to their (his opponents’) pre-fight interview stuff and they’re talking about how they’re going to do this and this, and I’m like ‘that’s awesome.’ (Laughs) And I’d forget about everything else. This time I’m gonna be more open minded and try to impose my will a little more so he’s not even getting to decide whether it stays on the feet or the ground.”

“Some people aren’t built for this,” said John Howard, and he’s right. And he’s not just referring to fighting, but his particular brand of fighting, one where personal safety, aesthetic grace, and points are thrown out the window. When “Doomsday” enters the Octagon, it’s a fight, and if he’s got to lose teeth, shed blood, or wake up in pain the next day to win, so be it.

“It’s not over til it’s over, and until that bell rings, you keep going,” said Howard, who faces Matt Brown this Sunday in Pittsburgh. “You claw and push and keep moving forward. I’m from Boston, and Boston athletes have the biggest hearts in the world, so if there’s five, ten seconds left and I’m losing, I never say die. Even if I’m winning the fight, I’m gonna go for the kill. This is the way I was meant to be and the way I was bred. I don’t care if I’ve got limbs broken, if my heart’s beating and I’m breathing, I can keep moving.”

That’s not talk either. Howard has lost teeth, shed blood, and broken bones in pursuit of his art, and as for the waking up in pain the next morning part, yeah, that’s covered too.

“The next morning sucks,” he said. “You gotta fly out, pack, and it’s the worst thing the next morning. It’s worth it, but it’s still the worst thing. It’s rough.”

Of course, the key phrase is “it’s worth it,” and it’s why the 28-year old Howard keeps doing it. And the worth doesn’t come from wins and losses, even though he does more of the former than the latter; it comes from the satisfaction of knowing that when he’s done coming back from a sure defeat to knock out Dennis Hallman with five seconds left in the third round, going toe-to-toe with Thiago Alves for 15 minutes, or finishing Daniel Roberts for a KO of the Night, that the fans are going to be talking about him the next day.

“My whole career, it’s been wars,” he said. “It’s been full of up-down crazy scenarios where I’ve lost teeth, had my arm broken, got stitches. But I look forward to wars because they’re really fun. People remember them, and I know that I’ve been in a fight. I hate to play the jiu-jitsu game and get laid on. If I go out there and I lose, at least I lose in a war. That’s what you want to do. That’s my fighting style and I’m gonna go out there and bang.”

That’s music to the ears of fight fans and Howard’s opponent, fellow banger Brown. We’ve heard the proclamations before that certain fights were destined to be standup scraps to remember, but dare we dream that this is the one that will live up to expectations? Howard expects to do his part.

“Matt Brown is well-rounded,” said Howard. “I think he’s a better striker than he is a grappler, but I’m training to go wherever the fight takes me.  If it goes to the ground, I’ll fight him on the ground, if he wants to stand, I’ll fight him there, but the plan is to stand and bang with him because that’s what I like to do. I think it’s gonna be a rough night anyway. Even if it hits the ground it’s gonna be a rough night because he’s coming hard and it’s hard to keep him on the ground. And I’m not particularly a wrestler. I have a well-rounded game, but I depend more on my striking than grappling. It’s gonna be a striking night, and I expect it to be a rough night.”

When he says it, you can hear the excitement in his voice, but after dropping his last two bouts to Alves and Jake Ellenberger, he knows that he needs a top-notch performance to get back in the win column. So to supplement his work in Boston, he spent some time in Colorado working with fellow UFC standouts Shane Carwin and Nate Marquardt.

“I went to Grudge for the altitude training, and the guys out there have more experience and different looks and they helped me to improve my game,” said Howard. “So I took the opportunity and it’s been paying off. I’m in way better shape than I’ve been in a long time, I think my technique got  a lot better between striking and grappling, and I think my game came up a lot more.”

And while it was difficult for him to add to his training camp for the first time, it was necessary for a fighter intent on making a mark in the welterweight division.

“It’s a little tough, but it’s worth it,” he said. “Where I’m at (Wai Kru) has got real good fighters and a few UFC fighters, but because I’m fighting nothing but the top tier level guys, I need to train with top tier level people like Shane Carwin, Nate Marquardt, and so on. I just switched my whole game plan up, and I need to train with high-level guys to get me to the next level.”

Thankfully, for John Howard, there are wars on the next level. And as an appetizer, he plans on delivering another memorable outing this weekend.

“Fight of the Night easy,” he said, when asked what fans should expect from his bout with Brown. “Flying knees, flying elbows, everything. Expect a good show. I know Matt Brown and I’m real excited to be fighting him, and not because I necessarily believe I can beat him easily, but because I know he’s gonna come to fight. When you see another striker across the ring, it’s like the biggest honor system in the world because you know he’s gonna stand and bang with you.”