While Matt Brown wasn`t known for over-the-top celebrations after his victories, he gets why fighters like Paddy Pimblett might want to let loose a bit, especially after a significant win like his recent victory over Michael Chandler at UFC 314.
However, Brown believes there`s a limit, particularly when it comes to potentially harming your body and future prospects. This is his main concern regarding Pimblett, who admitted to gaining over 40 pounds shortly after his fight with Chandler. Pimblett has often spoken about his post-fight weight fluctuations, confidently stating he always gets back in shape for his next bout. Yet, Brown warns that this approach is likely unsustainable in the long run.
“If I were in his corner as a coach, I’d be worried,” Brown stated on The Fighter vs. The Writer podcast. “I always tell my fighters that our time in this sport is limited, maybe 15 to 20 years tops. There’s so much to gain from it. Why not maximize every opportunity? It doesn’t require immense hardship to avoid gaining 40 pounds after a fight. You can still enjoy yourself, just do it in moderation and get back to training the following week. There`s nothing wrong with that approach.”
“Maintaining a relaxed and focused mindset is crucial during training and throughout your career journey. Especially when you`re young, you feel invincible. You forget how short this career window is. When you’re in your 20s, 40 seems ancient. When you’re 30, 50 feels like a lifetime away. You live in the moment, thinking you can always do whatever you want right now.”
Although Pimblett`s weight management hasn`t seemed to negatively impact his UFC performances so far, Brown points out that the 30-year-old is now competing in the lightweight division, arguably the most competitive in MMA.
Defeating Chandler was a major accomplishment for Pimblett, but the lightweight rankings are filled with contenders he must overcome before even considering a title shot.
“We work so hard to achieve something, and then upon achieving it, we just relax,” Brown observed. “That’s not a productive mindset. He’s competing in an incredibly tough division. He needs to stay focused because he’s now facing some truly dangerous opponents.”
“He`s no longer in smaller leagues like LFA or Cage Warriors. He`s now up against the best fighters in the world, especially in the 155-pound division. These guys are absolute beasts.”
Brown emphasized that discipline was a cornerstone of his own 15-year UFC career.
While exceptions exist, Brown believes that athletes who succeed without full dedication are vastly outnumbered by those who are completely focused on fighting and winning.
“In my opinion, every day you skip the gym, every day you’re carrying extra weight, every day you’re not pushing yourself to the limit, someone else is,” Brown stated. “Look at disciplined champions like Georges St-Pierre, a prime example of an incredibly disciplined champion and his level of success. Then you see someone like Jon Jones, whose training discipline I’m less sure of, yet he achieved greatness. Was it despite his training habits, or is he just exceptionally talented? I assume the latter.”
“We aren’t all Jon Jones. Imagine what Jon Jones could have accomplished with even more discipline? Perhaps even more finishes… It`s about maximizing your potential to be the best you can be. I believe I did that for myself. I didn’t even start training until I was 24 and was in the UFC within four years. I attribute that to this mentality. I gave everything I had every single day.”
Despite Pimblett`s current UFC success, Brown cautions that today`s praise can quickly turn into criticism if he starts losing. Suddenly, gaining 40 pounds between fights might become a symbol of failure rather than something to joke about.
“He needs to stay laser-focused,” Brown reiterated. “If I were his coach, I`d be seriously concerned. Like, you can’t continue living like this. You’re so close to the top. Don’t climb this far and then relax just as you’re nearing the summit.”
“Now is not the time for leisure. Now is not the time to have fun. Now is the time to double down. Now it’s crunch time. Amplify what you’ve been doing. Do more. Do it better. Push harder.”
