Matt Brown, one of the UFC welterweight division’s consensus most exciting fighters, has announced that his fight against Diego Sanchez will be his last.
Brown, 36, made the announcement late on Thursday via a post on his official Instagram page.
“11/11 will be my retirement fight,” Brown wrote. “Thanks for enjoying the ride with me this will be an amazing show me and Diego will put on a show for all of you.”
The Ohio native debuted with the UFC at The Ultimate Fighter 7 Finale in June of 2008 after reaching the quarter finals of the tournament. As part of Forrest Griffin’s team, Brown lost to eventual winner Amir Sadollah in the competition and subsequently made his maiden UFC appearance with an inauspicious 7-6 record in his professional career.
Brown went 5-5 through his first 10 UFC appearances but his career began to take off in 2012 when he embarked on a 7 fight win streak, beating the likes of Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson, Mike Swick, Jordan Mein, Mike Pyle and Erick Silva along the way.
A fight with top contender Robbie Lawler was Brown’s reward for his run, though he would lose a unanimous decision. Nonetheless, Brown’s form saw him face nothing but top level fighters throughout the rest of his UFC career, sharing the cage with fighters of the calibre of Johny Hendricks, Demian Maia and, most recently, Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone.
Brown’s final battle has a most suitable opponent. In Diego Sanchez, Brown will face a fighter who enjoys coming forward and answering pressure with pressure — exactly the type of situation which coaxed Brown’s best performances of his career.
Their fight will take place as part of UFC Fight Night 120 from Ted Constant Convocation Center in Norfolk, Va on November 11th.
