Matt Brown (fighter)

  Brown was raised and born in Jamestown, Ohio. After attending homeschool for two years, he went to Greeneview High School, where it was a struggle to make friends. In an unimportant town that had no foreseeable future outside of a low paying factory job as a machinist, Brown was frustrated and began turning to alcohol and drugs. Brown was addicted to methamphetamine and used cocaine regularly and was often involved in fights at parties. By his early twenties he had survived a heroin overdose (which earned him the nickname "The Immortal"), was homeless, and been to prison. Brown's fascination with MMA started with drunkenly practicing the various submission techniques were shown on VHS films featuring Ken Shamrock on friends.In what began as a drug-fueled visit to see his buddy fight, Brown signed up to his first fight with only a few hours' notice. He purchased a mouthpiece from across the street and then cooked it in a nearby restaurant and then fought his first match without any training; despite this he ended up winning. Brown lost a decision and was defeated again the next night. Brown's first formal training took place at a Japanese Jiu-Jitsu gym. Brown agreed to fight again within two weeks, using Muay Thai rules. Brown was defeated by a decision in a sanshou match, and then returned to work the following evening. Brown later joined a Jorge Gurgel affiliate, which brought him to full MMA training