Chris Weidman and Anderson Silva have occupied most of the spotlight in the lead-up to UFC 168 in Las Vegas, but theirs is not the only fight that should have fans excited for Saturday night. Travis Browne vs. Josh Barnett pits a seasoned veteran against a rising star and could go a long way toward deciding the future of the heavyweight division.
Browne, nicknamed ‘Hapa’ because of his Hawaiian heritage, is currently the no. 5 heavyweight in the world, according to the UFC’s rankings but he could be in line for a title shot against Cain Velasquez very soon if he keeps winning. Browne has long been considered a top prospect in the 265-pound division, but he recently transitioned from “prospect” to “contender” when he used a perfectly aimed front kick to score a first round knockout of Alistair Overeem at UFC Fight Night 26.
The win over Overeem wasn’t as big as it would have been a few years ago (thanks to The Reem’s suspension for steroid use), but it did move Browne to 6-1-1 in the Octagon (15-1-1 overall) and gave further credence to his powerful knockout ability; his last three victories have all come in the first round.
On Thursday, at the pre-fight press conference, UFC Commissioner Dana White announced that the winner of the Browne-Barnett fight will face second-ranked heavyweight Fabricio Werdum for a shot at champion Cain Velasquez and the title. That means this fight essentially becomes a title-elimination bout. and the 29-year old Browne might be just two fights away from a chance at the belt, less than twenty fights into his career.
“People don’t understand that, complete training, any kind of martial arts, it’s been five years,” said Hapa at the pre-fight press conference. “I was a basketball player before that, and I have a long way to go. Every day I’m learning so much. That’s the scary part; I haven’t even reached my potential yet.
Browne may be on the fast track to a title shot, but facing Josh Barnett could represent a serious pothole in his career. The charismatic “Warmaster” is a 17-year MMA veteran, but he actually has less experience than Browne in the UFC thanks to a long mid-career absence from the organization. The California native defeated legend Randy Couture to win the UFC heavyweight title in 2002, but tested positive for a banned substance following the fight and was stripped of the belt.
Barnett didn’t fight in the Octagon again until he scored a first round knockout of Frank Mir at UFC 164 in August. The California native toiled away in other MMA organizations like Pride, Affliction and Strikeforce in the interim. He’s still not a fan of the sport’s most well-known company and comes off a little bit like a grandfather discussing “the good old days” when he talks about the UFC.
““I think there’s too much athleticism and too little skill now,” the 36-year old Barnett said. “It’s far easier to be a mediocre skill guy with a lot of athleticism or a skilled guy in one area and so-so in the rest.”
Regardless of his stance on the organization, it’s fairly remarkable that Barnett is just two fights away from a shot at reclaiming the belt he lost more than a decade ago. It’s also fitting that one of the new breed of hyper-athletic fighters that Barnett rails against represents the next step in his journey to that reclamation. It’s not really a secret that he isn’t a huge fan of Browne’s.
“I say that Travis relies more on athletic ability,” Barnett said. “He’s improved from his first fight in the UFC, but I think it’s still a case of he knows where his bread is buttered.”
Browne of course disagrees and believes he’s a more complete fighter. He feels he simply hasn’t had to show all the weapons in his arsenal because he’s had so many knockouts recently.
Regardless, Hapa’s striking is still his strength and the fight will likely hinge on whether Barnett, a solid wrestler, can get takedowns. If this fight goes the distance, expect Warmaster to outmaneuver Browne, who will be looking for an opening for a big punch or a front kick, similar to the one he used to beat Overeem. Either way, this fight represents a battle between the new breed and the old guard. The Silva-Weidman fight won’t be the only excitement to be had on Saturday.
Dylan Sinn is a freelance contributor for CraveOnline Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSinn or “like” CraveOnline Sports on Facebook.
