Stefan “Skyscraper” Struve (28-5), who was recently measured at an even 7 feet tall, making him the tallest man ever to fight in UFC, will have about eight inches and 12 pounds on foe Stipe Miocic (9-0) when he headlines UFC on Fuel TV 5 on Saturday at the Capital FM Arena in Nottingham, England.
Struve, whose experience belies being only 24 years old, weighed in at 251 pounds. Struve is a giant who fights very much unlike one, as he doesn’t use his reach edge to his best advantage, but is shockingly quick and skilled on the ground. Miocic, who weighed in at 239 pounds, provides an interesting test. Miocic, a strong all-around athlete, garnered attention from Major League baseball scouts in his youth. He played Division I baseball and wrestling at Cleveland State University, as well as won a Golden Gloves boxing championship.
An enthusiastic, very pro-British audience was there for weigh-ins. Only one fighter, DaMarques Johnson (18-11), missed weight, and he did that with abundance. Johnson, who took the fight on late notice, came in at a soft 183 pounds for what was contracted as a 175 pound catch weight fight with the debuting Gunnar Nelson (9-0-1). He came out with a very apologetic look on his face.
The show also features the debut of two of the best known fighters from the BAMMA organization, Tom “Kong” Watson (15-4) and Jimi Manuwa (11-0), who are both fighting in the Facebook prelims. Watson, from Southampton, England, held the group’s middleweight title when he signed with UFC. He gained significant fame in his home country in 2010 for a fight with reality star Alex Reid, a legitimate fighter who became a celebrity for his relationship with famous U.K. model Katie “Jordan” Price. The fight was a big television hit. Watson also has a win over former Pride star Murilo “Ninja” Rua.
Manuwa, the group’s light heavyweight champion when he signed with UFC, debuts against former Arizona State footballer Kyle Kingsbury (11-4, 1 no contest), who was the most creative fighter at weigh-ins. Kingsbury, unique looking enough with his bushy beard, Ron Burgundy look and fanny pack out of the 90s, squared off with Manuwa in photos with a hat and pipe to look like Sherlock Holmes.
Without question, the most popular fighter was home town favorite Dan Hardy (24-10, 1 no contest), who grew up within walking distance of the FM Arena. He faces former Ultimate Fighter winner Amir Sadollah (7-3).
Complete weigh-in results:
Facebook fights starting at 1:45 p.m. ET
Robbie Peralta (144) vs. Jason Young (145)
Gunnar Nelson (175) vs. DaMarques Johnson (183) – signed at a 175 pound catch weight
Brad Tavares (185) vs. Tom Watson (186)
Akira Corassani (144) vs. Andy Ogle (144)
Jimi Manuwa (204) vs. Kyle Kingsbury (204)
Fuel TV Fights starting at 4 p.m. ET
Che Mills (170) vs. Duane Ludwig (169)
John Maguire (169) vs. John Hathaway (169)
Matt Wiman (156) vs. Paul Sass (156)
Yves Jabouin (136) vs. Brad Pickett (135)
Amir Sadollah (169) vs. Dan Hardy (169)
Stipe Miocic (239) vs. Stefan Struve (251)