Tag: Travis Browne

UFC 187 Aftermath: The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same


(Jeez, Cormier can barely hold his belt before every dude-bro in the club tries to get a piece of him. Photo via Getty.)

It’s damn near impossible to look back at the flat-out fantastic card that was UFC 187 without first examining the bizarre series of events that shaped it. A seemingly invincible champion inside the cage was undone by his own actions outside of it. A seemingly broken former title challenger was suddenly thrust back into the title picture. An injury-plagued champion shrouded in doubt was finally set to face a morally (and chemically) dubious challenger in a fight some two years in the making. UFC 187 was a card surrounded by so many questions and disappointments (NURMY!!!) going in that its results could have easily left fans as unsatisfied as they would have been had the it been cancelled outright.

Thankfully, UFC 187 quickly and distinctly answered all our questions in a night of brilliant violence.

The post UFC 187 Aftermath: The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same appeared first on Cagepotato.


(Jeez, Cormier can barely hold his belt before every dude-bro in the club tries to get a piece of him. Photo via Getty.)

It’s damn near impossible to look back at the flat-out fantastic card that was UFC 187 without first examining the bizarre series of events that shaped it. A seemingly invincible champion inside the cage was undone by his own actions outside of it. A seemingly broken former title challenger was suddenly thrust back into the title picture. An injury-plagued champion shrouded in doubt was finally set to face a morally (and chemically) dubious challenger in a fight some two years in the making. UFC 187 was a card surrounded by so many questions and disappointments (NURMY!!!) going in that its results could have easily left fans as unsatisfied as they would have been had the it been cancelled outright.

Thankfully, UFC 187 quickly and distinctly answered all our questions in a night of brilliant violence.

“Get your shit together, I’m waiting for you.”

It wasn’t easy to see why Daniel Cormier was being considered such a huge favorite over Anthony Johnson until the cage doors closed. Johnson was the bigger man (an insane fact considering the weight classes both men previously fought in), the more powerful puncher, and had shown a ridiculously improved grappling game in his recent wins over Phil Davis and Alexander Gustafsson. After he sent Cormier halfway across the canvas with a right hand early on, it appeared as if we were in store for another classic “Rumble” destruction, and a bad night at the office for the bookies.

But even more surprising than punch Johnson landed early was how Cormier recovered from it — instantly and no worse for the wear. From that point on, the fight was what many of us predicted from the Olympian: a grinding, relentless, wrestling-based attack that had broken many an opponent in the past. Like Vitor Belfort had managed on Johnson in his first UFC run, Cormier smothered “Rumble”, bounced his head off the canvas a few times, and finished him when he had all but given up.

While questions regarding Cormier’s “legitimacy” as champion will always remain in Jon Jones‘ absence, DC’s message to the former king was succinct and necessary as it could’ve been: We will fight again, just as soon as the courts allow.

In the meantime, it appears the newly-crowned champion will be content to put beating on Ryan Bader, who did all he needed to do to set up their grudge match during the evening’s post-fight presser. Cormier’s reaction to being called out by Bader, however, wasn’t exactly reflective of the “champion’s attitude” he had been preaching in the weeks leading up to UFC 187. How one of FOX’s go-to analysts can come across so polished inside the studio yet so unhinged outside of it seems to suggest that, like Jones, there may be more to Daniel Cormier than we thought there was.

“Hey, hey. Stop doubting me. It’s enough. Stop doubting me. You better join the team now. This is my last invitation. Join the team. I love you.”

At this point, I don’t even know what to say to the inexplicably-vehement, likely Brazilian h8rs of Chris Weidman. If his hilariously self-deprecating stories, his day-to-day heroism, or his recent interview with Ariel Helwani hasn’t already endeared you to the guy, then nothing will (also, you’re probably a dick). Chris Weidman is the honest, down-to-earth, anti-steroid-crusading champion that this sport needs right now, and better yet, he’s incredibly skilled to boot.

Matched up against a significantly less bulky but still scary Vitor Belfort, Weidman once again walked the walk in a savage one round thrashing of the legend and former light heavyweight champion. As most of us expected, Belfort came out like a man on fire early, unleashing a vicious barrage on Weidman against the cage that opened him up above his left eye. When the champ emerged from the blitzkrieg without even the slightest look of concern on his face, however, you could practically see the life drain from Vitor’s eyes. The fight was already over. Weidman secured a beautifully-timed takedown, quickly passed to mount, and unleashed the finishing shots from above that seemed to say “F*ck your 1200 ng/dL, I run this town.”

