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[Sakara=Excitement]

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LAS VEGAS – Jonathan Brookins (12-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) believes he'll never shake the tag of "the guy that fought Jose Aldo," but two years removed from that fateful day, the 25-year-old now has another title for life: "The Ultimate Fighter 12" winner.

Of course, despite a come-from-behind performance that will forever lay witness to his durability and drive, Brookins isn't taking too much credit for his efforts at Saturday's The Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale event.

Instead, the 25-year-old believes his journey as a mixed martial artist has only just begun.

"It's a crazy journey," Brookins said. "Every day is a learning process. I don't want to be my hardest critic, but I just see so much that I have to improve on in order to be really competitive in this game.

"I'm kind of just getting by, it feels like in a sense. I feel like there's a little bit more pressure slightly to step up and really perform."

Brookins entered Saturday's fight against Michael Johnson as the clear favorite. Following "TUF 12" wins over Kyle Watson, Sako Chivitchian, Sevak Magakian and Ran Weathers, most MMA observers felt he simply had more tools to utilize against Johnson, who everyone, including Brookins, agreed was the most athletic fighter on the latest season of the Spike TV-broadcast reality series.

But as the tournament final opened in Las Vegas, things went horribly wrong for Brookins. An aggressive Johnson left Brookins rocked by a series of well-timed punches in the bout's first round.

"I believe what went wrong is Michael was better than me in that first round," Brookins told MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com). "He just beat up on me. I think I had to work the kinks out.

"He definitely did a lot of improving since the last time we sparred. I remember him saying that when you get in the cage with 'The Menace,' it's a different story. I was like, 'I wonder what 'The Menace' is like in the cage?' I knew Mike. I never got in the cage with 'The Menace.' It was serious. It was a lot of fun."

The two fighters were familiar with each other after training together as members of Georges St-Pierre's team on "TUF 12," but Johnson had added new weapons to his arsenal. Yet Brookins found a way to overcome the improved Johnson and took control of the fight in the second round.

Brookins admits he can't really point to any one particular event as the sole reason for why the momentum shifted so dramatically.

"It was the same gameplan," Brookins said. "I just kept on sticking to it. I knew that I was having trouble getting takedowns in the first round, but I knew that the ground area was more my game.

"I knew he had done more improving in the standup than I did during his time in the house. I still have a lot of improving to do in that area. I just really tried to maintain focus and get it to my area and where I felt more comfortable."

Brookins did exactly that over the final 10 minutes. He smothered Johnson until the final bell sounded, and when it did, there was little doubt that UFC president Dana White would be handing him the trophy and title as "the next Ultimate Fighter."

Brookins was less thrilled with what he had accomplished than he was about regaining a friend.

"I feel good right now," Brookins said. "Like I was telling Mike earlier, I'm just happy to go back to being friends with Mike. I'm glad the whole thing is kind of over with, and we can get started on the next portion of our journey."

And many MMA observers believe that journey may prove full of successes, even if they do ultimately take place in the featherweight division. Meanwhile, Brookins believes the hard work has just begun, and he believes he'll see Johnson again in the future.

"I think that's where my sights are set now, to play the part, to really improve in the areas that are necessary to be a competitive factor in the UFC," Brookins said. "I know me and Mike will have future fights here. Now, it's just up to us to pull the trigger and make our way up the ladder."

[Xanatos]

"learn to not get punched"

-The Management

[MickeyKnox]

...he's still talking?

Jk. Good for him. Hope he makes it far in the UFC. For some reason, I want to see Brookins fight Nate Diaz at LW.

[stpierrecanada]

Great job, very glad he won. Big fan of his since the show started.

[Duskseyr]

Brookins has an outstanding future ahead of him, he's so humble and down to earth, his temperament reminds me of my favorite ice cream eating, Russian sweater enthusiast. I would luv to see him put some time in with BJ down in Hawaii and watch his boxing game grow by leaps and bounds.

[Sakara=Excitement]

I would like Brookins to develop like a Nate Diaz style of boxing while mixing in leg kicks. I think with his wrestling, having an different style of striking would help him a lot.

[Duskseyr]

Diaz would be another excellent choice to work his striking skills with, I just don't see him runnin with that Gracie team to be honest. I don't think his personality matches up with those guys at all.

I realize my suggestion, BJ Penn, isn't exactly the most humble cat in the game but I think Brookins meshes better with him than Diaz. IMHO.

[Caine2878]

He needs to work boxing period. I've never seen someone fight with their chin that much. Man I do not know how Johnson did not stop him last night. Either Brooking has a granite chin or Johnson has feather fists.

[bottlerocks]

Originally Posted by Caine2878

He needs to work boxing period. I've never seen someone fight with their chin that much. Man I do not know how Johnson did not stop him last night. Either Brooking has a granite chin or Johnson has feather fists.

Brookins has a pretty good chin just going off his Aldo fight. Definitely agree on the assessment.

His boxing is so damn rigid it's very ugly to watch. His lateral throws are insane. He seems heavy on top and good on the back but I wouldn't say his ground game is amazing. Nate Diaz would probably eat him for breakfast at this juncture.

I think with some time and better coaches he'll be a top 10 easily in two years. I'm looking forward to what he can bring to the LW division

[b0sH]

Worthy winner, he was nothing but hard working and respectful the entire series and seems to possess a good skill level. Look fwd to his next fight.