Browne: Barnett will have to finish me
A heavyweight bout between Josh Barnett and Travis Browne is flying under the radar in a top heavy UFC 168…
A heavyweight bout between Josh Barnett and Travis Browne is flying under the radar in a top heavy UFC 168 PPV card, but the bout is one not to be missed. Barnett made a successful UFC debut and Browne has been floating around the top five, but is poised to make a title run. If Barnett hopes to beat Browne, then he’ll have to finish the tough Hawaiian:
I try to do different stuff for every camp, Browne said. Always add something you can use. Train smarter, harder.
He will have to first get through Barnett, a grizzled 16-year MMA veteran who has fought wars in nearly every fight league that’s existed — Pride, Pancrase, Affliction, Dream, Sengoku, Strikeforce — and held the UFC heavyweight title in 2002 after defeating Randy Couture.
Barnett is an oppressive grappler, with 20 wins by a multitude of submissions. He also is a devastating striker, as evidenced by his most recent demolition of Frank Mir at UFC 164. In many ways, Barnett contrasts with Browne like day and night. If Browne is a lover and a fighter, the fighter part will have his work cut out for him.
At 6-foot-7, Browne’s length and 79-inch reach gives him some safe distance to gauge Barnett’s striking. However, in the clinch there are few better than Barnett. That’s fine with Browne.
I want to be the best and fight the best. I have momentum now, Browne said. To stop me, my opponent is going to have to finish me to win.
