Breaking Down UFC 130: Struve Vs Browne

Added on May 24, 2011 by John Petit in

UFC & MMA

Heavyweight bout:
Stefan Struve vs. Travis Browne

Stefan Struve
Odds: +131
Reach: 83in
Record: 21-4
UFC Record: 5-2
Last 5: 4-1
Streak: +1

Travis Browne
Odds: -145
Reach: 78in
Record: 10-0-1(draw)
UFC Record: 1-0-1(draw)
Last 5: 4-0-1(draw)
Streak: 0 (draw)
Stefan Struve had a rough welcoming into the UFC as the fight only last 54 seconds, but since then he has only lost one other time and has put together five wins. Its important to mention that the first fight went on to be come the knock out artist that is Junior Dos Santos, who will be fighting Shane Carwin for a shot at the Championship Belt. Struve is riding a two fight win streak, and thats including a TKO win over Sean McCorkle and a KO win over Christian Morecraft. His only other UFC loss is to Roy Nelson.

Travis Browne was riding a ten fight win streak, and thats including his first fight an win in the UFC over James McSweeny, when he fought Chiek Kongo. Kongo was winning the fight, but had a point taken away due to him grabbing the shorts of Browne’s repeatedly. The fight was scored a draw, but in all of his other ten fights, he finished all but one of them. Browne knows how to put fist to face, but when he fought a technical striker like Kongo he was outclassed, and Kongo isn’t a fantastic striker. Its important to also point out the reach disadvantage he has in this fight, and if he cant get inside on Struve he will have serious problems.

The other thing to point out here, is that if Browne happens to really hurt Struve, he won’t put him down in one shot. He will have to go to the ground to finish him off, and Struve’s BJJ off his back is dangerous and its instinctive. He knows how to grab necks, and limbs to finish fights without thinking about it. His long limbs play into his ground game, and he is able to wrap up fighters and sweep them with his arms and legs.

I see Browne trying to take this fight to the ground when he realizes he can’t get on the inside of Stefan’s reach, and I expect him to be outclassed when he gets there. I don’t even see Struve trying to fight off the take down unless he really wants to finish it standing. I see this all happening toward the end of the first round, and If I had to pick an under dog on this card it would be this fight. Browne hasn’t fought anyone like Struve before, and although Browne has the punchers chance, he has to get in on the inside to land it. Struve just seems to have more ways to win this one.