UFC 185 Results: 3 Fights for Matt Brown to Take Next

Matt Brown may never quite reach the peak of the mountain, but he has already gotten an awful lot closer than anyone could have predicted.

Brown’s UFC 185 loss to Johny Hendricks highlighted the limitations that will likely prevent him from ever getting his hands on a UFC title. However, The Ultimate Fighter veteran can take solace in the fact that his value to the organisation goes beyond his performance ceiling.

The former UFC welterweight champion shut down The Immortal's game almost entirely, so it’s perhaps not the best example to highlight Brown’s upside. Still, the self-described “technical brawler” has accumulated plenty of goodwill in the minds of the fans and UFC brass from past performances.

With his title aspirations fading, it’s possible that the 34-year-old will soon serve as a gatekeeper for the welterweight division’s Top 10. With that said, let’s speculate on Brown’s more immediate future.

Tarec Saffiedine

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Matt Brown was originally scheduled to take on Tarec Saffiedine at UFC Fight Night 60 last month, before the Belgian withdrew from the bout due to a groin injury.

There is as yet no timeline for Saffiedine’s return, but assuming he doesn’t suffer any setbacks on his recovery, it would make sense to book the encounter again.

Both men are coming off losses and boast styles that are likely to mesh well. Brown may not be as technically sound as Saffiedine, but his sheer ruggedness and force of will should make for a compelling contest.

A win won't put either man in the title picture, but a Top Five opponent should await the winner.

Tyron Woodley

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Matt Brown clearly isn’t the fight Tyron Woodley wants. The former Strikeforce welterweight champion has loftier goals in mind, making the case for a fight with John Hendricks on Twitter during Saturday night’s UFC 185.

However, it’s possible that Hendricks will wait and see how Robbie Lawler vs. Rory MacDonald plays out at UFC 189. If he chooses to play the waiting game, there aren’t a ton of options for Woodley in the division’s Top 10.

The highest-ranked opponent he hasn’t yet faced is likely to be Brown—depending on how the rankings look on Monday.

Brown is coming off a loss, so he’d be fortunate to get a crack at a higher-ranked opponent who is coming off a win. Woodley might be reluctant, but his wrestling should at least give him the matchup advantage.

Jake Ellenberger

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Jake Ellenberger hasn’t had the best time of it in the past year or so. However, his recent win over Josh Koscheck was something of a return to form.

Ellenberger is ranked just inside the division’s Top 10. The UFC doesn’t tend to match up a fighter coming off a win with a fighter coming off a loss, but options are limited—particularly in Brown’s case.

In the broader context of the pair’s recent performances, the fight makes more sense. Brown has lost his last two fights, and Ellenberger has come up short in three of his last four, so divisional relevance will be on the line in the event these two go at it.