Brown’s UFC loss upsets hometown fans
Bryan Barberena earned arguably the most notable win of his UFC career when he edged crowd favorite Matt Brown at Nationwide Arena on Saturday.
Barberena (17-8 MMA, 8-6 UFC) went tooth-and-nail with Brown (23-19 MMA, 16-13 UFC) over the course of three rounds to win a split decision by scores of 29-28, 28-29, 29-28. It was a spoiler for Brown, who grew up in Bowersville and trains out of Lewis Center, and the crowd was not pleased with the decision as it furiously booed the result while Barberena conducted his post-fight interview.
“You can boo me, but I love you guys.” Barberena said after the fight.
The welterweight bout was part of the UFC on ESPN 33 main card.
For 15 minutes, Barberena and Brown traded heavy punches and elbows and at times just brawled. It was a close fight as the split would indicate, but Barberena certainly had his big moments, hurting Brown on more than one occasion with hard strikes.
Each fighter earned a $50,000 bonus for a Fight of the Night promotion.
Barberena was elated to get his hand raised.
“This is absolutely everything I dreamed of fighting Matt Brown,” Barberena said. “That's everything I wanted. I knew I had to put on a performance.”
Brown had not competed in Ohio since 2014. A winner of back-to-back fights, Barberena has been victorious in three of his most recent four. Other wins in that stretch include Anthony Ivy and Darian Weeks.
The loss drops him Brown to 1-3 in his most recent four fights. Since the start of 2016, Brown is 3-6. Prior to this bout, Brown said he plans to fight eight more times.
Blaydes wins heavyweight bout
Heavyweight Curtis Blaydes (16-3, 11-3) knocked fellow heavyweight contender Chris Daukaus (12-5, 4-2) unconscious in Round 2 and cemented his spot at the top of the division.
Afterward, Blaydes said he'd like a title shot. But when told former heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic was in the crowd, he said he may have to go through him to get one – and would welcome the opportunity.
“A win over (Ciryl) Gane, who was on a hot streak, who was just in a title fight, a win over him should put me as the next title contender – the same thing with Stipe (Miocic),” Blaydes said.
Blaydes has history with Miocic – but not in a heated, rivalry-heavy way. Almost a decade ago, Blaydes, a young rising fighter in the professional ranks, trained with established UFC name Miocic.
“We worked out together, years ago when I was not very good,” Blaydes said. “He destroyed me every sparring. I don't have no awesome sparring stories. He was levels and levels above me. I helped him get ready for Gonzaga. That was back in 2012. I had just begun my amateur career in that year.
“… I respect him, but I believe I'm on his level. I believe I can take him down. I know I can take him down because I did take him down. But I also believe, if we get in a striking battle, I can strike with him. I've got the footwork. I've got the acumen. I believe in my coaches. I know I can hang with anybody on the feet.”
Other results from Saturday
Alexa Grasso def. Joanne Wood via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 3:57; Kai Kara-france def. Askar Askarov via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28); Neil Magny def. Max Griffin via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28); Marc Diakiese def. Viacheslav Borshchev via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 3027); Sara Mcmann def. Karol Rosa via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28); Chris Gutierrez def. Danaa Batgerel via TKO (spinning back fist, punches) – Round 2, 2:34; Aliaskhab Khizriev def. Denis Tiuliulin via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 1:58; Manon Fiorot def. Jennifer Maia via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27); Matheus Nicolau def. David Dvorak via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28); Luis Saldana def. Bruno Souza via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).