Matt Brown Defends Sean Strickland’s UFC 312 Performance: ‘Fighter’s Words Shouldn’t Be Taken Literally’
Following Sean Strickland’s defeat at UFC 312, retired UFC welterweight Matt Brown has come to his defense against critics who were disappointed by Strickland’s performance. Brown questions why people take fighters’ pre-fight statements so seriously, especially those made by Strickland.
“Why are we suddenly believing everything fighters say, particularly Sean Strickland?” Brown asked on his podcast. “He’s clearly an elite fighter, and his current style has brought him success. It’s unreasonable to expect him to drastically change his approach mid-fight.”
Brown emphasized that Strickland’s pre-fight declarations of “fighting to the death” were likely just promotional tactics. He pointed out that Strickland’s fighting style has remained consistent throughout his UFC career, and fans should have anticipated this.
“The UFC excels at highlighting fighters’ personalities, which is what they market. They’ve never promoted Strickland’s fighting style, but rather who he is as a person,” Brown explained. “Social media amplifies this effect, and the UFC capitalizes on it.”
Brown doesn’t fault Strickland for making bold claims before fights, as it’s a common practice to generate interest in pay-per-view events. He believes it’s unrealistic for fans to expect fighters to literally follow through on every pre-fight statement.
“What should he say? ‘I’m going to jab for five rounds, tune in!’? No, he’s trying to build hype and interest, and it works,” Brown stated. “People buy into the rhetoric and want to watch. Now everyone’s talking about it, shocked that he didn’t go to war as promised. When did this become his trademark?”
Brown suggests that fans and analysts should focus more on fighters’ actual performance records rather than their pre-fight statements. He notes that unlike other sports, MMA fans often become invested in fighters’ personalities and promotional antics.
“We need to separate what fighters say from how they actually perform,” Brown concluded. “In other sports, we rely on stats and measurable data. In MMA, people buy into personalities and sometimes, the spectacle. Strickland may believe he fights to the death, but objectively, he’s never fought that way. Why expect him to suddenly change now?”
