Choke Him Unconcious: Struve Vs Nelson Set For UFN 21

Cagepotato.com reported that UFC heavyweight winner Roy Nelson will square off against the beanstalk Dutchman Stefan Struve at UFC Fight Night 21.

This fight could prove interesting since both fighters have a similar set of skills in completely different bodies. Struve, not the most skilled but a capable kickboxer with submission abilities and Nelson, another capable kickboxer with submission abilities; Struve has length and Nelson has girth.

Their skills may be similar but their physiques offer unique differences. As far as striking goes Struve’s length offers him reach and the ability to keep people at bay, but with Nelson’s larger physique and shorter stature he may have more power in his punches.  Nelson has more potential in ending a fight with one punch, Struve could make you go lights out with peppering shots while keeping his opponent at bay with his long arms and legs.

In the jiu-jitsu department Struve is going to have a lengthier game offering him what could be perceived as more control from the bottom, and would probably want to favor a triangle choke due to his long legs. Nelson on the other hand would probably want to remain on top in side mount, half guard or the often underutilized north-south position; he is also probably going to want to favor submissions like side chokes, crucifix positions and the ground n pound.

Since each fighter poses a unique set of challenges for the other it is going to be hard to determine who wins this. Either way it will be a tough fight for both sides and possibly mean a Dana White justification to kick Nelson to the curb.

White clearly doesn’t like Nelson and is probably expecting this fight to measure Nelson’s worth and if Nelson loses it could mean early retirement from the UFC. That might simply be crazy speculation but the UFC cut top 10 heavyweight Fabricio Werdum after one loss, three wins and then another loss. Yet they kept Jorge Gurgel for awhile despite him refusing to fight using his strength in jiu-jitsu or making Chuck Liddell an Ultimate Fighter coach for the next season.

Ultimately I feel Nelson is going to win this fight despite him having less experience in the UFC. Nelson has had bigger fights in what are probably smaller promotions. Overall he is more experienced plus he has a submission win over Frank Mir, which in my book edges him above Struve in the submission game.