Tim Means (photo via UFC.com)

By Kelsey Mowattt

Matt Brown has become a fan favourite due to his aggressive style, penchant for finishing, and as well, his anywhere, anytime mentality. When the 34 year-old is booked for a card, the vast majority of fans make a mental note to tune in.

Another fighter who seems to be adding to his fanbase by following this same recipe is Tim Means, who has been booked to fight Brown at UFC 189 on July 11th. Initially, the UFC announced that Brown would take on Nate Diaz at the event, but the latter claimed soon after that he had never officially agreed to the bout.

Shortly after Means tapped out George Sullivan at UFC on FOX 15 last month, the UFC asked “The Dirty Bird” if he was interested in the fight, and the surging welterweight jumped on the opportunity. After all, the bout presents Means an opportunity to defeat the promotion’s #5 ranked 170’er, and catapult up the rankings

“I think he does. I think Tim is as talented as anybody that they have in there,” Means’ coach Tom Vaughn said recently on Full Contact Fighter Radio, when asked if he believes the FIT NHB fighter belongs in the top 15 rankings, following four straight victories. “Now he’s just got to prove it.”

“We weren’t calling out anybody in the top ten, and I think people have a misunderstanding. If Tim beats Matt Brown he doesn’t automatically take his spot, but I think he may crack the top ten if he does. So it’s a great opportunity.”

Brown worked his way into the title shot mix thanks to a seven fight win streak, which included six stoppage victories. The noted striker and rugged vet’s rise up the ranks, however, was halted by Johny Hendricks and Robbie Lawler, who decisioned him in consecutive bouts.

“I just think Tim’s all around more technical then Matt Brown,” said Vaughn, while discussing where he believes Means holds advantages of Brown. “I think that, I don’t know, maybe a little size advantage too. Since Tim fought at lightweight, everybody assumes that he’s a small welterweight, but I don’t think so.”

“He’s moved up to welterweight and filled out pretty nicely,” Vaughn added about the 31 year-old Means, who also fought in February and stopped Dhiego Lima.

Now it remains to be seen what unfolds at UFC 189, and whether Brown’s decision to face an unranked and dangerous fighter, ends up costing him.

“I just think that’s who Matt Brown is,” said Vaughn, when asked to comment on the fact that rankings wise, Brown has little to gain from fighting Means. “I think Matt Brown just doesn’t turn down fights…Unless somebody else was making decisions for him, I felt pretty certain Matt Brown would take the fight. He’s just a fighter. He fights whoever they ask him to.”

UFC 189 will be hosted by the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.