Matt Brown's UFC 185 strategy: Punch Johny Hendricks, see what happens

Top Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight contender Matt Brown (16-3) may find himself back in a 170-pound title fight with a big win over former titleholder Johny Hendricks (19-12) at the UFC 185 pay-per-view (PPV) event this Saturday night (March 14, 2015) in Dallas, Texas.

Or, he may not.

"The Immortal" -- fresh off a unanimous decision loss to Robbie Lawler -- has no idea what to expect when the cage door slams behind him, as each mixed martial arts (MMA) fight presents its own unique set of challenges. Therefore, all he can do is show up, push hard, and see what happens.

Brown talks to Bleacher Report:

"I just take it one day at a time, man. I don't put too much pressure on myself. Maybe I get a title shot with a win and maybe I don't. I have to worry about Johny [Hendricks] first. He's a super tough guy and one of the best in the world. The only thing I'm thinking about is being completely ready so that I can perform the best I can come fight night and maybe I beat him. I really don't know what is going to happen in this fight. I never try to expect anything from any fight I'm going into because who knows what will happen? I'm going to go in there and push the fight as hard as I can, push myself as hard as I can and hopefully come out with the W."

As far as gameplans go, his opponent's is not nearly as subtle.

The good news is, the division is still up for grabs. Lawler and Hendricks have been playing hot potato with the title after Georges St. Pierre skipped town, and now "Ruthless" will make his first title defense in a rematch against Rory MacDonald at UFC 189.

Considering all the major players at 170 ... who ends up with the gold at the end of 2015?