Tag: Stephan Struve

UFC Fight Night 115 Results: Winners, Scorecards for Volkov vs. Struve Card

In a battle for heavyweight contendership, it was No. 7 Alexander Volkov who took a big step forward with a third-round TKO win over No. 8 Stefan Struve at UFC Fight Night 115 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
The first round set the tone for an action fight …

In a battle for heavyweight contendership, it was No. 7 Alexander Volkov who took a big step forward with a third-round TKO win over No. 8 Stefan Struve at UFC Fight Night 115 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

The first round set the tone for an action fight between the towering heavyweights. The 7’0″ Struve and the 6’7″ Volkov took to teeing off on one another in the striking game. Struve got the better end of some of the boxing exchanges; however, Volkov came on strong with a takedown and ground-and-pound at the end of the first frame.

Josh Gross of The Guardian summed up the action in the first stanza:

The second round saw the Russian see more success in the stand-up exchanges. Volkov opened up his game with more combinations, and it was enough for him to take the round. UFC Canada showcased some of the striking from the big man:

That round would be a harbinger of things to come. As Volkov continued to increase the pressure, Struve’s output slowed down. After continuous shots to the head, a strong left hook finally floored Struve. When he hit the mat, Drago was there to finish the job and get the TKO win.

After the win, Shaheen Al-Shatti of MMA Fighting summed up where the win puts Volkov. Things are looking up for the 28-year-old:

For Struve, this was a disappointing loss as he saw his two-fight win streak he built in 2016 come to a halt. He said that he would need to take some time before deciding what to do next, via UFC Europe:

It was a fittingly entertaining main event for an entertaining card from Rotterdam. The crowd was treated to plenty of finishes and action fights as contenders attempted to rise up the ranks in their respective weight classes.

Here’s a look at the complete results from the card as well as a look at each of the main card fights.

     

UFC Fight Night 115 Quick Results

Main Card on UFC Fight Pass

  • Alexander Volkov def. Stefan Struve, TKO (Round 3, 3:30)
  • Siyar Bahadurzada def. Rob Wilkinson, TKO (Round 2, 3:10)
  • Marion Reneau def. Talita Bernardo, TKO (Round 3, 4:54)
  • Leon Edwards def. Bryan Barberena, unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Prelims on UFC Fight Pass

  • Darren Till def. Bojan Velickovic, unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Mairbek Taisumov def. Felipe Silva, knockout (Round 1, 1:24)
  • Michel Prazeres def. Mads Burnell, submission (Round 3, 1:26)
  • Rustam Khabilov def. Desmond Green, unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
  • Aleksandar Rakic def. Francimar Barroso, unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Zabit Magomedsharipov def. Mike Santiago, submission (Round 2, 4:22)
  • Abdul Kerim-Edilov def. Bojan Mihajlovic, TKO (Round 2, 2:32)
  • Thibault Gouti def. Andrew Holbrook, TKO (Round 1, 4:28)

     

Siyar Bahadurzada vs. Rob Wilkinson

Siyar Bahadurzada is back. After more than a year-and-a-half away from the cage, the 33-year-old made an emphatic return to the UFC with a second-round stoppage of Rob Wilkinson.

Moving up to middleweight for just his second fight in six years, the striker showed no signs of ring rust. He got the better of the striking exchanges early and often.

That pattern carried through into the second round where Wilkinson had no answer for Bahadurzada’s striking and power. Wilkinson took plenty of damage before the fight was finally called by the referee, a stoppage that was criticized for being too slow.

Dave Doyle of MMA Fighting was one of those who felt the ref could have saved Wilkinson earlier:

The UFC passed along the highlight of the win:

Bahadurzada came back in a big way, and he didn’t squander the opportunity to let those watching know this was just the beginning. The fearsome striker issued a warning for any future opponents after spending time away from the cage for injuries, via MMA Fighting:

     

Marion Reneau vs. Talita Bernardo

In a fight that was marked by several hard-fought scrambles on the ground, Marion Reneau showed the importance of experience in a third-round TKO win over Talita Bernardo in women’s bantamweight action.

Reneau was supposed to fight Germaine de Randamie in this event, but the former champion pulled out of the card and Bernardo was a late-notice replacement.