Weidman’s mental resolve is truly a thing to behold, and will hopefully see him to many a title defense down the line. If he can stay healthy, that is.

“Don’t ever f*cking say you’re sorry. You better go get that [belt] now. It’s your job.”

Those were the congratulatory words that Travis Browne offered Andrei Arlovski, his longtime friend, after being TKO’d by the Belarusian in what should easily be considered the frontrunner for “Fight of the Year” so far. In a fight that saw both men nearly finished, Arlovski continued his improbable run toward the heavyweight title with a brilliant upset of the #3 ranked heavyweight. I really have no words to describe how awesome this fight was, so let’s all just watch it a half dozen times in a row instead.

As is the case with Chris Weidman, I think it’s time we all stop doubting Arlovski and join the team.

So what are we left with now? Well for starters, an era in which names like Arlovski, Cerrone, and Bader (not to mention, Edgar and Lawler) have become part of their respective title pictures. Despite our apparent need for the UFC to create new stars, it seems we are equally content to rally around the ones who’ve been apart of the game for as long as many of us have been fans. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

The full results for UFC 187 are below.

Main Card (on Pay-Per-View)
Daniel Cormier def. Anthony Johnson by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:39, R3
Chris Weidman def. Vitor Belfort via TKO (strikes) at 2:53, R1
Donald Cerrone def. John Makdessi via TKO (head kick) at 4:44, R2
Andrei Arlovski def. Travis Browne via TKO (strikes) at 4:41, R1
Joseph Benavidez def. John Moraga via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27), R3

Preliminary Card (on FOX Sports 1)
John Dodson def. Zack Makovsky via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28), R3
Dong Hyun Kim def. Josh Burkman via submission (arm-triangle choke) at 2:13, R3
Rafael Natal def. Uriah Hall via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28), R3
Rose Namajunas (2-2) vs. Nina Ansaroff (6-4) — CANCELLED
Colby Covington def. Mike Pyle by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27), R3

Preliminary Card (on UFC Fight Pass)
Islam Makhachev def. Leo Kuntz via submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:38, R2
Justin Scoggins def. Josh Sampo via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27), R3

The post UFC 187 Aftermath: The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same appeared first on Cagepotato.

UFC 187 Results: 3 Fights for Travis Browne to Take Next

UFC 187 marked the historic return of Andrei Arlovski to promotional prominence.
His unheralded power succeeded yet again in a heavyweight showdown that has propelled him to the forefront of another title shot.
Unfortunately, Travis Browne was cau…

UFC 187 marked the historic return of Andrei Arlovski to promotional prominence.

His unheralded power succeeded yet again in a heavyweight showdown that has propelled him to the forefront of another title shot.

Unfortunately, Travis Browne was caught in his cross hairs.

In one of the most entertaining first rounds quite possibly ever, The Pit Bull worked Hapa over en route to capturing a memorable TKO and Fight of the Night honors.

Browne may have wobbled and weaved like a drunken sailor returning from sea, but his resilience and overall ability to eat a punch are two factors that will allow him to rebound fairly quickly.

Here are three fights for the towering Hawaiian to take next as he attempts to patch a once iron-clad resume and reestablish his worth atop the heavyweight crop.

 

Winner of Ben Rothwell vs. Matt Mitrione

This is probably the most likely scenario for Browne moving forward.

The fighter who wins between Ben Rothwell and Matt Mitrione on June 6 will come off with at least three-straight victories, but Browne carries enough divisional weight to challenge a streaking up-and-coming contender.

Rothwell‘s plodding striking and willingness to exchange in close quarters would probably bode well for Hapa, especially considering a fight with the powerful Mitrione could lead to yet another knockout defeat.

Either way, this will give Browne the chance to ward off the next wave of rising title threats in order to reshape his recent misfortune and prove he still has the potential we once thought he did.

 

Mirko ‘Cro Cop’ Filipovic

It’s crazy to consider Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic a contender in the heavyweight division in this day and age, but the guy is starting to resemble a 2015 version of the aforementioned Arlovski.

In any case, the UFC should want to throw the veteran to the wolves, per se, in order to gauge his potential.

An April victory over Gabriel “Napao” Gonzaga at UFC Fight Night 64 is all well and good, but Napao is one of the most unpredictable heavyweights of all time.

That’s where Browne comes in.

It would give him the opportunity to show why he’s still a top-10 threat and give the promotion the chance to see if Cro Cop can rise beyond expectation.

 

Mark Hunt

This fight makes less sense than the others, but man, does it carry some excitement.

As two of the most popular heavyweights in the game today, Browne and Mark Hunt would certainly provide fireworks if they squared off.

