As we are merely hours away from UFC on Versus 6, the fight card is loaded with some intriguing fights that will likely have some significant impact on the fighters.
The one bout that most casual fans are looking forward to seeing is Dominick Cruz and Demetrious Johnson, yet the one matchup that seems to serve more purpose is a heavyweight bout featuring Pat Barry and Stefan Struve.
While the thought of witnessing two mismatched heavyweights could be exciting, there is more to consider when looking at both Barry and Struve’s status among the heavyweight division, and in the UFC.
Barry’s progress in the UFC has steadily improved, but it has not placed him anywhere near the top 10 of the division, where most fans would of expected him by now. Notable wins over respected veterans like Antoni Hardonk and Joey Beltran haven’t hurt him, but suffering losses to the likes of Mirko Cro Cop and Cheick Kongo have certainly affected his chances of obtaining a credible record inside the Octagon.
Stefan Struve is in a similar situation, as he too has suffered the misfortune of remaining inconsistent in the UFC.
Standing at 6’11”, with an 83″ reach, Struve is the tallest fighter in the UFC. He has also enjoyed some success earning victories over veterans Sean McCorkie and Paul Buentello, but he has not fared well when facing top heavyweight contenders like Roy Nelson and Junior dos Santos.
For a fighter who seemingly should have a considerable height and reach advantage over most of his opponents, Struve fails to utilize his reach and distance appropriately, which allows fighters to get inside of him and land strikes.
In their upcoming bout this weekend, a lot of pressure rides on Barry and Struve to come out with a win. A loss will likely spell the end of one fighter’s tenure, while the winner will still retain some value. With both fighters enduring a journeyman-like status thus far in their young careers, a victory will be very satisfying and significant.
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