UFC fighter Matt Brown was clinically dead for over a minute. Source: Getty Images
THERE’S a reason they call Matt Brown “The Immortal”.
A heroin overdose very nearly ended the MMA fighter’s life.
Now he’s unstoppable.
Brown, carrying a six-fight winning streak, takes on Brazilian striker Erick Silva this weekend in a fight many see as Brown’s coming-out party.
With a win over Silva, the 33-year-old who fights out of Cincinnati, Ohio, would establish the longest winning streak among UFC welterweights — better even than the champ, Jonny Hendricks.
Brown’s resurgence is a classic Cinderella story.
Brown is on a six-fight winning streak. Source: Twitter
“I was born and raised in a really small town, population of about 200 people,” Brown said on the premier of UFC on FOX 9: Road to the Octagon.
“Things always came easy, like I could go party all night and still pass my classes — you know, sleep for an hour or whatever. I started rebelling against everything, ended up around a lot of the wrong people, partying, drugs, alcohol.”
Then things got out of control, as a heroin addiction took its grip and almost killed him.
“At one point it got way too far. I overdosed on heroin and went to the hospital,” Brown said.
“According to the doctors I was clinically dead for probably over a minute. I don’t feel like anybody could have been through what I went through and be where I’m at right now.
“I was so deep in that life for such a long time. I had to find new friends, I had to find new places to hang out. Basically, you know, everything had to change.
“Back in the younger days, when I was addicted to drugs and partying all the time, all I did was take that to the extreme. Now I take something positive and take it to the extreme.
“I’m still the same person, it’s just directed in a positive manner these days.”
Brown stares down his next opponent, Erick Silva. Source: Supplied
Brown’s UFC career began with mixed success, winning some and getting submitted in others.
But now, six men in a row have failed to stop Matt Brown, who always seems to find a way to initiate a brawl, then win it.
Brown has finished Chris Cope, Luis Ramos, Mike Swick, Jordan Swein and Mike Pyle, all with strikes.
During the streak, Brown also defeated rising prospect Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson by decision, handing Thompson his lone career loss.
If he bumps the win steak to seven in a fight, Brown cannot be denied a top-five opponent or title shot.
Standing in his way is mercurial prospect Silva, who blasted onto the scene and established himself as a wild but powerful striker with a flair for the dynamic.
However, the 29-year-old Brazilian fell short of expectations against top-10 competition.
He was soundly beat up by Jon Fitch and knocked out cold by Dong-Hyun Kim. While Silva had his moments in both fights, his relative inexperience cost him.
Yet Silva is not a man to be counted out.
Like Brown, Silva will opt to stand and strike.
And while Brown favours a brawl, Silva usually fights with similar reckless abandon.
— with the New York Post
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