It would be interesting to see if the Super Samoan has the ability to get inside on a physical freak like Browne as well as the potential of knocking Hapa out.

In a perfect world, this fight would already be scheduled, but with injuries to Hunt stemming from his defeat at the hands of Stipe Miocic at UFC Fight Night 65 in early May, this matchup will have to take a backseat for the moment.

 

 

For more UFC 187 news and coverage,

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Arlovski vs. Browne: Video Highlights from UFC 187 Heavyweight Slugfest

Andrei Arlovski and Travis Browne had the round of the year on Saturday night and quite possibly the Fight of the Year thus far in 2015. You have to watch these highlights courtesy of Fox Sports.
Entering the fight, Browne was potentially fighting for …

Andrei Arlovski and Travis Browne had the round of the year on Saturday night and quite possibly the Fight of the Year thus far in 2015. You have to watch these highlights courtesy of Fox Sports.

Entering the fight, Browne was potentially fighting for a title shot. He was the No. 3-ranked contender and the heavyweight with the best win streak of the potential contenders. A win at UFC 187 looked like it could propel him toward a title shot.

On the opposite side of the cage, No. 8-ranked Arlovski was seeking to continue his story of redemption. Once left for dead in this division and thought of as merely a washed-up hack, he is now enjoying a career resurgence.

Arlovski got on the offensive early. He connected with heavy punches and hurt Browne. The Pit Bull did not get wild with his strikes while seeking a finish; he was not going to overexpose himself. Even still, the tempo started to ramp up. Arlovski continued his onslaught.

Then out of nowhere Browne connected. Arlovski buckled.

It looked as if Browne would escape with a come-from-behind victory. Instead, Arlovski survived long enough to get back to his feet and continue firing back at Browne. The Belarusian repeatedly connected, and the punches forced the referee to step in between the heavyweights to signal the end of the fight.

The exciting TKO victory now moves Arlovski into position for a potential title fight. He is enjoying a five-fight win streak that includes three wins in the Octagon. A title fight against the winner of UFC 188’s unification bout would not be unjust.

Making the performance even more spectacular is the fact that the UFC did not even think Arlovski could fight two hours before the event, according to Shaun Al-Shatti of MMA Fighting. Arlovski suffered a calf injury the night before the fight. Dana White told Arlovski he didn’t have to take the fight, and doctors said it was his choice whether to compete.

Arlovski made that walk to the cage to put on a show.

He and Browne deservedly earned $50,000 bonus checks for their Fight of the Night.

This was the fight everyone needed. The start to UFC 187 was lackluster. The main card delivered in a big way, and Arlovski and Browne were a major reason for that. We won’t soon forget their frantic first round, which has lasting impact on the heavyweight division.

The fight will go down as one of the year’s best. Enjoy the highlights of the crazy heavyweight action.

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Andrei Arlovski vs. Travis Browne: What We Learned from UFC 187 Tilt

Andrei Arlovski defeated Travis Browne in a wild heavyweight contest at UFC 187.
These two went to war in a slugfest—one that Arlovski got the better of.

Arlovski and Browne earned bonus checks with that performance. They threw down and got the …

Andrei Arlovski defeated Travis Browne in a wild heavyweight contest at UFC 187.

These two went to war in a slugfest—one that Arlovski got the better of.

Arlovski and Browne earned bonus checks with that performance. They threw down and got the crowd on their feet. After Arlovski stunned Browne early in the first round, it was all uphill from there. Arlovski went after the finish, but Browne’s chin held up.

Shot after shot, and suddenly Browne tagged Arlovski. Then he rebounded to knock out Browne in Round 1. It is exhausting just typing the action that these top-10 heavyweights brought. This is what we learned from this extraordinary bout.

 

What We’ll Remember About This Fight

That round. Wow! Chaos. Beautiful chaos.

Arlovski stuns and staggers Browne multiple times, only to be dropped by Browne. Arlovski gets back up and puts it to Browne again! It was crazy. The referee stepped in to save Browne, but these two most certainly earned Fight of the Night.

It was remarkable.

 

What We Learned About Travis Browne

He is not a legitimate title threat.

Browne is big. He should have been able to stick Arlovski on the outside. Instead, his style allowed The Pit Bull to easily come over the top to catch him. Browne has the raw ability to be a threat, but he has not put it together.

The elite of this division are a mountain in front of Browne—a mountain he cannot climb at this time. There are still plenty of entertaining fights for Browne and plenty of time for him to start to put the pieces of the puzzle in place.

 

What We Learned About Andrei Arlovski

He still has it.

