UFC 105: Matt Brown v James Wilks Confirmed

UFC welterweight Matt Brown (10-7) relented Wednesday afternoon and told Fighters.com, “I guess I’m allowed to say now since it’s everywhere. Yes, I’m fighting [The Ultimate Fighter 9 champ "Lightning" James Wilks (4-2)] at UFC 105 in Manchester 14 November.”

MMA Junkie reported the possible match-up Wednesday morning after Fighters.com reported Monday that Brown had lined up an opponent other than former UFC welterweight champion “Terror” Matt Serra (9-6), a rumor that had been reported by MMA Weekly.

I guess the magic number is “3″: It takes three reporters to unveil an undercard fight on an event three months out.

Once described by Fighters.com’s fifth-ranked light heavyweight “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (28-7) as “born to be a fighter“, Brown has racked up three wins versus a single loss in the Octagon since losing to Amir Sadollah (1-1) on season seven of The Ultimate Fighter. He TKO’d “Drago” Pete Sell (8-5) at UFC 96 in Columbus 7 March.

Brown has left his primary training camp at JG MMA Academy in Cincinnati to train in Las Vegas.

Wilks tapped Damarques Johnson (12-7) in a rear naked choke to win the ninth season of The Ultimate Fighter in Las Vegas 20 June.

105 is likely to also feature the returns of Brits middleweight “Count” Michael Bisping (17-2), welterweight “Outlaw” Dan Hardy (22-6), and lightweight TUF 9 champ “Real Deal” Ross Pearson (14-5-1).