UFC Signs Dutch Heavyweight Stefan Struve
by Luke Thomas on Dec 18, 2008 12:48 PM EST
in MMA News
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Fighters Only magazine has the scoop:
He will make his debut at UFC 95 in London, although his opponent has not been agreed upon.
“I think I can beat most of the guys there. They have five or six really good heavyweights. The other guys... not so good, I think,” Struve told us.
Struve (22-2) was picked up by the promotion after submitting UFC veteran Mario ‘Sukata’ Neto several weeks ago.
And in July, he stopped another UFC veteran – Colin Robinson – with a triangle after a one-sided first round.
Just 20 years old, Struve has tapped two Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belts in his four-year career and has won more than 75 per cent of his fights by submission.
The groundwork the UFC is laying in Europe is phenemonal. Whether it be talent acquisition, brand identity or media contacts, they are setting themselves up for massive success when the European push behind MMA enters its first real growth stage. Even if there were a substantive competitor at home - and there most certainly isn't in this disorganized mess between Affliction and Zombie EliteXC - the UFC is ensuring that when Europeans begin to show a keen interest in MMA, they will be the first and majority owner of the response. Watch out.
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It comes to exactly:
6’11 as you say (83.0709 inches)
229.72 lbs.
via http://www.worldwidemetric.com/metcal.htm
and as much as I root Dutch 100% — I can’t see that being enough to combat the current “heavyweights”.
WOW
That’s freaking Randy light. He better start eating.
by Derek Suboticki on Dec 18, 2008 6:37 PM EST up reply actions
Seems like a much better acquisition that Grove, but his strength of schedule is lacking.
I think the UFC can be successful in Europe since there really isn’t any unified promotion bringing the region together in the sport. Cage Rage was strictly within England for the most part, and it only featured bar brawling type of fighting.
Glory in Turkey is fairly popular within the country, while France, Germany have a growing number of fans. Add in Croatia, Netherlands, Romania, Eastern Block countries, there could definitely be some money to be made in the market.
Hopefully, as I’ve stressed in the past, the UFC won’t extend themselves too much and lose a shitload of money on their first excursions into the market. The Germany event will definitely be a barometer.
Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com
I live in Turkey, but I have actually missed Glory (my Turkish is bad, though, so I usually don’t watch Turkish TV). I have seen a lot of K1on Turkish TV, though. According to their webpage Glory’s first event on Turkish TV supposedly drew over 17 million viewers in Turkey. That is quite remarkable in a 70 million population.
In my native Sweden it seems like TUF season 7 and 8 is doing to some extent what TUF one did in US. People start to learn about the existance of the sport. Through Juni Browning, but whatever.
There are also since some time UFC events with Swedish commentators, as it happens by Sweden’s second most famous boxer ever (and his brother). Unfortunately he is awful at commenting and doesn’t understand mma. He fits better in those TV-cooking shows, but at least he is a famous face.
I read about the 17 million viewers for Glory, but I was a bit skeptical as the only source reporting those figures was the promotion’s website.
That’s very interesting about the interest in TUF in Sweden though. There are some decent Scandanavian based fighters, so it shouldn’t be surprising that MMA is expanding to that region as far as popularity goes.
Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com
by Leland Roling on Dec 18, 2008 1:52 PM EST up reply actions
Honestly, the 17Million report sounds extremely high. The Turkish FOX is very new here also, so it doesn’t really make sense.
About Sweden, yeah it seems like the interest among young males is increasing quickly now. There is a problem on the ground, though, since the legality of the sport is in question. Until a few years ago it was totally banned (and so was pro boxing). Now some type of mma as well as boxing is legal, but they have to modify the ruleset somewhat. So no UFC there.
But I’m hopeful about the German event. And Denmark is usually very liberal in these kind of issues, so Copenhagen might be an excellent choice for MMA-events. For practical purposes all Nordic countries are like one country, except that more stuff is legal in Denmark, so an event there would easily draw from all neighbouring countries.
http://www.superiorchallenge.com/
That’s the most high profile organization promoting fights in Sweden at the moment. I believe they actually do pretty decent gate numbers, albeit at small venues, like selling out at 5500 or so.
