Struve: I should walk through heavyweights under the top 5
“Stefan Struve: “I should be able to walk through everybody up until the top 5 and I should be able to be competitive against the top 5 and win fights there, too.”
Last August, UFC heavyweight contender Stephan Struve was diagnosed with a leaking aortic valve and an enlarged heart. The condition was congenital and had little effect on his performance, but at 25, his future in MMA looked doubtful.
“I honestly don’t think he ever will [fight again],” UFC president Dana White at the time. “He’s got a rip in his heart. And you know, it’s one of those freak things that happen to people, and I love the kid. The kid’s got, no pun intended, but he’s got unbelievable heart. He’s tough as nails. He’s the nicest guy in the world, and we’re going to do everything in our power to help him through this thing.”
Struve maintained a positive attitude throughout the ordeal. He followed a recommended medical course of action, taking medication for two months, and then reassessing.
In October he was told he could return to training.
In May his medical team cleared him to return to competition, and it was announced that Struve will fight Matt Mitrione at UFC 175 on July 5th in Las Vegas, NV, nearly a year after the initial diagnosis. The event is headlined by UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman vs. Lyoto Machida.
Struve recently appeared on Fox Sports’ “The Great MMA Debate Podcast and declared his readiness to return to the highest levels of the fight game.
“I can’t wait to get back in there healthy, feeling better and to really show how good I am,” said Struve as transcribed by Adam Guillen Jr. for MMAMania. “As I said before, in my opinion, I should have not lost that last fight. I should be on a five-fight win streak. It is what it is, I can’t change anything about it. The only thing I can do is make sure things go my way in July. We’re doing everything we can to make that happen, and I don’t see anyway how he can take that away from me.”
“I want to pick up where I left off when I beat Miocic. I want to continue my streak. Really, in my opinion, I should be able to walk through everybody up until the top 5 and I should be able to be competitive against the top 5 and win fights there, too. My best years are coming up. I’ve been in the UFC since my early 20’s. Heavyweights don’t peak up until they’re like 30 or in their 30’s. So, my best years are coming up and I can’t wait to show people that I’m really good in those best years.”