Bernadro should be applauded for the effort. She held her own in many of the grappling exchanges and arguably won the first round. She has a future in the organization.

Ultimately, No. 11 women’s bantamweight Reneau was just too good as the fight went on. With two definite rounds already in her pocket, she went for the finish in the third. With six seconds left, she forced the referee stoppage.

As Michael Carroll of Fight Metric noted, it was one of the later stoppages in a thee-round fight that there has been:

Unfortunately, this was a lose-lose situation for Reneau. Bernardo was a semi-dangerous opponent, but a win over her doesn’t necessarily boost her stock.

     

Leon Edwards vs. Bryan Barberena

Bryan Barberena is the kind of fighter who can put any up-and-comer to the test. He’s most famous for handing Sage Northcutt a brutal loss with his grinding style.

Try as he might to derail the hype train of British welterweight Leon Edwards, he couldn’t stop the 26-year-old from earning the nod in a close-fought unanimous decision.

Bam Bam put pressure on with volume early on, but Edwards responded well with the more powerful strikes. He added a takedown and back control to score the round for himself.

But Barberena didn’t go down without a fight. His volume finally paid off as he put Edwards on the ground with a left uppercut. UFC Canada provided the highlight:

Edwards proved his mettle in the third round, though. He went back to his wrestling in the third frame. The more athletic Edwards was able to secure a takedown and go for a choke.

Although he didn’t get it, it was enough to convince the judges he won two of the three rounds and be one of the big winners on this card.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC Fight Night 115 Results: Winners, Scorecards for Volkov vs. Struve Card

In a battle for heavyweight contendership, it was No. 7 Alexander Volkov who took a big step forward with a third-round TKO win over No. 8 Stefan Struve at UFC Fight Night 115 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
The first round set the tone for an action fight …

In a battle for heavyweight contendership, it was No. 7 Alexander Volkov who took a big step forward with a third-round TKO win over No. 8 Stefan Struve at UFC Fight Night 115 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

The first round set the tone for an action fight between the towering heavyweights. The 7’0″ Struve and the 6’7″ Volkov took to teeing off on one another in the striking game. Struve got the better end of some of the boxing exchanges; however, Volkov came on strong with a takedown and ground-and-pound at the end of the first frame.

Josh Gross of The Guardian summed up the action in the first stanza:

The second round saw the Russian see more success in the stand-up exchanges. Volkov opened up his game with more combinations, and it was enough for him to take the round. UFC Canada showcased some of the striking from the big man:

That round would be a harbinger of things to come. As Volkov continued to increase the pressure, Struve’s output slowed down. After continuous shots to the head, a strong left hook finally floored Struve. When he hit the mat, Drago was there to finish the job and get the TKO win.

After the win, Shaheen Al-Shatti of MMA Fighting summed up where the win puts Volkov. Things are looking up for the 28-year-old:

For Struve, this was a disappointing loss as he saw his two-fight win streak he built in 2016 come to a halt. He said that he would need to take some time before deciding what to do next, via UFC Europe:

It was a fittingly entertaining main event for an entertaining card from Rotterdam. The crowd was treated to plenty of finishes and action fights as contenders attempted to rise up the ranks in their respective weight classes.

Here’s a look at the complete results from the card as well as a look at each of the main card fights.

     

UFC Fight Night 115 Quick Results

Main Card on UFC Fight Pass

  • Alexander Volkov def. Stefan Struve, TKO (Round 3, 3:30)
  • Siyar Bahadurzada def. Rob Wilkinson, TKO (Round 2, 3:10)
  • Marion Reneau def. Talita Bernardo, TKO (Round 3, 4:54)
  • Leon Edwards def. Bryan Barberena, unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Prelims on UFC Fight Pass

  • Darren Till def. Bojan Velickovic, unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Mairbek Taisumov def. Felipe Silva, knockout (Round 1, 1:24)
  • Michel Prazeres def. Mads Burnell, submission (Round 3, 1:26)
  • Rustam Khabilov def. Desmond Green, unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
  • Aleksandar Rakic def. Francimar Barroso, unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Zabit Magomedsharipov def. Mike Santiago, submission (Round 2, 4:22)
  • Abdul Kerim-Edilov def. Bojan Mihajlovic, TKO (Round 2, 2:32)
  • Thibault Gouti def. Andrew Holbrook, TKO (Round 1, 4:28)

     

Siyar Bahadurzada vs. Rob Wilkinson

Siyar Bahadurzada is back. After more than a year-and-a-half away from the cage, the 33-year-old made an emphatic return to the UFC with a second-round stoppage of Rob Wilkinson.