The former UFC heavyweight champion was counted out not too long ago. He was left for dead as just another relic on the downside of his career. Suddenly, look who is back in contention for a title shot. 

He has even started to settle concerns about his chin. He has eaten some heavy shots and not gone out. In this one, he absorbed a tough shot and quickly got back up to finish the fight. He is a contender. The UFC has another old-timer doing work.

 

What’s Next for Browne

It has to be another top-10 fight, and the only man who makes sense is Mark Hunt. The UFC would be best-served by finding a slow, unranked heavyweight for Browne, but that’s not the position he is in.

Hunt is coming off a loss, and a fight with Browne would be a great affair. It could be a good co-main event for the future UFC Japan card later this year. Hunt has a big following in Japan, and it is a good way to get him on the card.

 

What’s Next for Arlovski

Arlovski got his third straight win in the UFC and his fifth overall. That is enough to earn a title shot.

Sure, Stipe Miocic beat down Mark Hunt and is ranked higher, but Arlovski is on a better streak. And after his UFC 187 performance, who doesn’t want another redemption story with Arlovski getting a title shot?

Miocic is not even on a winning streak. A singular win over Hunt shouldn’t be enough to earn a title shot. What Arlovski has done—he last lost to Anthony Johnson in March 2013—is phenomenal. He earned a title shot if he is healthy enough.

Give him the winner of the UFC 188 title unification bout between Cain Velasquez and Fabricio Werdum.

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UFC 187’s Travis Browne on Andrei Arlovski’s Chin, New Coaches, HW Title Shot

Fighting a friend and former training partner is never ideal, but in a sport like MMA, sometimes you have to strap the gloves tight, shake on it and throw hands at your brother’s face. 
Such is the case for the UFC 187 tilt between Travis “Hapa” B…

Fighting a friend and former training partner is never ideal, but in a sport like MMA, sometimes you have to strap the gloves tight, shake on it and throw hands at your brother’s face. 

Such is the case for the UFC 187 tilt between Travis “Hapa” Browne and Andrei “The Pit Bull” Arlovski. 

The two top-10 heavyweights trained together for roughly two years at the esteemed Jackson-Winkeljohn fight camp in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where they learned from each other and pushed each other on a daily basis. 

Browne has since moved on to California’s Glendale Fighting Club, but the towering 6’7″ Hawaiian told Bleacher Report the days spent trading blows with Arlovski are not forgotten. These sparring sessions gave him vital insight into Arlovski and his MMA game, lending him knowledge and insight he feels others may not recognize.  

“One thing I’ve really noticed about him is his ability to take shots,” Browne said. “Being a buddy of his for the longest time, for two years or so, that was one thing that really stood out to me. In the past, people would say he has a problem with his chin and stuff like that, but I don’t agree. The guy has fought some of the biggest guys out there, and I feel like he’s right back in there in the mix. He can take shots with the best of them.

“The thing with Andrei, too, is that he’s an athlete. He’s always changing his game; he’s always making adjustments. He’s very good at different techniques, and he can game plan.” 

That said, Browne knows better than to hang all of his expectations on the past. He knows how much he’s evolved since his time at Jackson-Winkeljohn’s, and he understands Arlovski has experienced similar growth and change. 

“He changes every time he fights, and I change every time I fight,” Browne said. “I feel like I might have an idea of what goes on at Jackson-Winkeljohn’s, but at the same time, that’s why Coach Jackson and Coach Winkeljohn are considered some of the best. They’re able to game plan and bring the best out of their athletes.”

One thing Browne is sure about, however, is there’s not going to be a letdown for the fans when the two step into the cage. They’re cordial and respectful of each other’s skill, sure, but they’re not going to let feelings get in the way of a good old-fashioned throwdown. 

“Him and I fighting each other are like two brothers fighting,” Browne said. “I have no hesitation in going out there and fighting him, and he doesn’t have any hesitation in going out there and fighting me, so it’s not going to be a game of patty-cake. We’re going out there to fight and provide for our fans.” 

Training under coaches Edmond Tarverdyan, Neil Melanson and Ricky Lundell at Glendale Fighting Club, Browne hopes to show off his improvements in full Saturday evening in Las Vegas. His first fight under their tutelage—a first-round stoppage of Brendan Schaub at UFC 181 in December 2014—was impressive, and it helped to prove to fans and critics why he made the jump to California.

While many questioned his decision to leave the high-profile Albuquerque-based camp, Browne said he feels more comfortable and better prepared than ever heading into his fight opposite The Pit Bull. 

