UFC 185: Matt Brown vs. Johny Hendricks Head-To-Toe Breakdown

This weekend's UFC 185 script will feature a highly touted welterweight scrap between top contenders Johny Hendricks and Matt Brown.

As two of the division's best fighters, Bigg Rigg and The Immortal have the potential to put forth respectable efforts that warrant Fight of the Year consideration.

Each coming off a rough defeat at the hands of current champion Robbie Lawler, Hendricks and Brown have something to prove to cement their hopes for a title shot.

But championship implications and divisional politics aren't everything this fight has to offer.

Instead, these 170-pound elites offer gritty combinations of raw power, unparalleled tenacity, limitless chins and the ability to finish in fashion.

That volatile concoction is sure to boil over when the heat is turned up.

Here is a head-to-toe breakdown for Hendricks vs. Brown as we gear up for one of the best pay-per-view events of the year.

Striking Precision

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For as wild and free as Brown is in attack mode, his technique and approach still incorporate a significant level of precision.

Even though he often finds himself in back-and-forth exchanges, he lands with much success.

That sort of offensive output is in direct correlation with Brown's boxing abilities and overall movement.

As for Hendricks, who has developed his jab tenfold over the past few years, striking with effectiveness is one of his most prized assets.

From pinpoint leg kicks to leaping body combos, he's able to weave in and out of strikes while avoiding damage.

It's a close matchup involving two fighters who know how to throw their best stuff and when to throw it.

But with a longer reach, superior fluidity and a hodgepodge of techniques, Brown is simply the more calculated striker.

Advantage: Brown

Punching Power

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Besides Lawler, Tyron Woodley and Hector Lombard, Hendricks and Brown have some of the most powerful punches in the division.

While Brown does a significant percentage of his damage with standing elbows, spinning backfists and timed knees, he can still finish any 170-pound threat with his hands.

However, when you get down to brass tacks and measure raw strength with the capability of securing a knockout, Hendricks is unique.

With some of the most vicious knockouts the welterweight division has ever seen, the former champion is a true one-punch, lights-out fighter.

And even though Brown is likely the more natural finisher, he simply cannot match Hendricks' authority.

Advantage: Hendricks

Wrestling

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It's no secret that Hendricks prides himself on being one of the best wrestlers in the welterweight division, if not the UFC.

His prestigious collegiate wrestling background, strong base and dedicated efforts to hone his current skills have all helped Bigg Rigg remain potent in his takedown game.

At the end of the day, Hendricks is always one takedown away from winning a round.

With that said, the former champion will most certainly find it difficult to drag the larger Brown to the canvas.

And considering Brown loves to throw knees and uppercuts, Hendricks needs to remain patient in order to cash in on his biggest advantage.

Advantage: Hendricks

Grappling

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Brown is a strange case when it comes to grappling at the welterweight level.

With nearly 70 percent of his UFC defeats coming by way of submission, it would seem as if The Immortal does in fact tap.

But when you consider how prolific Brown's transition game is from the clinch to the ground, his grappling abilities seem to even out.

In any case, even if Brown's three straight losses by choke back in 2010 are unforgettable, Hendricks has done nothing in the submission department to cause concern.

With limited accolades on the ground outside of his dominant wrestling skill set, we'll most likely see pigs fly before Hendricks wins by submission again (having done so once back in 2008 on the open circuit).

Advantage: Brown

Intangibles

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This was probably the most difficult part to decipher.

The fact that raw intangibles inside of the Octagon remain an unmeasurable tool of war made it that more daunting.

However, with the utmost respect to both Hendricks and Brown's unflappable battle swag, there is a distinct difference between the two that helps reveal the truth regarding their intangible assets.

It comes down to conditioning, the same sort of conditioning that arguably led to Hendricks' most recent demise opposite Lawler.

That sort of late-fight drop-off will not fly under the watchful eye of Brown, who is renowned as one of the most durable fighters around and usually rises to the occasion.

In other words, Brown is able to flip it into fifth gear when the later minutes take form.

Advantage: Brown

Verdict

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UFC's matchmaker Joe Silva has done it once again.

Hendricks and Brown are two of the more recognizable names in the sport today and offer such an appealing matchup for fight fans worldwide.

With sensational tolerances for pain and hard-nosed ethics, Hendricks and Brown should produce one of the more memorable bouts of 2015, one that could steal the show over two title fights at UFC 185.

But with his former championship belt under his nose and Brown once again needing to prove himself against an elite fighter, it seems as if Hendricks is going to do what he needs to do in order to win.

That may not involve a finish, but he should utilize his powerful wrestling to grind out a close-knit contest.

Verdict: Hendricks via unanimous decision

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