Moving up to middleweight for just his second fight in six years, the striker showed no signs of ring rust. He got the better of the striking exchanges early and often.

That pattern carried through into the second round where Wilkinson had no answer for Bahadurzada’s striking and power. Wilkinson took plenty of damage before the fight was finally called by the referee, a stoppage that was criticized for being too slow.

Dave Doyle of MMA Fighting was one of those who felt the ref could have saved Wilkinson earlier:

The UFC passed along the highlight of the win:

Bahadurzada came back in a big way, and he didn’t squander the opportunity to let those watching know this was just the beginning. The fearsome striker issued a warning for any future opponents after spending time away from the cage for injuries, via MMA Fighting:

     

Marion Reneau vs. Talita Bernardo

In a fight that was marked by several hard-fought scrambles on the ground, Marion Reneau showed the importance of experience in a third-round TKO win over Talita Bernardo in women’s bantamweight action.

Reneau was supposed to fight Germaine de Randamie in this event, but the former champion pulled out of the card and Bernardo was a late-notice replacement.

Bernadro should be applauded for the effort. She held her own in many of the grappling exchanges and arguably won the first round. She has a future in the organization.

Ultimately, No. 11 women’s bantamweight Reneau was just too good as the fight went on. With two definite rounds already in her pocket, she went for the finish in the third. With six seconds left, she forced the referee stoppage.

As Michael Carroll of Fight Metric noted, it was one of the later stoppages in a thee-round fight that there has been:

Unfortunately, this was a lose-lose situation for Reneau. Bernardo was a semi-dangerous opponent, but a win over her doesn’t necessarily boost her stock.

     

Leon Edwards vs. Bryan Barberena

Bryan Barberena is the kind of fighter who can put any up-and-comer to the test. He’s most famous for handing Sage Northcutt a brutal loss with his grinding style.

Try as he might to derail the hype train of British welterweight Leon Edwards, he couldn’t stop the 26-year-old from earning the nod in a close-fought unanimous decision.

Bam Bam put pressure on with volume early on, but Edwards responded well with the more powerful strikes. He added a takedown and back control to score the round for himself.

But Barberena didn’t go down without a fight. His volume finally paid off as he put Edwards on the ground with a left uppercut. UFC Canada provided the highlight:

Edwards proved his mettle in the third round, though. He went back to his wrestling in the third frame. The more athletic Edwards was able to secure a takedown and go for a choke.

Although he didn’t get it, it was enough to convince the judges he won two of the three rounds and be one of the big winners on this card.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC Fight Night 115 Results: Winners, Scorecards for Volkov vs. Struve Card

In a battle for heavyweight contendership, it was No. 7 Alexander Volkov who took a big step forward with a third-round TKO win over No. 8 Stefan Struve at UFC Fight Night 115 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
The first round set the tone for an action fight …

In a battle for heavyweight contendership, it was No. 7 Alexander Volkov who took a big step forward with a third-round TKO win over No. 8 Stefan Struve at UFC Fight Night 115 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

The first round set the tone for an action fight between the towering heavyweights. The 7’0″ Struve and the 6’7″ Volkov took to teeing off on one another in the striking game. Struve got the better end of some of the boxing exchanges; however, Volkov came on strong with a takedown and ground-and-pound at the end of the first frame.

Josh Gross of The Guardian summed up the action in the first stanza:

The second round saw the Russian see more success in the stand-up exchanges. Volkov opened up his game with more combinations, and it was enough for him to take the round. UFC Canada showcased some of the striking from the big man:

That round would be a harbinger of things to come. As Volkov continued to increase the pressure, Struve’s output slowed down. After continuous shots to the head, a strong left hook finally floored Struve. When he hit the mat, Drago was there to finish the job and get the TKO win.

