Stefan Struve believes he’s close to a title shot, wants Werdum next
Coming off of an impressive 2nd round stoppage of previously unbeaten Stipe Miocic at Saturday’s UFC on Fuel TV 5 card, 24-year-old Stefan Struve believes he’s just about ready for a crack at the UFC heavyweight title. The 7-footer figures that he’s another win or two away from the heavyweight holy grail and he’s already looking towards his next opponent.
“”Fabricio Werdum would be an awesome fight for my next fight,” Struve said during the post fight press conference. “I think I can cope with him on the ground, and I think I can rough him up on the feet.”
Struve’s ground game has always been dangerous but it is his standup that has opened eyes recently. Since losing by knockout to Travis Browne last May, Struve has demonstrated exceptional strides in his Muy Thai kickboxing. He’s won four straight since the loss and scored two impressive knockouts, including his 2nd round wreckage of a former Golden Gloves champion in Miocic.
“There’s not a lot of other guys in the heavyweight division on a four-fight win streak right now,” Struve said about his recent stretch of wins that has his record in the UFC currently standing at 9-3 (25-5 overall) . “Four finishes in my last four fights. I believe I won six of my last seven. I’m not even sure. I think I got 29 pro wins now, but I think I’m closing in on that, but still, there’s no rush. I’m 24, imagine what I can do in four years, but I think I’m a couple of wins away.”
A victory over the man who submitted Fedor Emelianenko and possesses remarkable Brazilian jiujitsu would be an impressive feat for the always improving Struve. Werdum is coming off of a 1st round TKO over Mike Russow at UFC 147 and is likely looking for a fight to catapult himself into the heavyweight title picture. Struve-Werdum would be the perfect heavyweight bout but UFC president Dana White wouldn’t commit to that tantalizing showdown just yet, however.
“He’s in there,” White said about Struve. “He’s well inside the top-10.”
