"I honestly was not impressed with his performances on the show. I didn't think he was that good. The guys he beat were worse. Demarcus was the best guy he beat and I felt like Demarcus lost that fight more than James Wilks won that fight. But James Wilks as a fighter, I actually think he's a lot better fighter than we have seenÂ… I'm pretty much just trying to be prepared for everything. I want to be 100% prepared for his ground game and his standup. He's going to have a hard time getting this fight to the ground. I think I am a far better wrestler than he is," stated UFC welterweight Matt Brown as he talked about his upcoming clash with James Wilks at UFC 105. Check it out!
PC: How have you been Matt?
MB: I've been doing good man; real good.
PC: This has been a tough year for you. You have been dealing with your dad's situation and Anthony Johnson had to pull out of a fight with you earlier this year. How have you been dealing with all of that mentally?
MB: There is really no way to deal with what I have been dealing with. My dad passed away and there is no way to deal with it, so I've just been training the best that I can. When Johnson backed out, it actually turned out to be a good thing because I got to spend a lot of time with my dad. I just kept training and that's what has kept me sane through all of this.
PC: I lost my pops when I was 15, so I know how it is man.
MB: Yeah, so you know what I'm going through. And to have something to look forward to every day, which is the fight, and to have that to focus on and keep my mind occupied helps.
PC: It's been March since we've seen you inside of the Octagon. Going through everything that you have been through, how often have you been in the gym and what have you been working on?
MB: From about May until late August or early September, I was hardly in the gym at all. I was just with my dad the whole time. He was going up and down the whole time. I didn't really get much work in that whole time. I was just focusing on that. But since then, I have been back in the gym and back in full bore training, just working on everything and getting ready for this fight.
PC: James Wilks showed to be a tough guy on the show, but I don't think anyone stood out from that season in my opinion. What did you think of his performances on the show and what do you think of him as a fighter?
MB: I honestly was not impressed with his performances on the show. I didn't think he was that good. The guys he beat were worse. Demarcus was the best guy he beat and I felt like Demarcus lost that fight more than James Wilks won that fight. But James Wilks as a fighter, I actually think he's a lot better fighter than we have seen. I think he has a lot more skill than people realize and even I realize. I have watched his videos 1,000 times and I think he has a lot more to offer than what we have seen. I don't think he was at his best on the show and he was still able to pull through and win. I think we will see a lot better James Wilks. I saw how much I improved after the show and I expect him to do the same.
PC: Looking at his resume, you would expect him to want to get this fight on the ground. Is that the type of fight you are expecting?
MB: I don't know man. I'm pretty much just trying to be prepared for everything. I want to be 100% prepared for his ground game and his standup. He's going to have a hard time getting this fight to the ground. I think I am a far better wrestler than he is, but it's a fight and this thing can end up on the ground regardless of wrestling. It could definitely end up there, but I'm not afraid of that area. But I don't think this will end up being much of a ground fight myself.
PC: You're going from one extreme to the other. Your last fight was in Ohio in your backyard and now you will be traveling to the UK to his backyard. Does that have any affect on you one way or the other?
MB: It doesn't mean anything at all. The only difference is I gotta fly for 12 hours to get over there and that's the only thing that sucks. Other than that, I mean, it's another fight man; it don't matter where it's at. He's going to have all of his people yelling for him and booing me, but when the bell rings, none of those people will be in the cage with him; just me and him.
PC: What would be the perfect scenario for you to win this fight?
MB: (Laughing) I guess the perfect ending would be to take about 2 steps forward, throw a right hand and end the fight, go home and take that long ass plane ride back. That would be perfect for me to get Knockout of the Night, go back home and get fat for Thanksgiving, but I'm coming to try and perform the best I can and win the fight.
PC: How do you not let your emotions of this past year get the best of you come fight time?
MB: The biggest thing for me is I do a lot of mental training. I definitely needed to prepare for this mentally and I always take a good 30 minutes a day to do just mental training; just me focusing on my mind and making my mind as strong as it can be. I think that makes a huge difference and other than that, just pray for things to go your way. Your mind could be a skill just like you performing an armbar, a triangle or a wrestling shot. You have to train your mind as well as your body.
PC: It's always good catching up with you man. Good luck in the UK. Is there anything you want to say in closing?
MB: No, that should be good man. Thank you Percy!
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]