After the win, Shaheen Al-Shatti of MMA Fighting summed up where the win puts Volkov. Things are looking up for the 28-year-old:

For Struve, this was a disappointing loss as he saw his two-fight win streak he built in 2016 come to a halt. He said that he would need to take some time before deciding what to do next, via UFC Europe:

It was a fittingly entertaining main event for an entertaining card from Rotterdam. The crowd was treated to plenty of finishes and action fights as contenders attempted to rise up the ranks in their respective weight classes.

Here’s a look at the complete results from the card as well as a look at each of the main card fights.

     

UFC Fight Night 115 Quick Results

Main Card on UFC Fight Pass

  • Alexander Volkov def. Stefan Struve, TKO (Round 3, 3:30)
  • Siyar Bahadurzada def. Rob Wilkinson, TKO (Round 2, 3:10)
  • Marion Reneau def. Talita Bernardo, TKO (Round 3, 4:54)
  • Leon Edwards def. Bryan Barberena, unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Prelims on UFC Fight Pass

  • Darren Till def. Bojan Velickovic, unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Mairbek Taisumov def. Felipe Silva, knockout (Round 1, 1:24)
  • Michel Prazeres def. Mads Burnell, submission (Round 3, 1:26)
  • Rustam Khabilov def. Desmond Green, unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
  • Aleksandar Rakic def. Francimar Barroso, unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Zabit Magomedsharipov def. Mike Santiago, submission (Round 2, 4:22)
  • Abdul Kerim-Edilov def. Bojan Mihajlovic, TKO (Round 2, 2:32)
  • Thibault Gouti def. Andrew Holbrook, TKO (Round 1, 4:28)

     

Siyar Bahadurzada vs. Rob Wilkinson

Siyar Bahadurzada is back. After more than a year-and-a-half away from the cage, the 33-year-old made an emphatic return to the UFC with a second-round stoppage of Rob Wilkinson.

Moving up to middleweight for just his second fight in six years, the striker showed no signs of ring rust. He got the better of the striking exchanges early and often.

That pattern carried through into the second round where Wilkinson had no answer for Bahadurzada’s striking and power. Wilkinson took plenty of damage before the fight was finally called by the referee, a stoppage that was criticized for being too slow.

Dave Doyle of MMA Fighting was one of those who felt the ref could have saved Wilkinson earlier:

The UFC passed along the highlight of the win:

Bahadurzada came back in a big way, and he didn’t squander the opportunity to let those watching know this was just the beginning. The fearsome striker issued a warning for any future opponents after spending time away from the cage for injuries, via MMA Fighting:

     

Marion Reneau vs. Talita Bernardo

In a fight that was marked by several hard-fought scrambles on the ground, Marion Reneau showed the importance of experience in a third-round TKO win over Talita Bernardo in women’s bantamweight action.

Reneau was supposed to fight Germaine de Randamie in this event, but the former champion pulled out of the card and Bernardo was a late-notice replacement.

Bernadro should be applauded for the effort. She held her own in many of the grappling exchanges and arguably won the first round. She has a future in the organization.

Ultimately, No. 11 women’s bantamweight Reneau was just too good as the fight went on. With two definite rounds already in her pocket, she went for the finish in the third. With six seconds left, she forced the referee stoppage.

As Michael Carroll of Fight Metric noted, it was one of the later stoppages in a thee-round fight that there has been:

Unfortunately, this was a lose-lose situation for Reneau. Bernardo was a semi-dangerous opponent, but a win over her doesn’t necessarily boost her stock.

     

Leon Edwards vs. Bryan Barberena

Bryan Barberena is the kind of fighter who can put any up-and-comer to the test. He’s most famous for handing Sage Northcutt a brutal loss with his grinding style.

Try as he might to derail the hype train of British welterweight Leon Edwards, he couldn’t stop the 26-year-old from earning the nod in a close-fought unanimous decision.

Bam Bam put pressure on with volume early on, but Edwards responded well with the more powerful strikes. He added a takedown and back control to score the round for himself.

But Barberena didn’t go down without a fight. His volume finally paid off as he put Edwards on the ground with a left uppercut. UFC Canada provided the highlight:

Edwards proved his mettle in the third round, though. He went back to his wrestling in the third frame. The more athletic Edwards was able to secure a takedown and go for a choke.