About the rules: no elbows, no kidney kicking with the heel, no foot stomps and no up kicks, either to head or knee.
Given the recent debacle of allowing pro boxing at no more than 4 rnds, where every single card since has been corrupt to the bone (or percieved as such anyhow) is sure to slow down the legislative procedure needed to bring in the UFC.
Copenhagen should work nicely, though. Helsinki as well, for the Stockholm community at least. Would be better actually, me thinks. Finns are crazy bastards. Not to mention the Russians that would come for that.
by ununkvadrium on Dec 18, 2008 4:56 PM EST up reply actions
Ununkvadrium,
You seem to know more than me about this, but I have gotten the impression that the Finns have the biggest experience among the Nordic countries in organizing mma-events. It seems like most of the Swedish fighters have started out fighting in Finland.
(If that is true, though, it is in a way surprising that the two, by far biggest mma-stars from the Nordic countries are from Denmark and Norway, respectively.)
I haven’t been to any of the events in Sweden, (mainly becuase I have lived in Turkey for a long time) but friends who have attended were quite annoyed by the refs, who obviously were told to be end fights very quickly.
Yeah, the Finns have been putting on gigs for a while. Don’t know much about the current scene, though. Worthy of further investigation…
Good old swedish safety-abuse. But I heard the “Zone FC” in Gothenburg got ugly, with a spanish fellow getting torn up pretty bad by top prospect Alexander Gustafsson.
But, honestly, I can’t really see UFC rules sanctioned in Sweden for a while. Unfortunately.
by ununkvadrium on Dec 18, 2008 6:27 PM EST up reply actions
Paolo sure is terrible. Although I actually kind of enjoyed listening to him for Eklunds and Bielkhedens latest fights. Dude makes me laugh. He needs to be replaced soon, though. Musse, kanske?
by ununkvadrium on Dec 18, 2008 4:41 PM EST up reply actions
Fellow Swede, (I would imagine)
Musse is also not an mma-expert, but he is smarter and more humble. That counts for a lot.
Paolo Roberto simply doesn’t understand mma. His deepest comments are on the line of “Oh my god, that was a hard blow!”.
Musse has gone 3 fights so far and trains at Sthlm Pancrase, solid jj background etc. I think he could “take the edge off” for mainstream viewers. The sport would seem more civilized with him commentating, for sure.
Paolo’s like “YEAH – HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE FRENCH TODAY, BIATCH!”
by ununkvadrium on Dec 18, 2008 6:32 PM EST up reply actions
Wow ..
the UFC is making a play for alot of international fighters. It’s clear that they are planting the seeds for global domination.
Uh oh degens have entered…
Smoogy, I’m betting on the Golden Globe’s. Am I addicted?
Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com
by Leland Roling on Dec 18, 2008 1:53 PM EST up reply actions
More like clenched in Gamblor’s sweaty talons
by smoogy on Dec 18, 2008 4:55 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
In most of continental Europe MMA is still almost totally unknown in the mainstream. Unknown as in not ever mentioned. But I think it’s spreading really quickly among internet-savvy younger men. Whenever the UFC push the button things will happen soon. There are already enough fans to fill UFC-events and when that happens a surprised mainstream media will start to talk about this ‘new’ phenomenon.
There is a notable lack of Dutch fighters in the UFC. Which is odd when you consider the depth of talent represented by the country overseas in various other organizations.
Is there a fundamental reason why this hasn’t been happening sooner with other Dutch fighters? Could $$$ be a good reason? I know Hellboy Hansen (Norway) has gone on record saying the UFC couldn’t pay him enough so he refused to consider fighting in the UFC. Is that the prime reason?
I would really think so. For fighters below the highest stratospheres it seems to be almost always possible to find better pay outside UFC, especially in Japan. At the same time they now that it might very well pay in the long run to go with the UFC, if they can afford to think further away than the next paycheck.
