UFC 96 Breakdown: The Main Card

Pete Sell vs. Matt Brown

Pete “Drago” Sell Scouting Report
Ht/Wt: 5’11/170 lbs.
Age: 26
Hometown: Bayshore, N.Y.
Fighting out of: Westbury, N.Y.
Team: Serra Jiu-Jitsu
Record: 8-4

The breakdown: Seems no one has a clue why this fight is on the main card. However, it does represent a chance for Sell to rediscover the mojo he’s lost since he pulled out that miracle guillotine choke and beat Phil Baroni at UFC 51. To that end, ditching the Macho Man Randy Savage routine and actually using his supposedly strong jiu-jitsu game against Brown will be critical. Staying disciplined and focusing on advancing position is basic for any jiu-jitsu player; whether or not Sell realizes that remains to be seen.

The X factor: It’s no secret that Sell fancies himself as the Long Island, N.Y., incarnation of Rocky Balboa, and that fantasy has gotten him knocked out on more than one occasion. When Sell fights with his head, he becomes a much better competitor. Unfortunately, he often lets opponents use his head for target practice instead.

Matt “The Immortal” Brown Scouting Report
Ht/Wt: 6’0/170 lbs.
Age: 28
Hometown: Xenia, Ohio
Fighting out of: Cincinnati
Team: Team Jorge Gurgel
Record: 8-7

The breakdown: This fight boils down to Brown’s ability to lure Sell into a losing battle. Turning that brawling mindset against “Drago” needs to revolve around Brown seizing takedown opportunities, staying behind a jab and landing counter punches whenever Sell gets too bold. Staying out of the fistic spectacle Sell craves may not win Brown many fans, but it could earn him a comfortable victory.

The X factor: There will be a distinct size disadvantage at play against Brown, as Sell was once a healthy-sized middleweight who now makes the cut to 170 pounds. Keeping that disadvantage from coming into the foreground will be the biggest problem Brown has to negotiate against Sell.

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The bottom line: All things considered, Sell has shown some maturation of late, and his bout with Josh Burkman at UFC 90 proved he can be quite effective when he stays composed. Look for more of the same, as Brown fails to match up against Sell’s punching power and jiu-jitsu.