Although he didn’t get it, it was enough to convince the judges he won two of the three rounds and be one of the big winners on this card.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Fellow Heavyweight Struve Says ‘Cheater’ Brock Lesnar Doesn’t Belong in the UFC

Whether they come out and say it or not, most UFC fighters are delighted about the rumored return of Brock Lesnar. The WWE universal champion (and former UFC heavyweight champ) is big business, and most want a cut of the proceeds.
One of the few agains…

Whether they come out and say it or not, most UFC fighters are delighted about the rumored return of Brock Lesnar. The WWE universal champion (and former UFC heavyweight champ) is big business, and most want a cut of the proceeds.

One of the few against that seems to be Stefan Struve. The veteran heavyweight spoke with Submission Radio on Thursday and tore into the Beast Incarnate, questioning whether he even belonged in the UFC in 2017.

“I think cheaters should not be in the UFC,” he said (h/t MMA Mania for the transcription). “And I think the UFC made a big mistake last time by bringing Lesnar in and giving him a four-month exemption before his fight so that USADA wouldn’t test him for four months, which is a normal thing to do if you bring back a fighter.”

The UFC’s anti-doping arrangement with USADA states that fighters returning from retirement require four months of drug screening before stepping into the Octagon. Eyebrows were raised last year, however, when the UFC gave Lesnar a special exemption that ensured he could compete in a blockbuster fight at UFC 200 just months after using that exact clause to threaten an at-the-time rebellious Conor McGregor.

That frustration turned out to be justified when news broke that Lesnar had failed two drug tests surrounding his homecoming.

While that series of events remains a source of controversy to this day, rumors about a Lesnar return have been swirling over the last month. While it’s not yet clear if that will happen, the idea of a bout between Lesnar, who was UFC heavyweight champ from November 2008 to October 2010, and UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has captured the imaginations of fans and pundits alike. Struve, however, doesn’t see that as much of a contest.

“I think Jones beats him anyway. Simple as that. Jones is too good of an athlete,” he said. “I don’t think Lesnar gets a hold of him to take him down. Jones moves too well.”

If Lesnar does commit to a UFC return, fans will likely have to wait until early 2018 to see it. Anyone wanting to see him in the meantime, however, can watch him in a Fatal 4-Way match with Samoa Joe, Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman at SummerSlam on August 20.

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UFC 190 Results: What We Learned from Stefan Struve vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira entered UFC 190 fighting for a storybook ending to his legendary career. He didn’t get it.
For most of the fight, his opponent, Stefan Struve, utilized his absurdly long reach to peg Nogueira from a safe distance. While the for…

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira entered UFC 190 fighting for a storybook ending to his legendary career. He didn’t get it.

For most of the fight, his opponent, Stefan Struve, utilized his absurdly long reach to peg Nogueira from a safe distance. While the former Pride great occasionally worked things to the cage, he was never really able to convert it into takedowns, strikes or any real sustained offense.

The minutes wore on, and Struve’s landed strikes total kept on rising. So, too, did his score with the judges. In the end, the Skyscraper would walk away with a unanimous 30-27 decision win. So what did we learn?

 

Stefan Struve Has Not Really Improved

With his spindly limbs and colossal height and reach advantage, Struve could easily be a high-level heavyweight. His iffy performance against a plodding, old Nogueira, however, did not wow anyone who has been watching him for any length of time.

If there were ever a time where Struve should’ve looked unstoppable, it was right here. Nogueira was barely a practice dummy in this fight. His complete lack of explosiveness or power made it so Struve barely had to worry about return fire. This should have been the ultimate showcase match. Mookie Alexander of BloodyElbow.com wasn’t too impressed:

But sheesh, there wasn’t a moment in the fight where it really felt like Struve was dominating. That’s not good, ladies and gentlemen, and quite frankly, that sort of performance would have resulted in a loss against almost any other heavyweight.

 

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira Really, Really Needs to Retire

This has been stated many times over, but it’s worth repeating. Nogueira really needs to retire. Really, really needs to.

Nogueira never mounted any form of sustained offense, outside a couple of blink-and-you-missed-it moments when the fight went to the ground. He was slow and lacked even the minimum level of explosiveness that an actual punch or kick needs.

Short of a Bellator post-lim card fight, there isn’t a single heavyweight in a major promotion that this writer can imagine Nogueira beating. Everything from here on is just shaving time off his golden years.

