Matt Brown Backs Makhachev and Slams the Interim Title

Matt Brown says Islam Makhachev has earned the right to delay his return, and he takes issue with the UFC putting up an interim welterweight title while Makhachev is still champion.

Makhachev chose not to fight Carlos Prates at UFC 336. Prates now meets Michael Morales in January instead, and the promotion is introducing an interim belt for that bout. UFC CEO Dana White insisted the division had to move forward with Makhachev absent.

Makhachev defended his title in August with a unanimous decision win over Ian Machado Garry. He has said he will gladly face the winner of Prates vs. Morales after Ramadan.

"He's earned that right"

Brown spoke on The Fighter vs. The Writer. He understands the frustration but does not blame the champion.

"He is in position being that he's done such great things, I feel like he's earned that right. I wouldn't call it picking and choosing. When you get to that level, you get a little bit more picky and choosy, as you should. I'm not going to hate on Islam being picky and choosy about this fight."

Brown also said he wishes the UFC had a standard for such cases. "The UFC needs to make a standard — if you don't defend for this long, we make an interim title. This happens in boxing all the time," he said.

Makhachev has been out of action for two months, and UFC 336 is barely five months removed from his last title defense.

"Is that the UFC trying to punch Islam in the gut?"

Brown says the interim belt is not going to mean anything. "He just fought what two months ago? Two months ago. We don't need to do this. The interim title's not going to mean anything," he said.

He called Morales vs. Prates an amazing fight. But he said he would rather see Makhachev fight both of them, and that "the last thing I like out of this is a f*cking interim title."

He also wondered about the UFC's motives. "Is that the UFC trying to punch Islam in the gut? That's what it feels like here," Brown said. He added that he does not know what was discussed behind the scenes. If Makhachev has told the UFC when he will fight, "then that's totally fair."

Source: MMA Fighting