Quarterly Rankings
each and every outing, Brown could provide Wilks with the ultimate test of his credentials. "Matt Brown is on a great run of form at the moment and I'm ready to tackle a fighter at the very top of his game," admits Wilks. "He's coming off two big wins and his confidence will be at an all-time high.
"I'm ready for that and I know what I'm up against. Matt doesn't let up from the first round to the last and I'm the same. Whether we're standing or going to the ground, this fight is going to be an explosive and fast-paced fight. I expect fans to see non-stop action the whole way. It will be my arm raised at the end, though."
Another intriguing match added to UFC 105 is the exciting all-British showdown between John ‘The Hitman' Hathaway and ‘Relentless' Paul Taylor. Set for three rounds, the welterweight battle of the Brits has already been earmarked as a potential ‘Fight of the Night' by UFC fans.
"Taylor's a great opponent for me," enthuses Hathaway. "He's been involved in some of the most exciting fights ever seen in the UFC. He's a big fan-favourite and all his fights gain a lot of attention. He's also been in with some great opponents like Marcus Davis, Paul Kelly and Chris Lytle. I'm looking forward to testing myself against someone who has been in with some top guys."
The 22-year-old Hathaway is currently the third youngest mixed martial artist competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Unbeaten in 12 pro bouts, Brighton's Hathaway holds Octagon wins over Tom Egan and Ricky Story. On November 14 in Manchester, ‘The Hitman' will face his toughest assignment yet.
"Paul's a world-class Muay Thai fighter and could give anyone problems in a striking match," admits John. "He's also very fit and determined. It's hard to ever really get on top of him and stop his workrate. He's always coming forward and looking to scrap.
"I've spoken to Paul in the past and he's a nice guy, but this is all business on November 14. I respect Paul a great deal, but on that night he's just another opponent for me."
Relentless in name and style, Taylor (10-4-1, 1 NC) is a fan favourite from Walsall, England and a renowned kickboxer. With six UFC bouts under his belt, three of them winning "Fight of the Night" awards, Taylor has already cemented his reputation as one of the organisation's most exciting battlers.
"Whether he's winning or losing, Paul always brings his A-game," adds Hathaway. "He's never let anyone down and always pushes his opponent to the limit.
"Paul gets a lot of ‘Fight of the Night' honours and there's a good chance we could share another on November 14. I'm ready for a war and it would be a massive statement if I could stop Paul within the distance."
Leading Liverpool lightweights Terry Etim and Paul ‘Tellys' Kelly also see action at UFC 105 as they both look to continue positive form at the MEN Arena.
The 23-year-old Etim (13-2) faces American contender Shannon Gugerty (12-3) in a competitively matched 155-pound affair.
"Gugerty's a durable ground specialist with 12 victories from 15 professional mixed martial arts bouts," says Etim, who has won his three previous UFC bouts. "As with any fight in the UFC, I'm expecting the toughest test of my career to date and will be treating this fight on November 14 as my...
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