 

Stefan Struve Still Has Some Potential

Struve didn’t look great here, but it wasn’t the kind of performance that made him somebody to cash out on. It may take a while, and there’s no guarantee he’ll actually realize his potential, but the Skyscraper still seems like somebody who can grow into a top fighter.

Struve finally seems to know what he should be doing. While he isn’t necessarily executing it brilliantly, he is moving in a positive direction, and demonstrated every technique a lanky fighter should have in his arsenal (rear uppercut, front kick, jab, etc.). If he finally becomes comfortable standing and can finally start utilizing his length in more ways, it could get the ball rolling on a return to the top 10.

Will he ever be UFC champion at this point? Probably not. Still, there’s definitely a glimmer of hope there for the Dutchman.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Alistair Overeem vs. Stefan Struve: What We Learned from the Heavyweight Tilt

In a heavyweight clash between two elite Dutch kickboxers in need of a victory, Alistair Overeem overpowered Stefan Struve to secure a first-round TKO at UFC on Fox 13 on Saturday night.
Unable to truly capitalize early in the fight due to Struve’s pes…

In a heavyweight clash between two elite Dutch kickboxers in need of a victory, Alistair Overeem overpowered Stefan Struve to secure a first-round TKO at UFC on Fox 13 on Saturday night.

Unable to truly capitalize early in the fight due to Struve‘s pesky length, Overeem opted to abandon his strong striking skills and take the towering 26-year-old down.

As one of the better heavyweights on the mat, Overeem took his time and picked his shots in an effort to avoid Struve‘s crafty submission ability.

After delivering some serious ground-and-pound from the top position, The Reem methodically wrapped up his third UFC victory by way of TKO.

 

What We’ll Remember About This Fight

First and foremost, this fight represented a resurgent and unheralded comeback on behalf of Struve, who was making his first Octagon appearance since March of 2013 due to a fairly serious heart condition.

So for that, hats off to him.

But besides his ability to overcome health issues and rebuild his body to actually compete again, Struve did little to impress on fight night.

Instead, it was Overeem’s precise and powerful ground game that ultimately rang true, as Struve struggled to even land an ounce of offense in this fight.

 

What We Learned About Overeem

For years, Overeem has been pegged and billed as an overzealous offensive dynamo capable of launching devastating body shots in the clinch and outmuscling opponents at almost every turn.

It has made him a popular entity since he ended Brock Lesnar‘s MMA career in his UFC debut back in 2011, but it has also triggered disappointing outings fueled by eager punching and an empty gas tank.

Saturday night, however, offered a new insight into his potential and skill set.

Knowing that Struve was going to command the center of the Octagon with his reach and aggressiveness, Overeem chose to shoot for a takedown and score the finish on the ground.

It was not only a testament to Overeem’s ability to bounce back in a dangerous division but to his maturation as a fighter who can now game-plan beyond his comfort level and fight smart.

 

What We Learned About Struve

With such little offense put together opposite Overeem on Saturday, it’s difficult to suggest that we actually learned anything about Struve.

He did show some good signs of control off his back, but it’s not like we didn’t already know he was dangerous in that position.

At the end of the day, Struve‘s heart and professional determination to get back into the cage are the only positives we can take away from his performance.

There just wasn’t enough action during that first round to tell whether or not a lengthy layoff helped him in any way.

 

What’s Next for Overeem

A loss for Overeem would have been his fourth in the division and absolutely devastating to his promotional stock.

But considering he is now back in the win column and more or less escaped Saturday’s do-or-die bout unscathed, a quick turnaround would not be out of the question.

The UFC will do all it can to push him to the forefront of the heavyweight pack in order to cash in on the remaining few years he has left.

A 2015 showdown with Mark Hunt, Andrei Arlovski or the loser of Junior dos Santos vs. Stipe Miocic would suffice.

 

What’s Next for Struve

Struve is back, and that’s all that really matters.

He’s been one of the best finishers in the weight class throughout his tenure, and the organization should be happy to have that sort of explosive potential on any of its cards.

As long as he can stay healthy heading into 2015, he should be able to regroup and use this loss to reboot his career, which has been chock full of obstacles.

Some top bets to test Struve‘s chin the next time around include Brendan Schaub, Todd Duffee and Ruslan Magomedov.

 

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