UFC 135 Preview: The Main Card
Browne vs. Broughton
The
unbeaten Travis Browne (right) is in position to make a move at
heavyweight. | Photo: Zhanna Popova
Heavyweights
Travis Browne (11-0-1, 2-0-1 UFC) vs. Rob Broughton (15-5-1, 1-0 UFC)
The Matchup: This is a “one-sipper” fight -- a match where it takes one sip of coffee and the time to swallow it while watching film of a fighter to make a prediction. Broughton has poor wrestling, and he is not particularly sharp on the feet. In short, he is a limited plugger, so one can see what the excitement is about, at least for Browne’s manager.
For his part, the 6-foot-7, 250-pound Browne may not be Jerome LeBanner on the feet, but he is coming along nicely enough. You cannot teach that kind of size, and “Hapa” drilled Stefan Struve with a massive shot in his last outing that resulted in the kind of epic, larger-than-life knockout that only heavyweights can supply. Browne is also fairly tough, surviving a lengthy clinch-and-smash bout against reliable veteran Cheick Kongo. In the UFC’s heavyweight division, Browne finds himself in a good position as an unbeaten fighter. He can develop and get experience without trying to leap too many rungs up the ladder.
The Pick: This is an easy fight for Brown, as he will unload on Broughton at will, and the only way he gets taken down is if the Brit sneaks a taser into the cage. This should be equal parts brutal and bloody; Brown by first-round knockout.
Continue Reading » Next Fight: Nate Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi
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