UFC 91 Breakdown: The Undercard

Matt Brown vs. Ryan Thomas

Brown Scouting Report
Ht/Wt: 6’0”/170 lbs.
Age: 27
Hometown: Xenia, Ohio
Fighting out of: Cincinnati
Record: 7-7

The stakes: Calling yourself “Immortal” despite a 7-7 professional record may raise a few eyebrows, but Brown showed his worth in a hotly contested split decision loss to South Korean slugger Dong Hyun Kim at UFC 88 in September. Of course, that 7-7 mark’s hardly pleasing to the eye. Brown needs to rack up some wins to keep the crowd from smirking at his noms de guerre, especially since “The Ultimate Fighter” alumni have become increasingly expendable in light of the UFC’s roster downsizing. Plus, no one’s too keen on seeing sub-.500 fighters on pay-per-view.

The breakdown: A workmanlike fighter who does his best work with his fists, standing and the ground, Brown’s submission defense remains questionable, and Thomas will look to exploit that weakness. Brown’s response needs to be focused on controlling distance, battering Thomas in the clinch and dissuading him from closing the gap in search of takedowns. That, or Brown could put his nickname to the test and let Thomas pound on him until he passes out from exhaustion.

Thomas Scouting Report
Ht/Wt: 6’0”/170 lbs.
Age: 24
Hometown: Danville, Ill.
Fighting out of: Danville, Ill.
Record: 9-2

The stakes: A UFC neophyte who lost his debut to American Top Team’s Ben Saunders at UFC 87, Thomas is fortunate to be getting a second chance in the Octagon. Entering his bout with Brown, he knows another loss could mean an end to any UFC aspirations he may have. Situations don’t get any direr, and Thomas needs to come out with the appropriate kind of motivation to even out his UFC mark.

The breakdown: A former Div. I wrestler who seems to have taken to jiu-jitsu with striking ease, Thomas is a dangerous but still developing fighter. Against Brown, he needs to control the tempo by using his wrestling to get Brown on the mat, where he can dictate the terms of the fight. Any forays into the stand-up realm will get Thomas in trouble, but as long as he stays disciplined, he has some major advantages on Brown.


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The bottom line: Obvious as Thomas’ talent may be, his game’s still developing, and Brown’s rugged style seems custom-made to frustrate youngsters. Watch for Brown to keep his fists in Thomas’ face while staving off takedowns with movement and the jab. Don’t be surprised if Thomas manages to steal a round, but it won’t be enough, as Brown’s active striking wins the day.