Jason Brilz Won’t Pull Any Punches at UFC 129, Even If It Costs His Job

Jason Brilz hammers Brad Morris at UFN 15

UFC light-heavyweight fighter Jason Brilz refuses to let his loss last May to Antonio Rogerio Nogeuira get him down.

As he told MMAWeekly.com recently, “My thing is to go out and give everything I have, and I think I did that.

“I was happy with the performance. But other than that, a win or a loss is not that important. For me, it’s all about having a good show and seeing where I’m at.”

Brilz admits that he beat himself by letting Nogeuira take advantage of position changes in their fight.

“I have a tendency to be stubborn,” admitted Brilz. “When we were on the ground, he kept sweeping me. I knew what to do (to defend it); I just wasn’t doing it. I had stopped it once earlier and I kept trying to stick with that.

“That’s sort of me. That’s my mentality – sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad – this time it was bad.”

Brilz will have an opportunity to redeem himself on April 30 at UFC 129 when he takes on Vladimir Matyushenko in a fight that was supposed to happen last year.

“Initially, I was supposed to fight Vladdy in November, but I tweaked my back,” said Brilz. “I had to cancel the fight, which really bummed me. I was really looking forward to going to Germany and fighting Vladdy.

“In the end I guess it worked out. I now end up going up to Canada and fighting in front of the largest crowd in UFC history, so it’s worked out well.”

Brilz feels that many overlook Matyushenko, but he knows better.

“I think he’s a very underrated fighter and a lot of people don’t give him the respect he deserves. He’s strong and very solid all the way through.

“I think our wrestling is going to be a big part of it. If not, then let’s strike. He doesn’t go for a lot of submissions, and that’s one thing I’ve been working on, trying to hit a lot more submissions lately.”

Even though he’s lost two of his last three fights, Brilz refuses to let the possibility of being released by the UFC be a distraction.

“I try not to think about it too much because it’s well beyond my control,” he stated. “I’m going to go out there and put on the best performance I have: win, lose or draw.

“If they have to cut me, they’ll have to cut me because I lose, not because I didn’t try to have a fight or didn’t perform.”

Such is the mentality for Brilz; doing the best he can with the opportunities afforded him.

“I’m not going to say winning’s not important, because of course it’s important. It allows me to continue to fight, but me throwing it all out there instead of trying to out-point the guy (is my goal),” said Brilz.

Having faced diversity before and pushed through it the only way he knows, Brilz will continue to move forward no matter what the circumstance.

“I’m real excited to kick off the action at UFC 129,” concluded Brilz. “I don’t think there’s going to be a dull moment in this fight. Both of us are looking to finish each other.

“The crowd and the whole show is going to be phenomenal, so make sure you guys watch on April 30.”