Jason Brilz (18-3-1, 3-2 UFC) meets Vladimir Matyushenko (25-5, 6-3 UFC) in a light heavyweight bout at UFC 129. This fight is scheduled third on the pay-per-view broadcast.
How do these guys stack up?
Brilz: 35 years old | 5’11” | 71.5″ reach
Matyushenko: 40 years old | 6’1″ | 74″ reach
What have these guys done recently?
Brilz: L – Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (SD) | W – Eric Schafer (UD) | L – Eliot Marshall (SD)
Matyushenko: W – Alexandre Ferreira (TKO) | L – Jon Jones (TKO) | W – Eliot Marshall (SD)
How did these two get here?
Jason Brilz’s first fight came all the way back in March of 2000. Eight years later, he made his UFC debut with a TKO victory over Brad Morris at UFC Fight Night 15. Brilz lost his last fight in a controversial decision against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 114. His bout with Little Nog was immortalized in a three part Judo Chop series here at BE: 1. The Deep Half Guard Sweep, 2. The Turkish Ride and 3. The Crucifix.
Vladimir Matyushenko made his debut all the way back in 1997, where he defeated three men in one night at IFC 5. He entered the UFC in 2001, defeating Yuki Kondo in his debut. He lost a title fight against Tito Ortiz at UFC 33, a fight infamous for going over time and being cut by most cable providers. Matyushenko made his way to the IFL, where he won that organization’s light heavyweight title before the promotion collapsed. He made his way back into the UFC in September of 2009, and has gone 3-1, including his most recent TKO victory over Alexandre Ferreira at UFC 122.
Why should you care?
Brilz and Matyushenko are both good fighters, but this is the least compelling fight on the pay-per-vew broadcast.
For more information on how to see this bout read: How to Watch ‘UFC 129: St. Pierre vs Shields’ Live Online and On Television