Your preparations for this fight have been with your long time coach Erik Paulson, jiu jitsu specialist Danny Suarez; whilst training with Mike Guymon and Josh Barnett amongst others. Would you say you’ve stepped up your professionalism to another level post TUF?

I am still training with the same people that I was before TUF, but I think that I am more focused and more dedicated to training now that I am in the UFC. Fighting at this level requires 100% commitment.

You’re fighting on the UFC 105 card with many of your TUF 9 cast members and are now training at the RoughHouse gym with some of those fighters you met in the house in the final run up to the fight. Is there once again that team mentality that was so strong in the TUF house?

There is definitely a team mentality with the RoughHouse guys. Everyone seems supportive and is there to help each other. Dean Amasinger has been especially helpful as part of my training in the UK coming up to UFC 105.

Would Paul Daley be the man you’ll be working with the most at RoughHouse as he is seemingly the most similar fighter there to Matt Brown?

Unfortunately Paul Daley was in Vegas whilst I have been training at team RoughHouse. He would have been great to train with him but I have had other top UK fighters to spar with: Dan Hardy, Nick Osipczak and Dean Amasinger plus others.

Has it been difficult at all to maintain a schedule whilst trying to establish your new Lightning MMA gym in California?

Not really. We have five other great instructors at Lightning MMA and others helping run the business. Training for the fight has taken priority for me.

You’ve said your preferred finish for this fight would be submission, is this a suggestion that you and Paulson, who strategizes your fights with you, see this as a weak link in Brown’s game?

I certainly don’t think that Matt Brown has a weak ground game by any means. I do see myself as being slightly more technical and a submission is always a nice way to finish a fight.

You’re a more technical striker who looks for accuracy with your jab as opposed to consistently trying to land big shots. Does this suggest we’ll see a contrast in styles with a considered approach from yourself versus Browns all out aggression and muay Thai striking?

I do think there is a contrast of styles here. Matt seems more wild in his striking than me. I see myself as more technical. With that said I am certainly no stranger to a good brawl. We will just have to see how it pans out.

You’ve both been pretty complimentary of each others abilities in the run up to this fight. Does this suggest both of you think this fight is as evenly matched as many commentators do?

I think it’s a great match up. Both of us are well rounded and I am excited to have a challenging fight. I certainly think it will be a good show for the fans.

It seems that the latter winners of TUF series’ are now being thrown in at the deep end with no breaking in period as was seemingly the case in the early series’?

Yes. I think it’s great. I don’t think any fight can be considered easy, but it seems like in the past TUF winners have been given opponents that they should beat. I am glad that this is not the case now. I like this sport for the challenges it presents. I want to fight the best guys I can and test my skills. That’s why I am happy they have given me Matt Brown.

You’ve got an unknown band from Leicester, ‘Forgotten Sun’, to write your entrance music – are these old friends of yours?

Some of the Forgotten Sun guys train at Leicester shoot fighters and therefore know some of the guys I train with. I was also born in Leicester and my family still live in Leicestershire. They followed me on the show and offered to do a song for me. I really like the song, but the UFC doesn’t not allow custom songs as entrance music so I won’t be able to use it for that. I will however put it up on my website and also use if for a highlight video.

Finally, is there anyone you’d like to thank?

There are so many people that deserve thanks: My coaches; Erik Paulson, Mike Guymon, Vince Silva and Danny Suarez, my strength and conditioning team; Thomas Bunbury, Steve Newman and Will Otto, My sparring partners; Mark Vorgeas, Mark Munoz, Bobby Lee, Daniel Bohrer, Andrew Lang, Cub Swanson, Jay Martinez, Josh Barnett, Ben Jones, Craig Wilkerson, Jamie Fletcher, and all of team RoughHouse and a special thanks to Joe Stevenson for helping me get onto the Ultimate Fighter and to my father, Gary who introduced me to Martial Arts and supported my career. There are many more but it would take up too much space. Sorry to those who have been left out. You all know who you are.