#TFGinterview: CM Punk doesn’t deserve to be in UFC--In conversation with Matt Brown

The excitement surrounding UFC 198 is on an upward rise as we go closer to the pay-per-view. With a stacked fight card in place, the event is expected to be a stand out one and a fight that most of the fans would be looking forward to is the one between Matt Brown and Demian Maia.

The Welterweight bout between these two has all the ingredients to be a sleeper hit from the pay-per-view. Ahead of the fight, The Fan Garage caught up with Matt Brown and he talked about an array of topics. You can check out the transcript of the interview below.

TFG: You are going up against a streaking Demian Maia who is knocking on the door of a title shot. Where do you see yourself placed in the UFC’s 170 lbs division and how far away are you from a title shot?

Matt Brown: I believe that the winner of this fight should at least be in the conversation for the title shot. If I beat him, I don't see any reason why I shouldn't be in that conversation and vice-versa.

TFG: Maia is among the most accomplished grapplers in the UFC. What is your game plan going against someone of his caliber and where do you feel your strengths lie in a battle against him?

MB: Demian is among the best jiu-jitsu guys in the UFC, if not the best. But that is his only strength, being better at Jiu-jitsu, which we will have to find out. My strengths are everywhere else. While his only path to victory is Jiu-Jitsu, I have so many other ways by which I can finish this fight.

TFG: You had recently come out in criticism of CM Punk for undergoing back surgery to repair herniated discs. Was your criticism due to your experience with back injuries or his inability to get his UFC debut checked off?

MB: I didn't criticize him for having his surgery if it was something necessary to do. I criticized him for the fact that he's not a fighter. He doesn't deserve to fight in the UFC with no fights. I don't believe he deserves to fight in the UFC based off the name he made in pro-wrestling and I think he'll figure it out when he fights in the UFC, he'll figure it out the hard way. Or he can listen to me and that'll be the easy way to learn.

You can watch UFC 198: Werdum vs. Miocic @ 7.30am on Sunday, 15th May 2016 LIVE AND EXCLUSIVELY ON SONY ESPN & SONY ESPN HD