Author: MMA Betting

UFC Heavyweight Bout:  Travis Browne vs. Bigfoot Silva

Odds:  ( -235 Browne /+185 Silva )

Betting Pick:  Browne

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In the main event of the evening, undefeated Heavyweight slugger Travis “Hapa” Browne will face by far the toughest challenge of his young career in the form of one-time Strikeforce Heavyweight champion Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva. This is a great matchup on paper, because both of these guys are huge, heavy-handed punchers with excellent ground games to back up their striking. Silva is coming off an extremely one-sided loss to former UFC Heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez, but he has years of top-level experience and one of the most dangerous offensive skill sets in UFC’s Heavyweight division. If Browne wants to keep his undefeated record intact, he is going to have to find a way to weather the relentless, punishing offense Silva is known for and try to beat Silva at his own game.

Travis “Hapa” Browne is one of the most exciting Heavyweight prospects in the UFC. He has put together a very impressive undefeated record on the strength of his powerful striking and a very solid submission game, especially from top position. While this is his first fight against a top tier Heavyweight, he has handled his incremental steps up in competition very well. He showed against Cheick Kongo and Stefan Struve that he can handle fighting guys with dangerous striking of their own, and that is going to come in handy against the heavy-handed Silva. On the feet, I think the edge against Silva probably goes to Browne, so the most important thing for him is to make sure that if this fight does go to the ground, he is in top position. Silva is brutal with ground and pound from the top, and as good as Browne’s jiu-jitsu is, I don’t see him being able to work off his back effectively underneath “Bigfoot”.

Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva, the former Strikeforce Heavyweight champion, is an extremely dangerous fighter who can hurt opponents with strikes, submissions, and ground and pound. He is not the fastest guy in the world, either in terms of hand speed or on his feet, but he is extremely powerful and uses his size very well to neutralize his opponents. Although he is currently coming off two straight losses, he has more than enough offensive skills to threaten anyone he fights. Both of his last two losses, though, came by way of punches, so he is going to have to be wary of Browne’s power on the feet and try to work his way into top position, where I think his grappling is good enough to control position and punish Browne with hard ground and pound.

Stylistically, I think this matchup favors Browne. Browne has faster hands and more punching power, something Silva has trouble dealing with. “Bigfoot” does his best work when he can control opponents with superior physicality, but Browne is a huge guy who is not going to be bullied around. I think Silva is going to find taking Browne down very difficult, and will see his chin exploited in the striking game eventually. Browne by T/KO

Prediction:  Travis “Hapa” Browne by third round T/KO.

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UFC Heavyweight Bout: Stefan Struve vs. Stipe Miocic

Odds: (+160 Struve / -200 Miocic )

Betting Pick:  Struve

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In the main event of the evening, undefeated Heavyweight prospect Stipe Miocic takes a big step up in competition to face towering Dutch striker Stefan “Skyscraper” Struve. Both of these guys have extremely dangerous striking, but Struve is going to enjoy a huge advantage in terms of height, reach, and experience. If Miocic wants to extend his record to 10-0, he is going to have to find a way to get inside Struve’s long reach and land big punches on the inside while also avoiding takedowns, because Struve is a world-class submission fighter and Miocic has never been tested on the ground by someone of his caliber.

Stipe Miocic is one of UFC’s most exciting Heavyweight prospects. Undefeated as a professional, Miocic has steadily climbed the ranks on the strength of his outstanding striking and devastating punching power. All 9 of Miocic’s wins have come as a result of strikes, with 8 T/KOs and one submission due to leg kicks. Since arriving in the UFC, Miocic has steadily stepped up his level of competition, and scored a great win against Shane del Rosario in his last outing. There is no question, though, that Struve is the most dangerous fighter he has ever faced, both standing and on the ground. Struve’s reach and technique make him a difficult guy to stand and trade against, and he has arguably the best submissions in the Heavyweight division, so Miocic is going to have his hands full. The one thing going in Miocic’s favor here is that Struve’s chin can definitely be exploited, and Miocic has the power to do just that. If he can find a way inside Struve’s huge range and work punches and dirty boxing from in close, he will be in a great position to put Struve to sleep.

Stefan “Skyscraper” Struve is one of the UFC’s most dangerous dual-threat Heavyweights. He is a tall, rangy kickboxer who uses his height and reach exceptionally well, and he has amazing submissions from a much wider variety of positions than most Heavyweight grapplers. Offensively, Struve is one of the most dangerous Heavyweights in the UFC, but his striking defense does leave a bit to be desired. The opponents who have managed to defeat Struve have all been heavy-handed punchers with solid chins who managed to get through his long range and abuse his weak chin on the inside, and Miocic seems to fit that bill. If Struve wants to avoid yet another knockout loss, he is going to have to do everything he can to keep Miocic on the end of his punches or to find a way to take this fight to the ground, where he will enjoy a massive advantage in technique.

This is a tough fight to call. Miocic has never fought a striker or a grappler as dangerous as Struve, much less one guy who can do both things so effectively. That said, Miocic seems like the kind of fighter specifically designed to exploit Struve’s weaknesses. If Miocic can get inside Struve’s range, he has more than enough technique and power to blow Struve up, and I think his chin is solid enough to deal with Struve’s power, as well. The real question is whether or not Struve will be able to get this fight to the ground. Miocic is not known for his grappling prowess and has never faced anyone near Struve’s level in terms of submissions, so if Struve can take this fight down he should be more than capable of submitting Miocic. In the end, I think Miocic will weather Struve’s striking fairly well, land some big shots of his own, but find himself taken down and submitted eventually. Struve by submission.

Prediction:  Stefan Struve by second round rear naked choke.

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