Mike Brown interview
What have you been up to since the fight with Garcia?
I took a week off and traveled a little bit. I had to go to Mexico to promote the fight for a few days then I went to Ohio for the UFC and the Arnold Classic with my sponsor Champion Nutrition. Now I’m back in the gym training.
When is the rematch with Faber?
I’m hearing June. That’s what it is looking like but nothing is signed yet.
What’s next if you defeat Faber again? Do you stay at 145 or do you go to the UFC at 155?
I’ll fight at 145. I feel I’m the best. There are a lot of guys that deserve a title shot. But I wouldn’t mind taking some Super-Fights the fans would want to see. Maybe make some money. I’m down for whatever.
How do you feel you matchup with Kenny Florian or BJ Penn?
Man, both of those guys are tough. I’d have to put on some size and bring my “A” game. Those guys are the top of the heap at that weight class. If the opportunity came I’d fight anybody.
How did you get started in MMA? You wrestled in high school didn’t you?
I wrestled in high school and a little bit in college but not alot.
How did you transition to MMA?
I was a fighting junkie, a total geek. I watched all the UFCs. I started training jiu jitsu and entering grappling tournaments just for fun. Then my college roommate to do a fight. We trained jiu jitsu in the wrestling room. He said I can get you a fight and one led to another then another.
Your first loss was the Hermes Franca would like to avenge that loss?
I wouldn’t mind fighting him again but I’m not big on stuff like that. I don’t care. The fight game is crazy. You win some and you lose some. When you fight world class guys that happens. If they offered me the fight I’d take it. I feel I’m better than him now and I’d win the fight.
How do you feel about Joe Lauzon how do you matchup with him now?
I feel good about all the guys I lost to. I was doing well until I got submitted. My jiu jitsu defense was one of my weaknesses then but now it’s one of my strengths now I’m training at ATT because there are so many good jiu jitsu guys. All my losses are submission losses and all those guys are good submission guys, Imanari, Lauzon, Franca, and Sudo. They caught me and they were the better fighters those nights. I’d fight them any of them again and I wouldn’t consider myself the underdog.
How big was the win over Curran in your WEC debut?
It was a big win. I had followed his career for a long time. He was established Top Ten in the weight class for a long time. He had fought a lot of top guys and beaten a lot of top guys. It was my WEC debut and it didn’t get recognized because it was on the undercard and it didn’t get shown much on TV. A lot of my fights went under the radar.
What did you think when you learned you were fighting Faber for the title?
I thought it was a great opportunity. I knew I could beat him and I had nothing to lose. He was the #1 guy and the biggest name. It’s a great chance to get a fight against Urijah because he’s a great fighter.
What did that win do for your career.
It changed my life. It was the biggest win of my career. It gave me the torch and gave me the #1 spot.
What was it like going in preparing for a fight in September and then the hurricane hit and you got pushed back to November?
It was hard. I trained really hard. I poured a lot into it. When you have an opportunity like that it motivates you train like an animal. I trained hard for eight weeks and that’s a long time for me because I’m always in decent shape. Eight weeks on top of being shape is a long time. It got postponed and it was a nightmare. All that work and all that effort and you don’t get paid even though you are prepared for it. And it was only a few days before the show. All the work was done and it’s a lot of wear and tear on your body but it got pushed back so what are you going to do? He and all the other fighters on the card where in the same boat. It is what it is and I just pushed on.
How cool was it to knock out Garcia in the first round?
It was great. It shut some people up. Some people thought I wasn’t that good and I got lucky. Leonard is a great guy and a great fighter. I was proud of the fact that nobody had ever finished him before. It’s nice being the only one. I wish they were all that easy. I’m not saying it was easy but sometimes it just falls your way. When you are fighting the best guys in the world you can’t expect it to go that way so it’s nice when it does.
Some people had you as the underdog in that fight how did that make you feel?
I think it’s funny. I was the underdog against Curran, Urijah, and Yves Edwards. I won nine in a row and I was the underdog in half of those. One of these days people are going to realize I’m pretty tough.
What inspired that tattoo on your chest?
It’s an angel in memory of my mother. She passed away about 5 years ago. It’s in memory of her. She really liked angels and I liked the design and placement. If she was around she would be flattered you know?
What do you like to do when you aren’t training?
I like to have fun. I like to drink beer and hang out with my friends. I like to go to comedy clubs and goof around with my friends.
Are there any dream matches for you?
No, I don’t have any dream matches. I just want to fight the best guys and fight in big fights. I want to leave a mark and be considered one of the best guys in my division.
When you are training at American Top Team who are some of the guys who give you the toughest time?
There are so many great guys and they give you different problems in different areas. On the ground nobody can beat me up like Marcelo Garcia. On the feet nobody beats me up like Pitbull beats. But my main training partner is Yves Edwards. We have similar training styles and philosophy. So we train together just about everyday.
He’s an old opponent have you guys ever talked about a rematch?
No, we’d never fight each other now. It’s just the fight game. We fought a while back in Russia. It was a close fight. I learned a lot of tricks from him. He’s been around in the sport for a while.
What are your thoughts on the GSP-Alves matchup?
I think Pitbull takes it.He’s got the best standup in the world at that weight class. His takedown defense is phenomenal and he’s got good jiu jitsu too. I don’t see anyone submitting him. GSP is the #1 guy right now and it won’t be easy.
A lot of people are taking Alves for granted in that fight.
He’s a monster. He really is the best striker in that weight class. His takedown defense is so good and it’s gotten better in the last year or two. He beat up Matt Hughes and Koscheck, both good takedown guys. He’s getting better all the time.
What did you think about Lashley’s fight Saturday?
He impressed me. He’s too big for me so I don’t train with him. But I watch him. I think he showed that he can fight. He went three rounds which is good experience and he went with a veteran so that’s good too. He looked a little nervous but what impressed me was that he was so explosive in the third round. For a guy that big and strong he was still quick and fast in the third round. A lot of guys gas out.
He’s strong and fast for a guy who looks like a monster.
Do you think you’ll see him in the UFC one day?
I think so. I don’t know where he’ll go. I’m sure after a few more fights he’ll get picked up by a really big show.
Anything else you want to say to the fans?
Thanks for the support, I want thank TapOut, Champion Nutrition, and American Top Team. They are the best team in the world.
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