Kemal
05-07-2012, 07:02
Former WEC featherweight champion Mike Thomas Brown isn't ready to hang up his gloves just yet.
Brown, who was mulling retirement prior to UFC 146, had a change of heart following his dominant unanimous decision victory over Daniel Pineda. The 36-year-old signed a new five-fight deal with the UFC last week, and he intends to fulfill the life of the contract.
"The last couple of years were kind of rough on me. I had lots of injuries and I was feeling fatigued during training and fights," Brown wrote on his website. "When you feel like this it takes all the fun out of being in the cage. I was starting to think that was going to continue. Going into the last fight with Pineda I was pretty certain that was going to be my last fight.
"I talked to my friends, family, and coaches. I told them how I was feeling and I told them I would make up my decision about retirement after the fight. This fight felt different, I felt great and I felt no fatigue," Brown concluded. "I felt like I did when I won the belt in 2008 (and) 2009. I felt like I could of easily went 5 rounds and I had a lot of fun being out there."
Prior to his recent career revival, Brown (26-8) dropped four of six bouts, starting with a crushing defeat at the hands of Jose Aldo at WEC 44. The loss snapped a 10-fight win streak that saw Brown rise from journeyman to WEC champion on the strength of two stunning victories over Urijah Faber.
Brown, who was mulling retirement prior to UFC 146, had a change of heart following his dominant unanimous decision victory over Daniel Pineda. The 36-year-old signed a new five-fight deal with the UFC last week, and he intends to fulfill the life of the contract.
"The last couple of years were kind of rough on me. I had lots of injuries and I was feeling fatigued during training and fights," Brown wrote on his website. "When you feel like this it takes all the fun out of being in the cage. I was starting to think that was going to continue. Going into the last fight with Pineda I was pretty certain that was going to be my last fight.
"I talked to my friends, family, and coaches. I told them how I was feeling and I told them I would make up my decision about retirement after the fight. This fight felt different, I felt great and I felt no fatigue," Brown concluded. "I felt like I did when I won the belt in 2008 (and) 2009. I felt like I could of easily went 5 rounds and I had a lot of fun being out there."
Prior to his recent career revival, Brown (26-8) dropped four of six bouts, starting with a crushing defeat at the hands of Jose Aldo at WEC 44. The loss snapped a 10-fight win streak that saw Brown rise from journeyman to WEC champion on the strength of two stunning victories over Urijah Faber.