“I feel like every time I train, I’m moving so far forward. I’m constantly evolving,” Browne said. “For me, what’s really worked out with Coach Edmond, and having Neal and Ricky here, is that I don’t get lost in any kind of a shuffle. My camp is made specifically for me and what I need.

“The one thing I’ve learned about this sport is that it’s OK to be selfish at times. That’s [training for a fight is] one of the times that every fighter should be selfish.” 

Should he defeat Arlovski at UFC 187, Browne might need to get a little selfish in his bid for the UFC heavyweight title. 

Hapa is currently ranked No. 3 in the UFC’s heavyweight division, and a win over the No. 8 Arlovski puts him on a two-fight winning streak, giving him a strong case to face the winner of UFC 188’s main event in June between champion Cain Velasquez and interim champion Fabricio Werdum. 

To Browne, though, there’s no rush for gold. The title will be there. As long as he keeps winning, the UFC won’t have a choice but to give him his shot, and he intends to make the most of it when it comes. 

“The title shot, the way I look at it is I just have to go out there and do my job,” Browne said. “If I keep winning fights, there’s no way they can’t give me that title shot. So that’s definitely something that’s on my mind but not necessarily right now at the forefront. I have to go out there and win the fight first then get ready.”

If the path to the title means taking another fight or two in the meantime, that’d be just fine, too. Browne is relaxed and patient, and he knows he’ll be ready to pounce when the light turns green. 

“Yeah, [I’d be OK with taking another fight before the title shot]. I mean, it’s what the UFC wants. At the end of the day, it’s their world,” Browne said. “We fight in the UFC. It’s not my company, so if they say, ‘Hey, we want you to fight [No. 4-ranked heavyweight] Stipe [Miocic],’ then I feel like I have the heart of a champion, and we have to be ready to fight anybody. When you’re the champ, you take on all newcomers, so it is what it is.”

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Andrei Arlovski Looking to Continue Resurgence at UFC 187

There are few fighters in the heavyweight ranks who have a more “been there, done that” mentality than Andrei Arlovski.
The Belarusian striker is a two-time former heavyweight champion under the UFC banner and has maintained his status as one of the el…

There are few fighters in the heavyweight ranks who have a more “been there, done that” mentality than Andrei Arlovski.

The Belarusian striker is a two-time former heavyweight champion under the UFC banner and has maintained his status as one of the elite-level heavyweight fighters across the globe for more than a decade. Yet, Arlovksi in his latest form appears to be aiming to get his hands back on championship gold, and that’s exactly what he’s looking to accomplish on the road ahead.

The Pit Bull has won back-to-back showings since returning to the UFC in 2014, and has run his current winning streak to four straight victories going back to March of 2013. This consistency is concrete proof that the former fleet-footed knockout artist has rediscovered his groove and is firing on all cylinders inside the Octagon.

“I have really been moving well in my recent fights and that’s what I’m going to try to do in my next fight as well,” Arlovski told Bleacher Report. “I am at my best when I use my footwork with my striking and I believe going back to having more movement inside the cage has been a big part of my recent success. We worked it a lot for this camp and I’m ready to go.

His surging confidence will be put to the test on Saturday night when he faces former training partner and fellow potential title hopeful Travis Browne at UFC 187. Where Arlovski is chasing his own redemption under the UFC banner, Hapa is after a similar goal as well. The rangy Hawaiian striker has twice been poised to break through into title contention, but has been turned back sharply in both of those outings.

The heavyweight tilt between Arlovski and Browne will see one man’s dreams dashed for the foreseeable future, while it will keep the other man’s fire raging hot. Arlovski is confident he will be the one who goes on while his opponent is sent to the back of the line in the heavyweight ranks. While that particular scenario could be rough waters on the relationship of the former training partners, Arlovski is quick to cite championship ambitions and the fight business in general leaves little room for friendships.

“I am feeling great,” Arlovski said. “My training has gone very well and I had an incredible camp to prepare me for this fight. I’m ready to face Travis Browne on Saturday and I’m excited for the fight. 

“This wasn’t my first pick on who I wanted to fight, but at the end of the day it’s business and nothing personal. It is my goal to be champion again one day and I would most likely have to face Travis anyway. We will see what will happen on May 23 and after, but this is just business for me. He accepted the fight as well and I agreed after him. Now we are going to fight and we’ll see what happens.

“I am very happy to be back fighting in the UFC,” he added. “It is the best organization in the world and it is where all the best fighters in the world are. This is where I belong and it is the reason the UFC brought me back. I’m very appreciative to be back and I’m going to/ make the most of my second chance. I’m in my prime so I think my best is still yet to come.” 

 

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

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