UFC 107: The Upside of a Skyscraper

In an aftermath of discussions dominated by the performances of B.J. Penn and Frank Mir, you don’t have to look far or high to find another fighter whose stock shot up at UFC 107.

Before the bell even sounded on Mir’s 72-second destruction of Cheick Kongo, or Penn’s thorough, prolonged obliteration of Sanchez, heavyweight prospect Stefan Struve notched the biggest win of his brief, albeit clustered, MMA career.

The book on Struve is yet to be written, although at a mere 21-years-old, the Dutchman has done more than most professional fighters could dream of at that stage in their careers.

Would you believe that Saturday night marked the 22nd bout of Struve’s career? That’s just one fewer fight than the careers of Brock Lesnar, Cain Velasquez, and Shane Carwin combined. Obviously an active fighter, Struve’s debut dates back to 2005, thus meaning he was fighting professionally at only 17-years-old.

Accruing such experience at a young age is impressive in its own right, but as we’ve seen through his four fights inside the heralded octagon, Struve has shown signs of improvement with each outing.

With really nowhere to go but up after his debut against Junior dos Santos, Struve showcased a mental toughness against Denis Stojnic, unleashed more of his uncanny submission prowess against Chase Gormley, and despite standing opposite the appropriately-nicknamed “Headhunter,” upended Paul Buentello at his own game.

In out-striking the veteran, Struve showcased a versatility that is welcome for a fighter whose career has been largely built off his ground game. Chipping away with leg kicks late in the fight, Struve mixed together a bevy of combinations at which Buentello had no counter for.

But don’t let Bruce Buffer’s pre-fight introductions fool you into thinking Struve is a Muay Thai specialist by trade. As with 14 wins by way of submission, Struve’s jiu-jitsu acumen is a welcome trump card for a fighter whose standup continues to evolve with each fight. Barring Mir or Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, is there a fighter in the UFC heavyweight division with Struve’s submission skills?

Pending Struve can continue to hone his striking, offensively and defensively, and learn how to make full use of his 6-foot-11-inch build—which doesn’t entail jumping hands down towards an opponent who is seven inches shorter—he’ll be one of the more intriguing pieces of the UFC’s future down the road.

By all accounts, Struve won’t develop at the rate that Carwin or Velasquez have, and for the kid’s sake, more power to him on that front. The status of prospect has become a gray area with several fans these days, in that some think it’s almost customary for fighters to develop at the rate of someone like Lesnar—which is absurd.

Twenty-two fights or not, Struve is still very green in several areas of his game and with somebody that young, patience is key in letting him grow into his potential. Still, it’s hard to deny the upside possessed by the 21-year-old.