Travis Browne (15-1-1) scored a surprising comeback win over Alistair Overeem (36-13) at UFC Fight Night 26 on Saturday with a sick front kick to the face.
Browne was getting destroyed by Overeem early in the fight, taking a number of knees to the body and punches to the head. The fight was dangerously close to being stopped after the first minute, but Brown managed to wiggle out of the way of punishment. Once he got to his feet and away from Overeem, Browne began sending a number of kicks to keep The Reem at a distance. Overeem seemed uncomfortable with the kicks, though he did manage to block most of them. But one kick did get through — a front kick that nailed him straight in the face, knocking him out. It was very similar to the knockout kick from Anderson Silva to beat Vitor Belfort two years ago.
As soon as Overeem hit the mat, Browne jumped on Overeem and got in a few punches before the fight was stopped at 4:08.
After the fight, Browne recognized how close he was to losing.
“He does throw knees like I’ve never felt before,” Browne admitted in a post-fight interview with Joe Rogan. “He hit me with a couple of those body shots. That’s what put me down. I was there mentally, but my body was shutting down.
“This is just another goal in my career that I’ve achieved. Taking out a top-five guy. I’m not done yet. I want to wear that strap. Cain (Velasquez), you’re the best in the world right now. We’re all coming after that belt though.”
While Brown has now won consecutive fights since losing to Big Foot Silva last year, Reem has lost two in a row and is in danger of being cut by the UFC.
Here’s a look at the knockout kick from another angle:
GIFs via Cork Gaines, Zombie Prophet
