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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Travis Browne fights Fabricio Werdum on Saturday night in the main event of UFC on Fox 11, with a shot at UFC Heavyweight Champ Cain Velasquez on the line. His path to this fight kicked into high gear last August when he knocked out Alistair Overeem at UFC Fight Night 26, and now he'll be working with Overeem later this year as the Dutch kickboxer joins the Jackson-Winkeljohn camp in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
"I actually embrace the idea," Browne said of Overeem joining the camp in an interview with MMAjunkie. "When you have top athletes that are in the same weight class, sometimes they can butt heads, but the way I look at it is iron sharpening iron. If the stars ever align again and him and I meet in the cage, then it will be an even better fight than it was last time."
Because the two of them had a respectful lead up to their fight and haven't had any issues with each other since the bout, Browne sees only positives in working with Overeem going forward.
"If you personally don't get along with somebody, that doesn't mean they can't help you professionally. I've personally never had any issues with Overeem, and professionally, I've never had any issues with him. For me, what would concern me is if we had a professional beef. But there hasn't been any of the sort, so we'll just be here to push each other to be the best in the world."
"Just having somebody there to push you when you need it is great. It's not going to be about just me benefitting from this. He's going to learn a lot too being out here at Jackson's."
Penick's Analysis: If Overeem comes in looking to take advantage of the minds at Jackson's and is willing to work with them the way he seemingly was not willing to work with the Blackzilians team, it will be a beneficial relationship for both. If he instead just does a little bit there while bringing in his own people, it will be the same thing in a different location. That said, it seems like something he's legitimately looking to embrace, and it could have a positive effect on him and his future in the UFC.
[Alistair Overeem art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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