Stefan Struve: fight with 'pathetic' Matt Mitrione became personal issue

Struve (left) and Mitrione (right) face each other at UFC 175. Photo: Produção Super Lutas (Disclosure/UFC)

After a long time away from the UFC, Stefan struve He already has a date set to return to the Octagon. On July 5th, at UFC 175, he will face Matt Mitrione, in a fight that the Dutchman himself considers to be a “personal issue”.

In an interview given to the North American website “MMA Weekly”, Struve recounted an episode that occurred during Mitrione's last fight, in Macau, in March this year. “In Macau, when Mitrione fought last time, he was very interested [in my heart problem], so I explained to him everything that was happening. So he knew how I was doing. A few months later, even before I was cleared to return to the octagon, he told Joe Silva that he wanted to face me when I returned?”, asked the Dutchman indignantly.

“Everyone knew I had a heart problem and he calls the matchmakers not knowing if I'm released? He did this because he thought he had a better chance of winning. In my opinion, this is pathetic and Matt Mitrione made this issue personal”, added Struve, who is the tallest fighter in the UFC, standing at 2,13 m tall.