UFC 124 Results and Reaction: Stefan Struve vs. Sean McCorkle

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UFC 124 Results and Reaction: Stefan Struve vs. Sean McCorkle
Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

Not bad for someone that McCorkle described as a "12-year old kid." 

Doubts surrounded Stefan Struve entering his fight tonight with Internet sensation Sean "Big Sexy" McCorkle, but he quickly put those to rest as he forced the TKO stoppage in a mere three minutes and 55 seconds.  The fight wasn't overly dominant, but Struve showed a lot of good signs as he continues to grow and mature.

It all started with a monster slam by McCorkle, something expected by the bigger and stronger fighter.  After some scrambling, "Big Sexy" was able to lock in a pretty deep kimura from half guard, but Struve showed excellent poise and defended beautifully. 

He pushed himself up against the cage so his arm couldn't be yanked any farther and was eventually able to escape the submission.

McCorkle landed back in top control and held the Dutchman there for a good portion of the round.  Struve almost escaped to his feet multiple times and threatened with submissions off of his back constantly. 

Finally Struve was able to pull of a nasty transition from full guard on his back into mount and rained down blows before the referee stopped the fight.  Very impressive showing by the 22-year-old.

So what did we learn?

Not much, really.  People bought into the McCorkle hype because he was famous on The Underground online MMA forum and talked a whole heaping of trash.  The truth of the matter is that McCorkle is just not that good. 

Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

He was a super-heavyweight earlier this year before being invited into the UFC to face the downright ancient Mark Hunt.  Outside of the Hunt fight, he had never fought anyone even remotely famous.

We knew the strength with McCorkle was his ground game, and Struve just looked so much better there tonight. 

Yeah, he got laid on by a bigger dude for three minutes but he kept attempting subs, kept moving, and kept active.  The reversal was one of the prettiest things I have seen in quite some time.

The only downfall is that we didn't get to see any stand-up from Struve.  His two losses have come by way of knockout to Junior Dos Santos and Roy Nelson. He has gotten tagged in basically every one of his fights.

I would have liked to have seen some improvement in that department, but we didn't get a chance to see it.

Struve did what he was supposed to and stopped someone he should have.  McCorkle really had no business being in the ring tonight. 

Yes he had the slam and the kimura, but he did nothing afterward.  He looked gassed and horrible immediately following that failed submission.

Hopefully they give Struve another mid-tier guy who can test his stand up and let him progress just a little bit more. 

I just don't want to see him thrown in their with the high level guys and get his chin knocked off into the third row.  I look forward to seeing the Skyscraper continue fighting and his ever-improving skill set.

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