What is the Skyscraper's ceiling?

KingsOwn19 wrote:

Not to mention Morecraft was mugging him for a great portion of their fight and his fight with Buentello was too close for comfort for somebody who is in the mix.

Struve vs. Kongo before we start talking about him being in the mix. I have a feeling Kongo would prove that talks of Struve being in the mix were greatly exaggerated.

This!


Kongo vs Struve is not only a great fight, but it gives Struve a big named opponent. A win vs Kongo would make me think he deserves a shot against Mir or Nog. He needs another fight or two before he gets a wrestler on Lesnar's level.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

5-2 is 5-2 mang. There is such a dramatic drop off at HW after the big six in the UFC that Struve defaults to that category.

At 22, and a relative beanpole, I would not default him into a matchup with Lesnar. Physically, and stylistically that is about as bad a matchup as there is for Struve.

I'd allow him further development vs the McCorkle's of the UFC.

I don't think Struve matches up well with the vast majority of HWs in the UFC. I think very little of him. Maybe in a few years if he gets bigger but eh

bobbitt15 wrote:

I don't think Struve matches up well with the vast majority of HWs in the UFC. I think very little of him. Maybe in a few years if he gets bigger but eh

It's actually a small minority that pose major matchup problems for Struve. As Wolf said, there is a big drop after the top 6.

But I do agree that he should be given a few years b4 he gets in the mix.

I'm talking more outside the very top guys who would obviously be big favorites. In Struve's current state, I still see even guys like Barry and Kongo giving him big problems.

bobbitt15 wrote:

I'm talking more outside the very top guys who would obviously be big favorites. In Struve's current state, I still see even guys like Barry and Kongo giving him big problems.

I agree

bobbitt15 wrote:

I'm talking more outside the very top guys who would obviously be big favorites. In Struve's current state, I still see even guys like Barry and Kongo giving him big problems.

Im not saying Struve easily beats those guys, but they are not mismatches. That's all im saying.

This is a good thread guys. About a lot more than Struve too, about the whole division.

Quick thoughts on how I think the UFC would go forward:

Struve vs Lesnar is on the table. Anyone HW in the UFC vs Lesnar is on the table. The table has a stack of cash on it no matter what. But how high can you get that stack? What can you sell to the people to spread the Frenzy? There are several matches which generating some story type of hype makes them a candidate.

Mir, yeah the trifecta, whatever, I say boooo to that, but Mir has some promoting outlets on his own, or has had them in the past. Nelson, maybe, just the visual comparison alone is something else but there are other smaller angles to latch on to and Nelson is a lil character himself in a way too. Both of them could be tough still. Stephan Struve? Yep, same but less significant angle in the visual comparison department, selling a freakishly tall 22 year old manboy vs the inventor and perfector of the F5 facebuster, and you sell his 5-2 UFC record as being credible against Brock's 5-2 MMA record, aaaand Zuffa brass might see this as being more winnable than other fights, something I think plays a role in this, and Why I was talking about the McKork/Lesnar matchup after Brock lost as a joke but also in seriousness. McKork was an undefeated HW lol, but waaaay more importantly, a guy who could sell the shit out of a fight if given the right outlet. And of course, easy perceived win for Brock.

Wouldn't mind seeing Struve vs Mir, Brock, Big Nog, Schaub, or Kongo, any of the other guys who are not in title contention right now.. It's easy to put him in the UFC HW top ten, where you should no matter what be one great or two good wins away from contention. The matchup possibilities are great. Speaking of..

I don't think there is a UFC big 4 or 6 or whatever. There is no line I see that puts a certain group of fighters removed from concern from all others. The matchups are key for everyone. The best ten or twelve guys in the division have a drop off from first to 12th, but I think the middle of that and the discrepancy is a bit exaggerated.