No one—probably not even the man himself—expected Matt Brown’s run in the Ultimate Fighting Championship to last this long.
A semifinalist on Season 7 of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series, Brown has spent roughly a decade and a half as one of the organization’s go-to performers at 170 pounds. He managed to remain a fan favorite despite a pair of three-fight losing streaks, a serious knee injury and repeated flirtations with retirement, thrilling crowds with his unique combination of aggression, skill and commitment to violence. Brown currently finds himself on the rebound following a split decision defeat to Bryan Barberena at UFC on ESPN 33 in March, with no clear timetable on a potential return to action.