Saturday, March 7, 2009 | 2 a.m.
Matt Brown won't be fighting for a UFC welterweight title tonight at UFC 96, nor in the main event of the show set in Columbus, Ohio, but few fighters on the card will find more support.
"It's a dream come true," said Brown, who was born in nearby Xenia, Ohio, about an hour west of Columbus. "To be in my hometown, fighting on the main card of a UFC event is unbelievable.
"The only thing that would be bigger is fighting in the main event or for the UFC title."
While there will be plenty of reasons for Brown's friends and family to celebrate their hometown hero's return. Brown himself knows he's coming back for only one reason.
"To win," said Brown, who will face Steve Sell (8-4 MMA) tonight. "The thing about the UFC is they only keep around people who prove themselves."
That's why after his submission victory over Ryan Thomas at UFC 91 in November, Brown decided to relocate to Las Vegas.
"I was kind of being put on a pedestal, wasn't really being challenged," Brown said. "After my fight in November I got to train out here for a week, and I really enjoyed it."
"A bunch of the best fighters in the world are out here, and I wanted to be out here with them."
One of those stars was Brown's coach on "The Ultimate Fighter" Season No. 7, Forrest Griffin.
"Forrest showed us a lot on the show, but I think the biggest thing was that he showed us just how capable we are of pushing our bodies to their limits."
That's been Brown's mission since he moved to Las Vegas three months ago.
"In addition to my Muay Thai and grappling skills, I think my biggest improvement has been my cardio out here.
"In February in Ohio about the only thing you can do is run the treadmill or out in the snow. But out here I go to Red Rock two or three times a week and run with the mountains as my backdrop."
Known for his strong stand-up game, Brown says he doesn't see Sell as the threat he once did.
"Before I was even in MMA, I was watching him on TV. Not to be disrespectful, but he's kind of underachieved compared to what I thought he would do," Brown said of Sell, who had lost three straight fights before beating Josh Burkman at UFC 90 in October in his first bout after dropping down from the middleweight division.
"If I do what I'm capable of and have been performing like I have every day in practice, there's no way I can't win this fight."
And put on a good show.
"Obviously I want to show all my friends and family that I've improved my game in just the short time I've been away."
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