The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale: April 13, 2013 Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada UFC Heavyweight Contender Travis Browne (-210) Profile: For the most part, Travis Browne (13-1-1) has run through his opponents like a freight train during his short four-year career. With 13 wins already under his belt, including 11 finishes (nine by knockout and two via submission), Browne has turned some heads in the one-time stagnant UFC heavyweight division. Making his UFC debut at The Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale, the 30-year-old Hawaiian fighter knocked out James McSweeney with an impressive barrage of fists in the first round. Since then, he has followed his heavy hands to the top of the heavyweight division with impressive wins over Stefan Struve (Knockout of the Night), Chad Griggs (Submission of the Night) and Rob Broughton (unanimous decision) along with a controversial draw against Cheick Kongo. However, Browne saw his 14-fight unbeaten streak come to a unfortunate end when he suffered a torn hamstring in the first round against “Bigfoot” Silva, who proceeded to knock him out at UFC on FX 5 in his last bout on October 5, 2012. Silva went on to KO Alistair Overeem a few months later and earn a shot at the heavyweight title, something Browne is still chasing. UFC Heavyweight Contender Gabriel Gonzaga (+160) Profile: Known outside of his UFC title run and elite grappling credentials most for his knockout of the decade over Mirko Cro Cop in 2007, Gabriel Gonzaga (14-6) has been an on-and-off force in the heavyweight division. After losing three out of four fights from 2009 through 2010 in the UFC, Gonzaga called it quits for a while, then reignited his fire to compete and was welcomed back into the organization in 2012. The 33-year-old Brazilian submitted Ednaldo Oliveira at UFC 142 via rear-naked choke in his return and followed that up by submitting Ben Rothwell by guillotine choke a year later. Gonzaga seems like he’s more comfortable than ever in the cage during this second run and may eventually become a title contender if he can string along more impressive wins inside the cage. Opening TUF 17 Finale Odds Analysis: MMA oddsmaker Nick Kalikas made Browne a -210 favorite (bet $210 to win $100) while Gonzaga opened as a +160 underdog (bet $100 to win $160) at Several Bookmakers sportsbook. Browne is coming off an unfortunate injury that led directly to his first career loss against Bigfoot Silva, as he opened as a solid -215 favorite in that fight and saw his dreams of earning a title shot derailed. He remains one of the UFC’s top heavyweights though and will get a great opportunity to prove himself again here against another fighter ranked in the Top 15 in Gonzaga. Browne will have 6-inch height and 4-inch reach advantages and must use them to attack his opponent, who is riding a three-fight winning streak – all via submission – since losing to Junior dos Santos and Brendan Schaub in back-to-back bouts. Gonzaga is one of the better heavyweights on the ground with nine submissions among his 14 wins, but he could have a tough time with the taller Browne, although he submitted another 6-foot-7 foe last year in Oliveira. Browne has nine knockouts among his 13 wins and would be wise to use that same strategy to finish Gonzaga, who has been knocked out five times during his career. With both fighters going the distance a combined four times in 35 bouts between them, a stoppage seems like the most likely scenario.
