Tomorrow night on the main card of UFC Columbus, we are going to see a fun battle in the welterweight division. One of the more seasoned veterans on the roster returns as Matt “The Immortal” Brown (23-18) takes on Bryan Barberena (16-8).
Over his last ten fights in the UFC, Barberena is just 5-5. While that might give someone pause, it’s important to look at the competition. Three of those five losses came against Colby Covington, Leon Edwards, and Vicente Luque.
Barberena has faced steep competition and he’s come up short. However, he’s done well against middle-ground guys and that’s likely where Matt Brown falls. Barberena will look for his second straight win tomorrow night.
Also seeking a second straight win is “The Immortal” Matt Brown. We last saw Brown last June when he knocked out Dhiego Lima which snapped a two-fight losing streak. The 41 year old Brown is showing no signs of slowing down and even said he hopes to sign an eight-fight extension with the UFC.
UFC Columbus Prediction
I’m truly torn on this fight tomorrow night. On one hand, I really love the overall game from Bryan Barberena. He’s shown great skills on the ground and he’s very solid on the feet. No matter where the fight goes, he’s going to be comfortable.
Also, the age definitely favors him. That being said, I always find it hard to pick against Matt Brown. He still carries a ton of power in his strikes and the moment the bell rings at UFC Columbus, he’s going to be marching forward.
I love Brown’s pressure and his power game heading into tomorrow. Conventional wisdom and a big part of my brain is picking Barberena by decision. However, something in my gut that I can’t ignore says Brown pulls it off in his home state of Ohio. A big shot will land in the second round giving Brown the KO finish.
Prediction: Matt Brown by TKO – Round 2