UFC on FX 5 is set for Friday, October 5 and will feature a main event that pits rising heavyweight star Travis Browne against former Strikeforce contender Antonio Silva.The bout will be a pivotal one for both fighters, each of whom are attempting to a…
UFC on FX 5 is set for Friday, October 5 and will feature a main event that pits rising heavyweight star Travis Browne against former Strikeforce contender Antonio Silva.
The bout will be a pivotal one for both fighters, each of whom are attempting to assert himself more prominently in the UFC’s heavyweight title picture.
For Silva, a win over Browne would vindicate his role as a major player in the heavyweight division and would supply proof that he can hack it on the big stage.
Browne views his upcoming fight as a stepping stone into the upper echelon of the weight class. With a victory, he sees his next bout coming against a strong title player.
The Hawaiian spoke to Inside MMA about what his UFC on FX 5 bout means to him:
I think after this fight you’re going to put me in the mix with all the contenders, you know? You have Cain Velasquez, (Daniel) Cormier, obviously (Junior) Dos Santos is the champion, you have (Alistair) Overeem, and then you kind of have the guys who are trying to make a name for themselves and trying to get to that No. 1 contender spot. And I think that puts me in the mix to start fighting guys like Cormier and Cain, and guys like Overeem as well.
Browne makes a strong case for himself—with a win at UFC on FX 5 he would move to 5-0-1 with the promotion and would also add a fairly recognizable name to his hit list.
So how’s Browne planning on getting things done? He also shed some light on that during the interview:
I’m quicker on my feet (than Silva). I’m on my toes, and I can move around the cage a little bit. But I also hit just as hard as any other heavyweight in the division, and I think that that’s going to pose some problems for him (Silva) during Friday.
If Browne is able to use that power to end Silva’s night early, he may just get the contender bout he is looking for.
It all goes down from the Target Center in Minneapolis this Friday night at UFC on FX 5.
The UFC’s long-awaited return to the United Kingdom was met with mixed reactions leading up to the event. British fans feel that the UFC stays away for far too long, while the UFC brass points out that it is trying to cultivate new markets and it canno…
The UFC’s long-awaited return to the United Kingdom was met with mixed reactions leading up to the event. British fans feel that the UFC stays away for far too long, while the UFC brass points out that it is trying to cultivate new markets and it cannot be everywhere at once.
However, after the event was over, I think that the fans were pleased with the action on Saturday night. Dan Hardy won his bout to great approval and there were slugfests, submission wins and three great knockouts on the card. So, even though Paul Sass suffered a loss by submission and John Hathaway was ho-hum in his performance, the event was still a roaring success if you ask me.
I understand that the English fans might feel a bit left out after the UFC invested a lot of time and effort there from 2007-2009 to strengthen that market and now they have to begin to watch the UFC visit less and less as it continues its global expansion.
Either way, Britain still seems to get a UFC event year after year which is much more than I can say for my home state of Illinois (It is also important to note that my state is in the country of the UFC’s origin and is still largely ignored). The UFC is “going everywhere” as Dana White likes to say and they cannot be everywhere simultaneously so I think we all need to simmer down and relax a bit. Patience is part of game folks. In the current context of what Zuffa is trying to do with the UFC, this is likely to happen to a lot of markets so they are not being singled out in any way.
The biggest winner from UFC on Fuel 5, both literally and symbolically, had to be Stefan “Skyscraper” Struve. Stefan has looked increasingly good in wins over Pat Barry, Dave Herman and Lavar Johnson. All of these wins came via stoppage.
Struve looked sharp on Saturday, landing good strikes at range and finally seeming to utilize his 84.5″ reach to his advantage on his way to notching his fourth straight win in the UFC. StipeMiocic was a game opponent and gave Stefan a good run for his money in the first round with solid standup and clinch skills, however Struve used a popping jab and some crushing uppercuts to set up a second-round TKO in Nottingham.
With this win in hand who should Stefan Struve face next? He certainly had an interesting idea when, after the fight, Struve called out Brazilian heavyweight and top contender Fabricio Werdum.
I’m not so sure I like that matchup for him right now, instead I have three other options that I think make a lot more sense for his progression while not pushing him too fast, which could be the case with booking the Werdum fight right now.
Option No. 1
Struve could face the winner of the Travis Browne-Antonio Silva bout that takes place this coming Friday in Minnesota at UFC on FX 5. This fight is appealing for three reasons.
The first is that the timing is ideal. Both fighters, if healthy, would be able to get back into the cage soon, which is usually appealing to up-and-comers.
Secondly, I think this would be a step up but not too far. Browne is undefeated but for whatever reason he doesn’t have a lot of hype behind him and neither does Silva, however, they both are solid top-10 guys like Struve.