Case in point: Swedish David Bielkheden. He has now done two fights in UFC, but had prior to that refused offers from them, simply because Japanese leagues could pay much better. I think he was pressured by fans and people around him to accept UFC, since it would be good for his career.
“If you’re not Dutch, you ain’t much”-some amazingly handsome bald Dutch fighter, lol.
Eliot Marshall: Bader won. Like I said in the episode, I'm not going to make any excuses. It's my job to be able to deal with when somebody's doing that. It's not his job to change up his tactics.
http://eliotmarshall.com/
Man, they’re just going nuts trying to stock the HW division, too.
2009 is going to be an exciting, exciting year for MMA
by Derek Suboticki on Dec 18, 2008 1:09 PM EST reply actions
These really aren’t great acquisitions. It’s showing that the Heavyweights in the world are lacking in depth. Grove is a one trick pony at best, Al-Turk is a standard ground-and-pounder with a small amount of jiu-jitsu, Barry and Wessel are alright, but I’m not keeping my hopes up on those two. It just seems thin to me.
Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com
by Leland Roling on Dec 18, 2008 1:56 PM EST up reply actions
It is thin, but the UFC HW division’s problem is how little depth there is beyond the top-level guys, which makes it hard for them to develop real prospects. Moreover, they can’t allow the cream to rise to the top if they don’t even have fighters in the organization. Before UFC 90, was anybody crowing about Dos Santos’ talent? Sometimes fighters just need the opportunity.
With a constant stream of fighters coming in and out, they can give the real talent the opportunity to shine. Maybe Wessel will just be another Eddie Sanchez. Or maybe he’ll end up being the next Heath Herring. We won’t know til he gets his chance.
by Michaelthebox on Dec 18, 2008 2:11 PM EST up reply actions
Valid point, indeed. I am still somewhat waning on the fact that the UFC gave up someone like Werdum for some of these guys who clearly will be wrecked by whoever the UFC is trying to build up.
Likely, Carwin will be fed a couple of these guys while Velasquez might as well. I understand the UFC’s position here, but I guess I always move back to the old best vs. best attitude that obviously doesn’t apply the UFC’s model. Business drives this sport, so maybe the UFC is posturing to push these guys into matchups to get their heads exploded by talented Heavyweights.
Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com
by Leland Roling on Dec 18, 2008 2:49 PM EST up reply actions
Seriously. Dude could cut to 205, Lesnar or Carwin would snap him like a twig.
Hope he puts on a lot of muscle as he gets older, cause with his natural size and talent he could be something special.
by Michaelthebox on Dec 18, 2008 1:36 PM EST up reply actions
He looks like a 205er. .He is 6’8 but lanky as fuck! He needs to put on some muscle to push the likes of Carwin and Brock around.
by cauliflower_ears on Dec 18, 2008 1:40 PM EST reply actions
Maybe Dana reads FightMatrix
We just made a mention of this guy in one of the recent ranking update recaps.. He’s on quite a roll and broke our Top 50.
Everyone should read FightMatrix.
Bolts from the Blue // "It is what it is." - A.J. Smith
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken
by Richard Wade on Dec 18, 2008 3:50 PM EST up reply actions
WOW, good job UFC! THIS GUY’S A BEAST!! he’s gonna run through everyone in the ufc heavyweight division. JK! haha, this is actually the first time i’ve ever heard and seen of this guy. I could just imagine all the kids over at the shuuuuurrrrrdaaawwwwg forum saying something like that. Anyway, dude is tall as fuck.
Wins by:
triangle chokes (6)
Rear naked chokes (3)
TKOs (3)
Arm Bars (2)
Chokes (2)
KO (1)
DQ (1)
"Stop smiling you are about to be punched in the face !"
I WAS RIGHT!!!!!
Holy crap, I was just wondering about this guy almost exactly a month ago… I feel vindicated…
Stefan Struve?
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