UFC Signs Heavyweight Prospect Mike Russow to Debut At UFN 19
by Leland Roling on Jun 1, 2009 10:34 AM EDT
27 comments
According to MMAJunkie.com, the UFC has signed Chicago native Mike Russow (11-1) to debut at UFC Fight Night 19:
Veteran heavyweight Mike Russow (11-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), a Chicago police officer who's competed for organizations such as Adrenaline MMA and PRIDE, has signed a multi-fight deal with the UFC and will make his promotional debut at UFC Fight Night 19.
The news comes from Matt Erickson of The Times of Northwest Indiana.
Russow's lone loss came at PRIDE 33 to Russian fighter Sergei Kharitonov, but Russow came back impressively with a seven-fight win streak that included an impressive win over Roman Zentsov at Yarrenoka 2007. He's most recently defeated Jason Guida and Braden Brice in Adrenaline MMA action.
Russow should provide an able addition to the UFC's Heavyweight division. He has overpowering top control skills, deceptive power, and solid wrestling ability. The UFC should also like the fact that Russow doesn't go to decision often at all with only one win via decision. Welcome to the UFC, Mike.
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Good signing.
"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR
by Rundownloser on Jun 1, 2009 10:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
They’ll probably give him to Carwin to get eaten before Carwin has a shot at the title. Which would be sad.
I’d prefer to see him against that Mike Wessel dude or possibly Hardonk.
by SamCupitt on Jun 1, 2009 10:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
After Carwin melted Gonzaga, I don’t think there’s any way that they step back down to giving him a UFC rookie. It would do nothing to build his rep and risk one of those flukey losses (hi, Paulo Thiago!) that can derail a challenger. They’ll more than likely match him up with someone else relatively new or someone coming off a loss.
"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."
by AJB on Jun 1, 2009 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
We have 'em ranked #36
Not a bad pickup.
Creator of the FightMatrix rating system.
by JCS_FM on Jun 1, 2009 10:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Russow is solid...
I’ve watched many of his fights, and he’s powerful. I think he’s going to blow through the lower ranks of the UFC HW division. He’ll have a tough time in the middle, but he could very well persevere. He’s a solid pickup for the UFC, good submission ability, hates decisions.
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by Leland Roling on Jun 1, 2009 11:01 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
A fight with Gabriel Gonzaga would tell us a lot.
"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR
by Rundownloser on Jun 1, 2009 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
ufc has a lot of wrestlers right now in the heavyweights. even though russow probably wont be an elite fighter hes good enough to take mccullys spot for sure.
by nigelzackit on Jun 1, 2009 11:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think he can be a mid-echelon type of fighter, potentially toward the upper half with some work.
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by Leland Roling on Jun 1, 2009 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Prospect my ASS. Russow is a beast!!! He’s gonna make waves. This is a great signing!
by GeeDub on Jun 1, 2009 11:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Go CHICAGO!!
Glad to see that he made it to the Big Time!
by JAYGK95 on Jun 1, 2009 11:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
He’s a prospect to the UFC. Everyone they grab is a veteran by the time they make the UFC. Only maybe TUF guys or guys who just exploded onto the scene aren’t.
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by Leland Roling on Jun 1, 2009 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Man, I’m shocked to see people so high on the guy. Maybe it’s just me but I don’t think too highly of Russow and most of his recent streak have been sloppy wins over poor competition. He seems like a nice guy and the cop thing is a nice addition to his being a fighter. But I don’t see him succeeding in the UFC.
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http://CurseOfRonKarkovice.blogspot.com/
by Brent Brookhouse on Jun 1, 2009 11:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I’m not high on him either. I wonder how he can fit this in with being a cop in Chicago and training time
by The Bronzeville Bully on Jun 1, 2009 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
one of his post Sergei wins...
was against Pat Harmon, who I just saw fight at the Michiana Fight League. No disrespect to Harmon but beating him doesn’t carry a lot of weight in my world. The guy is like 5’11" 260 lbs. His most recent win was Braden Bice who is 7-8 and lost to Russow during a 4 fight losing streak. He beat 17-20 Jason Guida. Steve Campbell is listed as 0-1. Actually…unless my math is wrong he has only beaten 3 guys who currently sport winning records in his entire career.
Sorry…but gotta do more than that to get me on board with thinking you can hang in the biggest promotion on earth.
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http://CurseOfRonKarkovice.blogspot.com/
by Brent Brookhouse on Jun 1, 2009 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
His last few performances haven’t been stellar, but the Zentsov victory was pretty definitive. I’d like to see him have those types of performances.
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by Leland Roling on Jun 1, 2009 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He's a good guy...
and I’m glad he’s going to make some scratch. But in my world he has one “impressive” career win and that was Zentsov who is far from unbeatable.
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http://CurseOfRonKarkovice.blogspot.com/
by Brent Brookhouse on Jun 1, 2009 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
True, Zentsov is far from unbeatable. Russow’s performance in that matchup was impressive, but you’re right. The bouts after that matchup haven’t been up to par with that fight.
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by Leland Roling on Jun 1, 2009 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Im big on Russow purely coz he always tries to finish fights and breaks the LnP mould. He is always looking to pass to side control and not so he can drop cheap elbows. He works full time and even as a part time fighter, managed to look pretty good against a prime sergei…..even on his feet russow managed to land a couple against sergei and avoid any real damage. Sure, his competition hasnt been A grade, but we might see him take on some better competition now….thus……the excitement! :) I hope he can get some time of and focus on fighting 100% for a year. I hear people talking about how ridiculously strong he is.
by GeeDub on Jun 1, 2009 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah...
I mean, I’m really happy he’s going to make some good money for a fight or two. And he is a strong dude. Normally what I look for out of “prospects” is a high finishing percentage. But the guys he is finishing are all…REALLY bad. Like let’s look at his most recent fights (since the Sergei loss) and look at how hard these guys are to finish. All records per Fight Finder (which is pretty incomplete on the local level)
Most recent first:
Braden Bice: 7-8 – All 8 losses by submission
Jason Guida: 17-20 – Finished 11 times
Roman Zentsov: 18-13 Finished 11 times
Steve Campbell: 0-1 – Finished by Russow
Pat Harmon: 5-8 – finished 6 times
Demian Decorah: 23-29-1 – finished 17 times
Scott Harper: 9-6 – finished 6 times
I mean, obviously I want him stopping guys that he should. So he’s doing his job. I just…those aren’t names that I read and go “oh yeah, this guy is going to do well in the UFC” because aside from Zentsov he hasn’t faced someone who has any business challenging him since (or before) the Sergei loss.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
http://CurseOfRonKarkovice.blogspot.com/
by Brent Brookhouse on Jun 1, 2009 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I should point out...
that I’ve seen Russow fight in person 3 times and he seems to genuinely be a really good dude.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
http://CurseOfRonKarkovice.blogspot.com/
by Brent Brookhouse on Jun 1, 2009 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
So what, did they determine he was too good for this season of TUF? I’d rather see a Rex Richards signing, if we’re talking sheer potential here, and that dude’s on the show.
by subo on Jun 1, 2009 3:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I would like to see Roy Nelson get signed and fight Mike Russow. But more realistically I would say Pat Barry.
by "Mr. NC-17" on Jun 1, 2009 11:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Russow would destroy Pat Barry. Barry is just a piece of meat the UFC signed to throw to the wolves. Why on earth, in a division full of huge wrestlers, would you sign an undersized kickboxer with NO ground game. Barry’s next fight will be his last if he doesnt move down to LHW where the fights are essentially kick boxing bouts.
by GeeDub on Jun 2, 2009 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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