In a battle of the old guard and the new blood, Josh Barnett and Travis Browne met in a highly anticipated bout. When it was all said and done, Browne came out victorious via a vicious knockout.
Many thought this would be a close bout due to Barnett’s wrestling chops and Browne’s athleticism. When it was over, Browne had nullified Barnett’s wrestling and put him down with some brutal elbows.
So, what did we learn from this bout? Let’s take a look.
What We’ll Remember About This Fight
The knockout. Browne used the same elbow finish that he used against Gabriel Gonzaga when he knocked him out. Barnett, like Gonzaga, shot for the double leg and was met with a sprawl and a nasty barrage of elbows.
That shows how dangerous Browne is.
What We Learned About Browne
He is a contender. He has knocked out Gabriel Gonzaga. He has knocked out Alistair Overeem. He has knocked out Josh Barnett.
What else does he need to do? He is a top heavyweight right now and only getting better.
What We Learned About Barnett
He is a top guy, but he’s not ready to be the top guy yet. His wrestling and grappling chops are going to make him a competitive fighter in any bout, but the striking weakness that he’s shown against Browne and Daniel Cormier prove he has not evolved to the all-around menace he could have been.
He is still a world-class heavyweight, but he will never regain the championship.
What’s Next for Browne?
He’s likely behind Fabricio Werdum for the title, but if Cain Velasquez is out for the interim, Browne and Werdum should hook up. The fight would give Velasquez a top contender.
If Werdum sits out for his title shot and Browne needs one more fight, he should get a rematch with Antonio Silva or a showdown with Mark Hunt.
What’s Next for Barnett?
He’s in dire need to rebound after this fight. A bout against Antonio Silva or Roy Nelson could be a good one.
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