Lastly, if Browne wins in particular a rematch of a previous fight with Struve could be an easy sell and no doubt would provide some great pre-fight trash talk.
Option No. 2
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira would be another great choice for Struve at this point in his career ascension. Big Nog is not only a legend, but he is fighting Dave Herman, whom Struve beat not that long ago to get to where he is.
When we combine this with the fact that Nogueira is a name opponent and a known commodity, this fight just makes sense. If Rodrigo emerges unscathed from his UFC 153 bout, this is a viable option for Skyscraper.
Option No. 3
Why not Cheick Kongo? Many newer fans may not think this man is a top heavyweight but he is a top-10 UFC heavyweight.
Since 2010 Kongo is 4-1-1, with the loss coming to Mark Hunt and the draw was against Travis Browne, another top heavyweight fighter. In fact, Cheick is a combined 11-5-1 in the UFC, which is much better than a lot of naysayers would think.
It is true that he has lost five times, but the only decisive losses were against Mark Hunt, Frank Mir and Cain Velasquez who are all top tier heavyweights.
Kongo could be a perfect fit for Struve because he is a top-10 heavyweight, a veteran and not too much of a step up at this point. But Kongo will test Struve‘s skills and his Octagon moxy, which Stefan needs to beat the top UFC heavyweights. In my opinion this is actually the best option right now because it moves him forward but he won’t be reaching too far and end up getting Superman punched out of the top ten again. Ouch! That one had to hurt.
UFC on FX 5 hits television screens on Oct. 5, with the second consecutive heavyweight main event.Travis Browne will meet Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva in an attempt to make his claim as one of the UFC’s best heavyweights. Browne has a career record of …
UFC on FX 5 hits television screens on Oct. 5, with the second consecutive heavyweight main event.
Travis Browne will meet Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva in an attempt to make his claim as one of the UFC’s best heavyweights. Browne has a career record of 13-0-1, 4-0-1 inside the Octagon. The 6’7″ heavyweight has a chance to make an statement by stopping Bigfoot.
Bigfoot Silva returns to the Octagon after a tough debut bout against Cain Velasquez. He was taken down early in the fight and brutalized by Velasquez’s ground and pound until the referee pulled him off Bigfoot 3:36 into the fight.
Something has to give when the two behemoths step inside the cage, and this is how the fight breaks down.
These “Quick Breaks” are short breakdowns of upcoming fights. In a summed-up focus of strengths, weaknesses and variables, this will analyze what could happen in the fight and end with this writer’s prediction. Now that the UFC is don…
These “Quick Breaks” are short breakdowns of upcoming fights. In a summed-up focus of strengths, weaknesses and variables, this will analyze what could happen in the fight and end with this writer’s prediction.
Now that the UFC is done with its latest Fuel installment, the promotion will now turn to FOX’s other branch and put on its fifth event on FX.
Headlining this card is a heavyweight showdown that will hopefully put one of these fighters back into the top mix of contenders.
In the blue corner you have Antonio Silva. “Bigfoot” has made a name for himself in Strikeforce defeating the likes of Andrei Arlovski and FedorEmelianenko, but he has come up short recently. His is currently 16-4 and on a two-fight losing streak, the last of which he took a bloody beating at the hands Cain Velasquez. It was a harsh welcome into the UFC and puts him in a dire position with the company.
In the red corner you have Travis Browne. Browne may not be taking out big names like Fedor, but he is undefeated and on a 13-fight winning streak, if you don’t count his draw with Cheick Kongo. Regardless, he still is on at least a three-fight win streak anyway you look at it. He is not as marketed as other heavyweights, but a win over Silva would do wonders for his career and his time in the limelight.
The standup will be the deciding factor, even though both men are versed on the ground. Both men tend to rely on their hands to win their fights, and both are heavy hitters. This is a fight that many MMA fans like to see: two big guys with power in their hands providing a fight where the potential for a KO or a beating is high.
If Browne can use his stature to avoid the ground, he has the advantage on the feet. Silva may have a reach advantage on him, but his weight, cardio and chin will be tested by Browne. Based on the skills of each fighter, Silva does have a much better chance on the ground, but every fight starts standing. Browne may very well hand Silva his third loss in a row, and a possible pink slip from the UFC brass.
Prediction: Travis Browne wins via TKO/KO in the first round.
Heavyweights are some of the most exciting fighters on the UFC roster. Names such as champion Junior dos Santos, Frank Mir, Cain Velasquez and Alistair Overeem are well known by all fans.But here’s a name that if you don’t know right now, you will soon…
Heavyweights are some of the most exciting fighters on the UFC roster. Names such as champion Junior dos Santos, Frank Mir, Cain Velasquez and Alistair Overeem are well known by all fans.
