If you believe what Vladimir Matyushenko (25-5) and Jason Brilz (18-3-1) are saying ahead of their fight at UFC 129 this Saturday night, this is one wrestler-versus-wrestler match-up that will look like anything but.
Matyushenko – a former Belarusian national team member – claims that he plans to use his wrestling skills mostly to stay off the mat, and his reasoning is fairly simple.
“I’ve been working on my stand-up skills for a little while now and honestly I’d like to show off a little bit in front of the fans,” Matyushenko told MMA Fighting. “And I know my friends and my fans are expecting it.”
Brilz, who’s been out of action since losing a very close split decision to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira last May, seems to be keeping his approach even simpler.