‘The Ultimate Fighter 8’ Finale Breakdown

Junie Allen Browning vs. David Kaplan

Browning Scouting Report
Height/Weight: 5’9/155 lbs.
Age: 23
Hometown: Lexington, Ky.
Fighting out of: Las Vegas
Record: 2-0

The stakes: Like any fight in which Browning’s involved, what’s really up for grabs is his tenuous grip on sanity. Beneath all the emotional angst and testosterone-laced bravado is a talented fighter who desperately needs a win, as his everybody-look-at-me routine grows tiresome in a hurry.

The breakdown: From what little we’ve seen of Browning, it’s obvious he’s at his best when he gets the takedown and mixes ground-and-pound with submissions. Unfortunately, Browning’s blood is about 98 percent pure adrenaline, which means he often winds up looking to mix it up standing, where his short reach remains a major disadvantage. As long as Browning can keep himself in check (insert smirk here), he has the game to handle Kaplan.

Kaplan Scouting Report
Height/Weight: 5’6/155 lbs.
Age: 29
Hometown: Ft. Leavenworth, Kan.
Fighting out of: Washington D.C.
Record: 0-0

The stakes: Much like Browning, Kaplan talked a lot of junk during the show but was silenced by one of its eventual finalists. With his ego hopefully in check thanks to that bit of sobering reality, Kaplan now has to navigate the post-show maze in his search for legitimacy. Losing to Browning might be all it takes to make sure he never finds his way out.


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The bottom line: While picking Browning to win’s kind of like gambling on the NFL to make it through a week without some someone getting arrested, I’m doing so anyway. Kaplan did not show much in his run on “The Ultimate Fighter,” and Browning’s strong top control game seems custom-made to prey on Kaplan’s weaknesses.