UFC 123 Preview: The Prelims

Welterweights
Brian Foster vs. Matt Brown

The Matchup: Brown could start a fight in an empty room. “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 7 alum is one of the best bangs for your buck, consistently bringing an action fight, win or lose.

Brown excels at finding ways to punish opponents from virtually any position. He will pound the body from inside their guard, nail them with a knee from the clinch, whatever’s available. His first-round stoppage of Pete Sell was one of those performances that showed how dangerous he can be when allowed to get in his groove. Foster, meanwhile, has had mixed results in the Octagon, submitting to Chris Lytle and Rick Story, while knocking out Brock Larson and Forrest Petz.

Ideally, this one will feature plenty of stand-up action, as their styles seem to negate each other on the ground. Look for Brown to start fast and want to get back in the win column -- though he’s 3-3 in the UFC, he’s too much of a fan favorite to be worried about getting released if he loses this one; Foster’s response will determine what kind of fight it turns into. If he stands and slugs, Brown can win via late stoppage or decision. If Foster can take it to the ground and work the margins between positional advantage and striking without losing position, he can pull off a decision.

The Pick: Foster does just enough of the latter, with Brown having several good moments en route to a close decision defeat.