Fight Night Upset Alert - Browning vs Miller
by Nick Meyer
While Junie Browning is anything but a title contending-quality fighter at this stage of his UFC career, his fights are still must-see contests to many casual fans because of Browning’s legendary personality.
As perhaps the most disruptive and immature fighter on the history of The Ultimate Fighter, Browning is the classic love-him-or-hate-him kind of fighter that keeps eyes glued to TV sets across the country.
Browning will take on another TUF alumnus in Cole Miller, the rangy, Nate Diaz-style submissions specialist who should make this contest one of the more intriguing fights from a stylistic standpoint at UFC Fight Night 18: Condit vs. Kampmann.
Miller is listed as the favorite in this one at -140 to +110 in the BetUS Sportsbook.
Browning stands 5-foot-10, although he doesn’t quite look it, putting him three inches shorter than Miller.
Miller will try to use his jab to keep Browning, a powerful striker with good fluidity and creativeness in his combinations, at bay. Miller doesn’t have much power in his strikes but his boxing is decent.
Browning meanwhile will probably try to move in and out to mount varied offensive attacks with the hopes of landing a knockout blow and staying out of range of the jab.
The biggest edge in the fight could be Miller’s ground prowess, as the American Top Team fighter uses his long legs well to go for triangle attempts and has the ability to transition nicely into armbars on the ground at a moment’s notice.
Browning seemed like a different fighter against Dave Kaplan in his last fight as he was much more focused away from the spotlight of The Ultimate Fighter. He has always been a cocky fighter but he does have a lot of natural talent on his size.
Browning makes for a good pick here because he has the power to overwhelm the smallish Miller and the one time he was submitted on the TV show was seemingly a mental submission as much as physical in which he seemed to be looking for a way off the show to deal with his personal demons.
If Browning can stay focused for the whole fight and put together solid combinations like he did against Kaplan, he has the ability to either overwhelm Miller on the feet or to drag out a decision. Because of that, Browning is the upset pick here at UFC Fight Night 18.
