Matt Brown explains impact of training under Duane Ludwig

UFC welterweight Matt Brown is gearing up for what could very well be the biggest fight of his MMA career this Saturday at UFC 206.

Brown, who is currently ranked at #14 on the UFC’s official welterweight rankings, will be stepping into the Octagon to fight former lightweight title challenger, #5 ranked welterweight Donald Cerrone. The fight will take place on the main card, and is a pivotal fight for both men. For Brown, he will be looking to snap a 2-fight losing streak that has seen him be submitted by Demian Maia at UFC 198, and then TKOd by Jake Ellenberger at UFC 201 back in July. On the other hand, for Cerrone, the fight is an opportunity to extend his unbeaten streak at welterweight to 4-0 as he looks to defeat a gritty veteran in ‘The Immortal’.

Ahead of the fight, Brown spoke with Fox Sports to discuss the impact striking coach Duane Ludwig has had on his training camp leading up to the fight:

“I’m working with Duane Ludwig a lot more. I think he’s added a lot to the whole atmosphere and situation. I’m really happy about that,” Brown told FOX Sports.

“I think he’s amazing. The big thing about him that I like is that he’s obsessed with this game. That’s a good feeling for someone to have the same passion that you do. If you look at this as a business, a fight as a business, the analogy is if you’re starting a business you can never find someone that cares about the business as you do. That’s why it’s so hard to start a business because you have to put so much into it yourself because no one else is going to give as much as you do.”

Ludwig, who gained the reputation as one of the best striking coaches in MMA when he became head coach of Team Alpha Male, also had an impressive MMA career of his own, which included a 21-14 professional record that saw Ludwig earn the fastest KO in UFC history in 2006. With that being said, it’s no surprise that Brown praises Ludwig as a “true martial artist”

“He’s a true martial artist and has made a great transition to coaching. I think he’s going to be a great addition to my team to help take me to the next level.”