Travis Browne isn’t the fighter of the year for 2013, but 2013 was the year of his career. In what is a betting upset, Browne obliterated former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett with a series of vicious elbows to the side of the head in just one minute into the first round in their bout at UFC 168.
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The round opened with Barnett cornering Browne, pressing him into the clinch, but Browne was initially able to escape. Barnett also failed on his first takedown, but kept the pressure on.The end was not far away, however, as Barnett tried to pressure for a takedown, but ended up eating a hard knee from Browne. Barnett changed levels as he pressed Browne into the fence as a result, but once there, Browne unleashed an incredible series of all legal elbows to the side of Barnett’s head, leaving the Strikeforce veteran leaning unconscious against the cage.
The end came officially at 1:00 of the first round via knockout. Browne is now expected to face Fabricio Werdum in a bout that could decide who faces UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez.
“I’m a MMA fighter. You better realize that. You better realize that,” Browne said in a message to other heavyweights in his post-fight comments. “I’m coming for you.”
Browne’s record jumps to 16-1-1 while Barnett drops to 33-7.