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Stefan Struve: Ready for UFC Showdown with Travis Browne

Exclusive Interview by Sean Farrell

“I’ve trained for 3 months already and I’ll be prepared and way better than my last fight don’t miss it!” – Stefan Struve

Stefan Struve is only 23 but he is the tallest fighter in the UFC standing 6’11 earning him the well deserved nickname of “Skyscraper”. Many people first see Struve and are immediately drawn to him by his size alone, but his skill in the Octagon and MMA is how he is and wants to be remembered. Struve’s popularity took off with his well known come from behind victories of Denis Stojnic and Christian Moorecraft in impressive fashion, but it was a long road to the UFC for Stefan and he’s only just begun.

Struve made his professional debut in the GFN organization when he was only 17, fighting against John De Wilde at Gentlemen Fight Night. By late 2008, he had racked up an impressive record of 16–2, losing once via injury in only his second fight and another time in the second round of a Star of Peresvit tournament in Ukraine. From there, DREAM and Affliction tried to sign the “Skyscraper” but the UFC swooped in and signed Struve to a four fight deal with the promotion.

Struve lost his UFC debut at UFC 95, losing to Junior dos Santos in the first round after dos Santos stormed Struve with an aggressive flurry. That loss was needed for Struve to move forward as a fighter, and it helped, Struve won his next fight at UFC 99 against Denis Stojnic in a bloody bout that saw Struve bleeding profusely from a cut that later required stitches. Struve was badly cut with hammer fists from Stojnic while on his back in the first round and despite bleeding excessively; he persevered in the second round taking his opponent’s back and eventually locking in a rear naked choke to win by submission at 2:37 of the second round.

Struve then defeated UFC newcomer and previously undefeated Chase Gormley at UFC 104, where he won the Submission of the Night award. The bout was composed mainly of grappling after Gormley took Struve down, from there the “Skyscraper” tried to work submissions until finally giving up top position to Gormley allowing Struve to secure a triangle choke with his long limbs.

Struve then signed a new four-fight deal with the UFC. His first opponent with his new deal was against returning veteran Paul Buentello at UFC 107. Struve filled in for an injured Todd Duffee and defeated Buentello by majority decision which was scored 29–28, 29–28 and 28–28. It was a back and forth fights, with both Buentello and Struve showing durable chins. After the fight, Struve stated “I don’t feel like a winner right now” and was clearly unhappy and disappointed with his own performance.

Struve then received a step up in competition as he fought Ultimate Fighter Heavyweights winner Roy “Big Country” Nelson on March 31, 2010 at UFC Fight Night 21. Struve came out firing but looked off as Nelson ducked under several of Struve’s punches and scored a solid right hook on the chin for the knockout victory. Nelson was gracious in victory and gave the world some words of wisdom that you’ll only get from a veteran fighter “Give it up for Stefan, guys. Because, man, when he turns 25, he’s going to be a stud,” Nelson said in his post fight interview.

Struve then had to prove himself again after the loss and faced UFC newcomer and undefeated Christian Morecraft at UFC 117. Struve defeated Morecraft via KO at 0:22 of round 2 however, Struve was dominated in round 1 with aggressive ground and pound by Morecraft, but Morecraft came out for round two over aggressive and was countered by Struve and was knocked out. The performance won Struve KO of the Night. Between round 1 and round 2 Struve told his corner: “I’m almost fainting right now guys”, probably due to the heavy ground and pound damage done by Morecraft in round 1, but there was another reason and I got to that in our interview. (It wasn’t the ground and pound by the way)

On September 28, 2010 it was announced that Struve signed a new four fight deal with the UFC and Struve defeated the then undefeated Sean McCorkle via first round TKO on December 11, 2010 at UFC 124. The lead up to this fight was what made me admire Stefan as a person and not as a fighter, McCorkle was running his mouth a million miles an hour about Stefan and Stefan just brushed it aside and refused to let a war of words ensue. Stefan however, was more than happy to let his skills talk for him once inside the cage and after being taken down early, and escaping a kimura attempt, Struve swept his opponent and started to pound away at McCorkle for the victory. Struve has never been one to trash talk anybody, but his fist let out a novel sized outburst to McCorkle and earned him another win in the UFC.

Stefan Struve is only 23 now, and is 5-2 in the UFC heavyweight division. Losses to top UFC contenders like Nelson and dos Santos at such a young age, have done nothing but raised the ceiling for Struve. He is next scheduled to face the 6’7 Travis Browne who is unbeaten in MMA with a record of 10-0-1 and packs a lot of power in his strikes at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 28th, 2011. I caught Stefan at home in Holland and got to ask him some of the questions I am asked the most about the “Skyscraper”. Stefan is extremely humble, well spoken, and probably the nicest guy you’ll ever meet. It is my pleasure to bring you this interview with future UFC Heavyweight Champion Stefan “Skyscraper” Struve.

SF: Let’s talk your upcoming bout with Travis Browne. What are your thoughts on your opponent?

He’s got power in his feet and in his hands and you’ve got to watch out for that, but it’s going to be an exciting fight.

SF: Given Browne looks like he gasses in about 5 minutes will you will be taking him down and making him work early and often? If you don’t want to talk game plan that’s understandable.

No. It’s OK. I don’t expect to take him down, I expect an exciting fight. I am expecting to stay on the feet and not worried about a game plan too much.

SF: Seeing how you’re constantly working to fill out your massive frame, is there a maximum weight you’re trying to reach?

I’m at 263 pounds right now. In the end I want to weigh about 290 pounds and cut down to 265 for weigh ins then on fight night, put my weight on.

SF: Many people make the comparisons to Semmy Schilt, but you’re far better in MMA. Did the holes in Schilt’s MMA game influence you into becoming a more dangerous grappler?

I move around way more and I am way faster and as you said my ground is way better. I see why people make that comparison, but in the end I don’t think I am the same fighter.

SF: In the Morecraft fight, many people said his ground and pound almost put you out, but you were throwing up before the fight and also told your corner you were almost fainting before the second round then you come out and blasted Morecraft for the KO in 22 seconds. Can you explain what happened? Was it fatigue or were you sick?

Before the fight with Nelson and Morecraft, I had food poisoning, and because I was nervous…I was afraid. I was too nervous and about an hour an hour and a half before the fight I started throwing up. With Morecraft, he ground and pounded me and busted my lip pretty bad, but no, I wasn’t hurt just nervous something bad was going to happen like the last time.

SF: Given Browne is 6’7; are you glad there isn’t much of a height advantage? Or it doesn’t matter as long as they are heavyweights?

I don’t care how big they are, Morecraft and McCorkle are 6’7 it doesn’t matter to me these are all really big guys up at heavyweight.

SF: Any final words on the fight?

Make sure you catch the fight its going to be awesome. I’ve trained for 3 months already and I’ll be prepared and way better than my last fight don’t miss it!

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