LAS VEGAS – Whether Ian Machado Garry wins his UFC 292 fight against Geoff Neal or not, Randy Brown wants to share the octagon with the Irishman next.
After scoring a unanimous decision win over Wellington Turman at UFC on ABC 5 in June, Brown (17-5 MMA, 11-5 UFC) is already looking for his next assignment in the welterweight division. He’s not super picky about whom he fights, as long as it represents a step up, but Brown thinks Garry (12-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) would be a compelling fight for the fans.
I’ve always been a high-risk, low-reward kind of fighter unfortunately,” Brown told MMA Junkie Radio on UFC X Radio Row earlier this month. “As of late, I’m starting to get momentum, and my name’s getting out there. Dudes are not quick to call me out because I have a style that’s very dangerous for everybody. Nobody wanta to deal with a 6-foot-three-and-a-half welterweight. I’m a giant in there. I could see why a lot of people don’t call me out.
“For me, I think there’s a lot of guys and a lot of fun fights for me in my division. A guy like Ian Garry, I’m happy with the things he’s doing. … He has a great style; I have a great style. We’re both long and lengthy. I think we’ll put on a phenomenal fight. Besides him, there’s a ton of other guys.”
Brown, 33, has won five of his past six fights dating back to April 2021. His only setback in that stretch came at UFC 284 in February, when he suffered a first-round submission loss to surging contender Jack Della Maddalena.
It was a disappointing result for Brown but one he thinks didn’t damage his career too significantly as he plots to continue making noise at 170 pounds.
“Honestly, while I was in that loss, when I experienced that loss, I don’t even think that loss itself set me back too far,” Brown said. “I feel like I got caught in a transition, and it is what it is. The dude capitalized. But I fought, I came back, and I thought I had a great performance. Not the performance that I wanted – I definitely wanted a big finish – but Thurman came to fight. I think I’m right back where I left off before, and hopefully my next fight we can really get out there with someone that’s down to scrap.”