But here’s a name that if you don’t know right now, you will soon. Let me introduce you to Travis “Hapa” Browne.
Browne is a Greg Jackson-trained heavyweight with a perfect 13-0 record. He has four impressive wins inside the Octagon and a draw against Cheick Kongo.
“Hapa” has a wealth of highlights inside the UFC, including a wicked superman punch KO against Stefan Struve and a flying knee followed by an arm-triangle submission against Chad Griggs.
Travis Browne appears to be getting better with each passing fight. Despite being six feet seven inches tall, Browne is quick and moves extremely well. He utilizes his reach well, and his striking is on par and getting better.
He has also begin to show his developing submission game, most recently using it to tap out Chad Griggs at UFC 145.
After his latest win, Browne was awarded a big-name fight that could push him up the heavyweight ladder if he wins. He draws a main event assignment against Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva.
This is an intriguing match up, and if Browne can dispatch “Bigfoot”, he will definitely be vaulted up the heavyweight pecking order.
Browne has all the skills to become a heavyweight contender. If he strings together a few more impressive wins, Browne could garner some serious attention from high-level heavyweights.
Browne is a dark horse heavyweight poised to make some serious noise. Get behind him now because the best is yet to come.
(Mutton chops: Giving white people the confidence to shake their rump since the 1800’s.)
It could just be our queasy stomachs, but we’ve begun to feel more and more trepidation when it comes to announcing a scheduled UFC contest these days, because the likelihood of said contest actually coming to fruition seems borderline impossible.
That being said, it will please all of the lumberjacks who happen to read CagePotato to learn that the man with the coolest facial hair in the biz this side of Casey “fagtastic flameathon of facial distortion” Oxendine, Chad Griggs, will be returning to UFC action on November 17th at UFC 154 in Montreal, Canada to face PRIDE veteran Cyrille Diabate. Griggs, who gained notoriety over the past couple years with his decimations of Bobby Lashley, Valentijn Overeem, and Gian Villante, is coming off a first round submission via arm-triangle loss to Travis “Don’t ask, don’t tell” Browne in his UFC debut at UFC 145. Shortly after the loss, Griggs announced that he would in fact be dropping to 205 lbs to face Phil Davis at UFC on FOX 4, but go figure, suffered an injury and was forced to pull out.
Diabate, on the other hand, is coming off a majority decision victory over late replacement Tom DeBlass at UFC on FUEL 2. “The Snake” has gone win-loss in his five fight UFC career and was originally set to face Fabio Maldonado at UFC 153, but again, an injury blah blah blah things are different now.
Diabate has shown a susceptibility to submissions in the past (as well as an inability to last three rounds), so a matchup with a stand-and-bang aficionado like Griggs should be tailor-made for an exciting, if not winnable opportunity for everyone involved.
Who you got for this one, Potato Nation?
After the jump: A video of Griggs’ slugfest with Villante, because it’s arguably the greatest two and a half minute fight you will ever see.
(Mutton chops: Giving white people the confidence to shake their rump since the 1800′s.)
It could just be our queasy stomachs, but we’ve begun to feel more and more trepidation when it comes to announcing a scheduled UFC contest these days, because the likelihood of said contest actually coming to fruition seems borderline impossible.
That being said, it will please all of the lumberjacks who happen to read CagePotato to learn that the man with the coolest facial hair in the biz this side of Casey “fagtastic flameathon of facial distortion” Oxendine, Chad Griggs, will be returning to UFC action on November 17th at UFC 154 in Montreal, Canada to face PRIDE veteran Cyrille Diabate. Griggs, who gained notoriety over the past couple years with his decimations of Bobby Lashley, Valentijn Overeem, and Gian Villante, is coming off a first round submission via arm-triangle loss to Travis “Don’t ask, don’t tell” Browne in his UFC debut at UFC 145. Shortly after the loss, Griggs announced that he would in fact be dropping to 205 lbs to face Phil Davis at UFC on FOX 4, but go figure, suffered an injury and was forced to pull out.
Diabate, on the other hand, is coming off a majority decision victory over late replacement Tom DeBlass at UFC on FUEL 2. “The Snake” has gone win-loss in his five fight UFC career and was originally set to face Fabio Maldonado at UFC 153, but again, an injury blah blah blah things are different now.
Diabate has shown a susceptibility to submissions in the past (as well as an inability to last three rounds), so a matchup with a stand-and-bang aficionado like Griggs should be tailor-made for an exciting, if not winnable opportunity for everyone involved.
Who you got for this one, Potato Nation?
After the jump: A video of Griggs’ slugfest with Villante, because it’s arguably the greatest two and a half minute fight you will ever see.
UFC on FX 5 is set for Friday, October 5 and will feature a main event that pits rising heavyweight star Travis Browne against former Strikeforce contender Antonio Silva.