When you step in the Octagon, you know that maintain a record is every time more difficult. So if you are undefeated, you are in extremely danger.
Stipe Miocic knew it and he trained very hard to make a perfect record of 10-0.
But Miocic hadn’t considered Struve’s uppercat. And it’s a difficult client.
After a good first round, as he ripped rights and lefts to the head and body of the 24-year-old Dutchman, Miocic slowed down.
Stefan Struve (25-5, 9-3 UFC) looked like a different fighter, as he assumed a far more aggressive approach, with the right uppercut as his chief weapon.
He began unloading several big right-hands, and the end came when Miocic slipped. When he got back to his feet, Struve hit with a huge right uppercut to the jaw and Herb Dean stopped the match.
It was the fourth straight victory for Struve (25-5), all via stoppage, and his sixth in his past seven fights. After the fight he said: “That’s part of the game plan, I saw that he was slowing down in the second round. I caught him with an uppercut. I always want to finish, I’m locked and loaded for the kill.”
“I heard some things about my power in the past, but I think they might change their opinion right now,” Struve said. “I’m working on some things, I’m working on using my reach better. Some moments were pretty good, some weren’t that good. I think I’ve shown I got a hard chin”.
Now the future is shining for the “Skyscraper”: “I’ve got four wins in a row with four finishes, and [UFC President] Dana [White] said I’m about Top 5 in the world now, so I’m pretty proud as a 24-year-old”.
In the other co-main event local idol Dan Hardy won by unanimous decision over “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 7 winner Amir Sadollah (29-28, 29-28 and 30-27).
The match was a one-way. “The Outlaw” Hardy won the match on the mat, with multiple takedowns and a series of vicious elbows from the top that made nasty bloody cuts on Sadollah’s face.
“I’ve always dreamed of fighting here for the UFC,” said Hardy, a Nottingham native who had not fought in his hometown since 2008. “I’ve fought here at smaller shows before, but nothing compares to the big event. I thought I might have the tendency to go out and start trading punches. I like a war as much as you guys, but I’ve got to be smart and sensible and pick my shots. I had a good time tonight. I enjoyed it.”
UFC on Fuel TV 5 results:
Stefan Struve def. Stipe Miocic via TKO (Punches) at 3:50 in Round 2
Dan Hardy def. Amir Sadollah via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Brad Pickett def. Yves Jabouin via Knockout (Punches) at 3:40 in Round 1
Matt Wiman def. Paul Sass via Submission (Armbar) at 3:48 in Round 1
John Hathaway def. John Maguire via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Che Mills def. Duane Ludwig via TKO (Verbal Submission) at 3:28 Round 1
PRELIMINARY CARD
Jimi Manuwa def. Kyle Kingsbury via TKO (Doctor’s Stoppage) at 5:00 end of Round 2
Akira Corassani def. Andy Ogle via Split Decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)
Brad Tavares def. Tom Watson via Split Decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
Gunnar Nelson def. DaMarques Johnson via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 3:34 in Round 1
Robbie Peralta def. Jason Young via TKO (Strikes) at 0:23 in Round 1
UFC on Fuel TV 5 bonus awards:
UFC Fight of the Night: Stefan Struve vs Stipe Miocic
UFC Knockout of the Night: Brad Pickett
UFC Submission of the Night: Matt Wiman
