By Chris Howie
October 22, 2008

With a 19-4 record, Mike Brown finds himself on the verge of the biggest fight of his career on November 5th when he challenges Urijah Faber for the WEC Featherweight Championship.

Brown knows what it takes to be a champion, holding the AFC Featherweight crown and although he was prepared for this fight back in September before it was cancelled is now only a few weeks out from his chance at winning the biggest 145lbs title in the world.

With wins over Yves Edwards, Mark Hominick, and Jeff Curran just to name a few, Brown is riding a sixth fight win streak going into the title fight and in this MMANews.com Exclusive interview, talks with Chris Howie about how he has prepared for the big fight as well as many other topics.

Chris Howie For MMANews.com: You were prepared for a September 10th bout but five days prior to the show it was cancelled due to the hurricanes in Florida. What were you thinking when you found out it was postponed until November?

Mike Brown: I was pretty bummed because I was ready to go. All the hard training was done. You know how much work it is getting ready for a big fight like that. Training was done and I had a few more days before the fight so I was really bummed. But, everything happens for a reason and now we have a chance to do it again.

MMANews.com: Did getting two extra months too train help?

Mike Brown: No, I was ready then. It was a lot of work that went into it and you are expecting a pay day from the fight. It didn't happen but I'm glad the fight is still on. Ideally I could have fought twice in this time span you know? If it had of been a week or something they postponed it, it wouldn't have been as big a deal but eight weeks could have been a whole other fight.

MMANews.com: Was there any particular reason for the long period between the shows?

Mike Brown: I'm not really sure. It probably had something to do with the venue.

MMANews.com: How are you feeling you match up with Faber?

Mike Brown: I think I match up really well with him. As far as training went I really liked fighting shorter wrestlers, I matched up really well with those guys. I hate long lanky guys and Urijah is not that so that's a good thing. He is a tough fighter so it is not an easy fight but I like the match up.

MMANews.com: How long have you been training at ATT?

Mike Brown: Something like four years now.

MMANews.com: How important have they been in your development over the years.

Mike Brown: I've been improving constantly. I've also trained a lot in Maine and Massachusetts. There is so much depth at ATT and I get so many great training partners. If you are at a smaller gym and only have one or two training partners and someone gets sick or hurt it could put a big dent in your training but at ATT there are so many great guys that you don't have to worry about that. One of the big differences over other gyms is that every guy there is a solid training partner. The staff at ATT is great as well. You have all these different aspects at ATT at your finger tips to get better at so there is no reason not to do well training here.


MMANews.com: Who have you been working with at American Top Team?

Mike Brown: We have so many great guys at ATT. My most favorite training partner and the guy I have trained with most has been Yves Edwards. He has a similar training philosophy as me and we tend to partner up the most. Looking around the room though, I get to train with a ton of BJJ Black Belts every day. We also brought a lot of small wrestlers in to get the Urijah look and JZ Calvancante has been back so I have been able to box a lot with him. JZ is a great boxer and has great hands. We just mixed it up with all the talent in the gym.

MMANews.com: How helpful is it being in a gym like ATT that has so many top level competitors that are always preparing for big fights?

Mike Brown: It's really good. It does help when you have other guys that you can condition with and sprint with and such.

MMANews.com: How do you see the fight going?

Mike Brown: I think it is going to be a battle and won't be an easy fight for either guy. He is tough and I feel I am to. He will want to stand up I think because I feel we are both pretty decent wrestlers. I see us throwing down on the feet and if it does hit the mat, the guy that can control top position will be in pretty good shape. The key to victory in this fight will be throwing hard and being on top.

MMANews.com: You have fought at 155lbs in the past but have stated that you are more comfortable at 145lbs correct?

Mike Brown: Oh I am a much better 45er than 55er. The only reason I ever fought at 55 was because of opportunities like when I fought in the UFC or for bigger pay days. I'm actually starting to get big enough where I could probably try 155lbs but times like when I fought Genki Sudo, I was walking around at 155lbs and not cutting weight. Over the years I seem to put on two pounds each year and it just doesn't seem to want to come off so I'm getting up there and could probably compete at 155lbs now.

MMANews.com: So you must have been happy when the WEC began showcasing the 145lbs division?

Mike Brown: Oh yeah I'm so happy because it wasn't really a big weight class before the WEC. Ideally it's the best place for me. I really love this weight class and am glad it is really taking off.

MMANews.com: Besides Urijah, who are some other 145lber's you have been noticing?

Mike Brown: I guess any short wrestler [laughs]. There aren't a lot of them but they are the guys I like to fight. Urijah is the best in that department but there are also jiu-jitsu guys like (Jeff) Curran and the Japanese fighters are really wrestler guys with crazy leg locks. I think I can do damage in the weight class with anyone but I'm not sure who I would match up well with.

MMANews.com: Faber has basically been the face of the 145lbs division since it really took off, what would it mean to you to take the title away from him?

Mike Brown: It would be a big win. He is considered the best at 45 so I would take that spot and he also has a big name because he has been promoted so well so that could lead to a bigger fan base and more of a market push. He is the best so to be the best he is the guy to beat.


MMANews.com: With a 19-4 record you have some great fights under your belt, what has been your favorite fight?

Mike Brown: You know I hate to say it now that I train with him but I would have to say my fight with Yves. (Brown won the fight via a unanimous decision). The guy is a really good fighter and since he has come to ATT he has just improved. I would hate to fight him now. I'm proud of that fight because I know how good the guy is. Also, my first fight because you never get that high you get some winning your first fight again.

MMANews.com: What did you work on in training to match up with Urijah?

Mike Brown: I just worked with some tough wrestlers on making sure I don't get taken down in a quick scramble. There is nothing I really worked on specifically for him. I just do what I do and will be trying to impose my game on him. I throw hard and in the scramble I will go for the take down. That's what I do, might not be the smartest thing but it works.

MMANews.com: Any prediction for the fight?

Mike Brown: I expect a war. I expect a long hard fight unless something crazy happens, which I don't. I expect at the final bell I will be champ.

MMANews.com: Thanks for talking with me today Mike

Mike Brown: No Problem.

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