The Lowdown 06.06.09: Mike Brown
Posted by Frank Fedele on 06.06.2009
Last week we looked at the most dominant fighter in the WEC Featherweight division, Urijah Faber. This week we will look at his opponent on June 7th and the Featherweight champion, Mike Brown. They will be headlining a good WEC card this Sunday. We will also briefly look at the whole card and look forward to the UFC event next weekend. All this and more in this weeks Lowdown.
Last Week Roundup
Urijah Faber is the face of the WEC and has been since its inception. He is the California Kid, full of personality and fighting ability. Urijah is the reason I started watching the lighter weight fighters and the WEC. I enjoy the action at that weight class with strikes and submissions happening at a breakneck pace. I have enjoyed each event and when Faber fought, it was a much watch. Faber was helped by Jens Pulver dropping down in weight, since he was a name fight fans knew and followed. You do also wonder if any other fighters in a stacked UFC lightweight division will follow suit and move down into the WEC to try their luck. Faber and this weeks fighter Mike Brown will be there waiting for them.
Background
Mike Brown is a Featherweight fighting out of Portland, Maine. He wrestled in high school, winning the state championship in 1992. He went on to Norwich University to wrestle. Brown began fighting in small MMA events in 2001, moving up to bigger events as he added experience. He fought over in Japan in 2004 and suffered a major leg dislocation at the hand of Masakazu Imanari. Brown's leg was dislocated to the point that his leg was pulled out and to the side of his knee joint. After time for rehab, Brown came back in the middle of 2005 and began on an impressive win streak. This got him notice by the WEC in 2008 for WEC 34.
Brown's first fight served notice that he was a contender at that weight class as he took out Jeff Curran in WEC 34 with a barrage of elbows and punches. This put him in line for fight against current Featherweight champion, Urijah Faber in WEC 36. Brown shocked the world that day by knocking Faber out after he tried an elbow strike that put him right in the path of Brown's right hook. The hook did its damage and Brown finished the fight on the ground to win the title.
Brown versus Faber 1
Brown defended the title in WEC 39 with a convincing win over Leonard Garcia, taking him out in the first round. Faber also won his bout and the rematch was made. Faber gets his chance at revenge in the card this Sunday in the WEC. Brown has said that he wants to knock Faber's head into the third row. We shall see if he can make that happen.
Previous Fights
Brown began in small events in the Northeast, compiling wins with only an early loss to Hermes Franca blemishing his early record. Franca is a solid BJJ player and managed to get Brown to tap to a triangle choke. Brown kept learning and fighting, moving up the card. He eventually began training with America Top Team out of Florida, which further helped him sharpen his game. Brown then took at fight with the UFC, losing to Genki Sudo by Triangle Armbar.
Brown then took three matches in Japan, only losing the last to a vicious leg lock by Masakazu Imanari. Brown then started fighting down in Florida, going over to Russia once to take a fight with Yves Edwards for Bodog Fight. Brown defeated Edwards there and continued to climb up the contender's ladder. The WEC eventually came calling offering a fight with Jeff Curran in WEC 34. Brown won a tough decision and earned the right to fight champion Urijah Faber. Brown then finished Faber in dramatic fashion to claim the belt. He has defended the belt once thus far, with an impressive win against Leonard Garcia. Faber now looms ahead with a rematch this Sunday.
Mike Brown versus Imanari
Brown's MMA Record Featherweight
Mass Destruction 1 – Win versus Jeff Darienzo by Submission (Keylock)
Mass Destruction 3 – Win versus Vinny Brightman by Submission (Rear Naked Choke)
Hook-n-Shoot Kings 1 – Loss to Hermes Franca by Submission (Triangle Choke)
USMMA 1 – Win versus Edward Odquina by Submission (Rear Naked Choke)
Mass Destruction 10 – Win versus Bill Mahoney by Submission (Rear Naked Choke)
TFC 7 – Win versus Mike Large by Submission (Rear Naked Choke)
HFC 1 – Win versus Shawn Graham by TKO
TFC 8 – Win versus Mark Hominick by Submission (Heel Hook)
HFC 2 – Win versus Renat Mirzabekov by Submission (Heel Hook)
AFC 6 – Win versus Leigh Remedios by Decision
UFC 47 – Loss to Genki Sudo by Submission (Triangle Armbar)
CA 8 – Loss to Joe Lauzon by Submission
AFC 10 – Win versus Renato Tavares by Decision
GCM DOG 2 – Win versus Taiyo Nakahara by Submission (Arm Triangle Choke)
DEEP 21 – Win versus Takeshi Yamazaki by Decision
DEEP 22 – Loss to Masakazu Imanari by Submission (Leg Lock)
AFC 18 – Win versus Dustin Neace by Submission (Guillotine Choke)
KE – Win versus Rocky Lang by Submission
AFC 19 – Win versus Jason Bryant by TKO
Bodog Fight, St. Petersburg – Win versus Yves Edwards by Decision
Bodog Fight, Hook and Shoot – Win versus Eben Croz by TKO
PXF – Win versus Manny Reyes Jr. by Submission (Rear Naked Choke)
WEC 34 – Win versus Jeff Curran by Decision
WEC 36 – Win versus Urijah Faber via TKO
WEC 39 – Win versus Leonard Garcia via Submission (Choke)
There are some good names on there with wins over Mark Hominick, Yves Edwards, Leonard Garcia and Urijah Faber. His losses came two Joe Lauzon, Hermes Franca and two Japanese fighters. No harm there. You will also notice a lot of chokes to help him earn his win, showing his solid skills on the ground. Brown does have striking ability though, just ask Faber. This should be a great match and one I can't wait for.
Champion, Mike Brown
Final Thoughts
The rest of the card has some very solid fights also, with Jens Pulver looking to get back in the win column versus young fighter, Josh Grispi. The card also features Cub Swanson versus Jose Aldo which should be an absolute war. Donald Cerrone rounds out the televised portion of the card taking on James Krause. Manny Gamburyan also drops in weight class to take on John Franchi. If you haven't yet checked out the WEC, please do. It is well worth the time and the fights tend to be fast and exciting.
That is all for this week, please come back next week where we will get the lowdown on another MMA fighter that will be fighting in UFC 99 soon and give our opinion on the card for , The Comeback with Wanderlei Silva versus Rich Franklin in the main event. Please take the time to bookmark 411mania.com. One quick step and all the news you need is but a click away.
