There will also be a likely push from the youngest member of the Brown household for dad to make it into the next UFC game, an assumption that brings a knowing laugh from the 29-year-old, who is well aware that to get into digital form, he’s got to start building a resume in the Octagon, and that’s just fine with him, because on fight night, he brings it.
“If you look at my record, 14 wins and 13 finishes,” said Brown. “That’s just the fighter I am. I’m going in there, kill or be killed, and going in there to get the finish. I can finish you on the feet as well – I had two head kick knockouts last year – and along with all my submission wins, I can finish this thing on the ground or on the feet, and that’s what I’m looking to do in this fight coming up.”
And if you haven’t had a chance to see Brown, you can start to judge him by the company he keeps, which means if you’ve seen his buddy and longtime training partner Bryce Mitchell, you’ve seen the type of attitude “Downtown” Brown brings to battle. As for the reality that two Arkansas natives are now doing their thing in the UFC, Brown says this is just the beginning.
“We have a lot of talent coming out here from Arkansas, and hopefully with me and Bryce and Roli and all of us together, we can kind of lead the way and show that we have something to prove down here,” he said. “It also gives me a chip on my shoulder to show everybody that we’ve got what it takes down here.”
Brown has already proved that he can fight and step up his game when needed, two traits that should take him far in the UFC. As for all the other intangibles that make stars in this sport, Brown, like Mitchell, has those as well, and he’s comfortable knowing that someday, someone may be saying that they want to be like TJ Brown.
“You see a lot of personalities out there and I do believe I can fill that role,” said Brown. “I think I’m one of the good guys. I’m a family man, I’m very disciplined and a hard-working guy and I am somebody I believe somebody can look up to. I want to lead the way, and hopefully through my hard work, I’m able to set the standard.”
