UFC heavyweight Travis Browne says he hopes Antonio (Bifoot) Silva beats Cain Velasquez at UFC 160 this May.
This might come across as somewhat ironic since in Browne’s last bout he was knocked out by the Gigantic Brazilian.
“I would love for him to win because I would hope the best, especially a guy that beat me, I would hope the best (for him),” Browne told Showdown Joe on UFC Central Radio on Sportsnet 590 The Fan Thursday night. “Bigfoot is a quality guy and a family guy and that’s something that I love; I’m a family guy so best of luck to him.”
Browne tore his hamstring while throwing a kick in the loss to Silva — it was the 6-foot-7 Browne’s first time tasting defeat in his career — but is not dwelling on the past.
“I’m not going to cry about it,” Browne said. “It happened. I got hurt, he beat me. It’s a win on his record and a loss on mine.
“The road to the title is a little extended. I took a little detour (but) I’m taking the time to get better so that way when I get there I can stay there.”
The 30-year-old, who desires a rematch with Silva, said seeing Bigfoot go on to upset Alistair Overeem and earn a title shot has motivated him.
“When you’re standing there as a man and as an athlete, in both situations from either point of view … you have one man in this world that can say he can beat you up. That he technically knocked you out. As an athlete you have one defeat and that’s the one you’re going to obviously want to get back. … That’s definitely something I look forward to is our rematch and it does nothing but fuel me.”
It was recently announced that Browne’s next opponent will be former title challenger Gabriel Gonzaga. The two will meet at The Ultimate Fighter 17 finale on April 13.
Browne, who says he weighs less but is more muscular than he was in his last outing, believes “injuries are either going to make you or break you” and his hamstring tear has led to him becoming a better fighter.
He heads into his fight with Gonzaga, who has won three straight fights, looking to what’s next and not dwelling on the result of his last performance.
“Shoulda, would, coulda but you can’t look at you like that because it’ll drive you nuts. That’s how I look at it. I’m on my path, (Bigfoot’s) on his and I’m just going out there to win April 13 against Gonzaga. The past is in the past … I’m just taking it one day at a time and trying to better myself as an athlete.”