SCRAPP! FIGHT MAGAZINE
October - 2016
43
but he took the fight the
distance, and was a game
opponent. He even survived
a weird moment with a pos-
sible broken thumb, where
the ref paused the action
(something not in the rule
book) so that the injury
could be checked out.
Still, credit to Browne for
fighting through it.
Even light heavyweight
champion Daniel Cormier
was perplexed by the fan
reaction, suggesting they
“respect the fight” on Twit-
ter while the action was still
unfolding.
Maybe it’s that Cleveland is
“new” to the fight game,
at least as far as live events
are concerned. With no live
commentary, no Mike Gold-
berg and Joe Rogan to walk
them through the action,
maybe they were a little
lost. Maybe they’re of the
just bleed, quick finish vari-
ety. Maybe they just wanted
Werdum vs. Browne out of
the way, so they could get
to the main event and their
hometown hero, Stipe Mio-
cic.
Whatever the reason, pay
the fan reaction to this fight
no mind. On repeat view-
ings, it’s going to hold up
better than most think. It
was a bizarre, entertaining
three rounds of fighting,
and frankly, though there
will be an argument to the
contrary, it should have
vaulted Werdum right back
into title contention.
Why?
How can you not love the
start to that fight. How can
you not love that rather
than changing his style af-
ter being called reckless
in the fight that cost him
his title, he instead opted
for flashy strikes and more
reckless behavior? It might
not have been the smartest
game plan, but right now,
a second fight with Miocic
is welcome option. Cain
Velasquez may get the first
crack, but Werdum hope-
fully won’t be far behind.
And either way, Werdum vs.
Browne 2 felt like a moment
from Gladiator. Are you not
entertained? Because frank-
ly, you should have been.
