UFC Heavyweight bout: Stefan Struve vs. Travis Browne
Odds: (-110 Struve / -120 Browne )
Betting Pick: STRUVE
Bet on this fight at Bodog.com
In a featured Heavyweight bout, Dutch giant Stefan “Skyscraper” Struve will look to the put the first blemish on the record of undefeated slugger Travis “Hapa” Browne. Browne is an extremely formidable striker, but Struve’s mixture of absurd height, striking prowess, and top-notch submissions make him one of the least attractive matchups for anyone in the Heavyweight division.
Travis “Hapa” Browne is a serious striker with a surplus of knockout power. Undefeated as a professional, the only flaw on his record is a draw in his last fight against French kickboxer Cheick Kongo. While he does have some ground game, it has rarely mattered thusfar in his career, as very few men are capable of handling his striking power. Browne has knockout ability with both hands and both legs, and likes to push an aggressive pace and stay in his opponents’ faces to create openings for his huge power shots. The big question mark is how well he will be able to handle Struve’s vastly superior reach and whether he can keep Struve from tying him up and getting this fight to the ground.
Stefan Struve is one of the most awkward matchups in the Heavyweight division. He is a skilled striker with tremendous height and reach who also has a world-class ground game. His long, lanky form means that he is not a particularly physical fighter, and it hurts his wrestling game, but he utilizes his reach to great advantage and his long limbs help him lock up seemingly impossible submissions on the ground. Both standing and on the mat, Struve is one of the hardest fighters in the division to defend against. The other side of that coin, though, is that his defense is not particularly great either.
This is an interesting matchup. Browne clearly has the edge in punching power and physicality, but Struve’s long reach, coupled with his massive height, allow him to land punches from what seems like halfway across the Octagon. Browne looked uninspiring in his last outing against Cheick Kongo, and the unique matchup problems Struve’s body presents are going to throw him off his game. That, coupled with the fact that Struve has a serious ground game which he can set up by using his long arms to secure the clinch and work trips, is going to keep Browne from winning this fight. I think Struve will manage to hold Browne at bay on the feet and eventually find a way to get him down, where he will submit him in fairly routine fashion.
Prediction: Stefan Struve via third round rear naked choke.
- Bet on the UnderDog Struve @-110 odds for the Win.
- Note Struve went from even odds to -110
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