Chris Brown on interim shot at CFFC 143: 'After I win this fight, I am the real champ'
Brown faces Buddy Wallace in co-main event of Friday's event at North Dakota's 4 Bears Casino & Lodge and live on UFC FIGHT PASS.
Chris Brown was expecting to fight for the CFFC middleweight title this Friday night, but when reigning champion Chris Daukaus withdrew from the card, "Breezy" was left looking for a new opponent.
Fortunately for Brown, Buddy Wallace stepped up on three weeks' notice, and the two will now serve as the co-main event at CFFC 143, which streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS from 4 Bears Casino & Lodge in New Town, North Dakota.
For Brown, the change of opponent wasn't an issue – but the fact that the title was no longer on the line was frustrating, and he thinks it speaks volumes about reigning champ Kyle Daukaus.
"It's par for the course with me," Brown said of the change. "This happens all the time since I first went pro, but it just shows he ain't got heart. He's scared. He didn't want any part of me in North Dakota. He wants to try to fight me at home in Philadelphia.
"He thinks he going to get a hometown help from the judges, so that already shows you where his mind's at."
Instead, Brown (11-5 MMA, 1-0 CFFC) and Wallace (23-10-1 MMA, 0-0 CFFC) will compete for an interim title. The winner is expected to unify the belt with the reigning champion, though Daukaus could certainly get snatched up by a top international promotion in the meantime, and the interim winner would be promoted to undisputed champion.
The way Brown sees it, Friday's fight will determine who should be considered the kingpin of the division.
"After I win this fight, I am the real champ because he ran," Brown said. "He had the opportunity to defend, but he chose to do what he did and instead try to back out and say he wants to fight at home."
Of course, before any of that, Brown has to deal with Wallace, a crafty vet who enters the matchup on an impressive run of 8-1 in his past nine appearances. Brown has never hesitated to take on the toughest challenges available – his past four opponents were all undefeated entering the contests – and thinks he matches up well with "Braveheart."
"Never encountered him, but I respect the fact that he took the fight on short notice," Brown said. "It doesn't matter who's in there with me, it's going to be the same thing."
Last time out, Brown outworked a gritty Egor Kostyuchenko to take home a win in his CFFC debut. That fight took place at welterweight, and now competing up a weight class, Brown believes his output will be even higher without cutting down to 170 pounds. Wallace has promised to deliver an all-action affair from his side, and Brown expects the same.
"Definitely going to be ready to put on the show," Brown said. "That's all it's about, and I'm glad he's willing to get in there and trade with me.
"Appreciate everybody supporting me, all the people who watch and constantly give me love. I've got a lot of riders, and everybody should just expect 'Breezy' to come out there and be real breezy. You're going to see stuff you haven't seen before. You just try to pay attention."
