Stefan Struve – photo via UFC.com
Like the rest of the UFC 146 main card, heavyweight Stefan ‘Skyscraper’ Struve (23-5) has had a change in opponents having originally been scheduled to face Mark Hunt, but will now face late replacement Lavar ‘Big’ Johnson at the Las Vegas event.
Despite the late change of opponents, Struve is just as excited for this bout with Johnson as he was with Hunt. The 6’11″ fighter feels that he holds a significant advantage due to his reach and submission skills.
Submissions being Johnson’s achile’s heel after suffering his last two defeats by submission, as well as Pat Barry’s close call on the ground at UFC on FOX 3 versus Johnson earlier this month.
Struve tells UFC.com that like his bout with Barry, he plans on using his reach to keep Johnson at bay and when he gets his chance, the fight will be over.
“He (Johnson) has looked impressive in his first two fights in the Octagon, but I’m gonna look even more impressive next week,” said Struve. “I want to thank him for stepping up on such short notice, but he’s gonna face the best Stefan Struve you’ve seen so far….”
“I won’t have to think twice about it,” he laughs. “I think I have a huge advantage on the ground, and I’m just gonna have to use my reach and the height advantage I have in my favor, and I think if I do that well, then there should be no problem. If you look at the fight I had with Pat Barry, I used my reach, stayed away from his hands, and waited for my chance. And when I got my chance, the fight was over….”
“If we land a good shot, it’s good night, and that’s always exciting,” said Struve. “With all the different kinds of heavyweights on this card, there’s so much for the fans to look out for, and anything can happen at any given moment. With the heavyweights, it’s like they say, ‘don’t blink, you might miss something.’
The two fighters will open the pay-per-view card for UFC 146 which is scheduled for May 26, 2012 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.