2012 World MMA Middleweight Scouting Report: #8

Bloody Elbow 2.0 | Anton Tabuena

Photo by Henrik Wall, MMAViking.com
Name:	Tor Troeng
Nickname:	The Hammer
Age:	28
Height:	6’2″
Location:	Umea, Sweden

Sweden’s Tor Troeng (14-4-1) has done everything he can to become an upper-echelon mixed martial artist. He’s accumulated fourteen wins in nineteen appearances in a six-year period. He’s traveled to Gordo Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil, spent time at London Shootfighters, and even made his way stateside to train at Alliance Training Center in San Diego, California. Troeng has walked the walk.

Unfortunately, walking and talking are two different actions. Troeng’s loss to former UFC fighter Thales Leites at Superior Challenge 6 last October, a second round rear naked choke defeat, derailed Troeng’s run, at least in the immediate future. It proved that he needed more seasoning despite racking up a 7-1 record in his last eight appearances.

Troeng returned at Superior Challenge 7 in April, beating heralded prospect Robert Jocz by decision. He followed up the win by submitting Tomas Kuzela at Battle of Botnia 4 in September and knocking out Andre Reinders in three minutes and seventeen seconds at GCF 7 in December.

Wielding a solid jab and a well-balanced striking arsenal, Troeng hasn’t had issues with equally technical punchers. He also possesses a proven submission game and a long 6’2″ frame that helps him control and devastate the opposition from the top.

So, what gives? Why isn’t Troeng one of the strongest European prospects? Troeng isn’t overwhelmingly great in any one area, and it becomes apparent when a world-class grappler like Thales Leites finds his way into your guard and begins passing effortlessly.

That isn’t to say Troeng can’t attain a higher level of skill, but he needs to face stiffer competition to test himself, specifically against international talent outside of Sweden. That may come easier for him if the UFC picks him up.

Check out video footage of Tor Troeng after the jump…

Flyweight	Bantamweight	Featherweight	Lightweight
#1 – #2 – #3 – #4 – #5 – #6 – #7 – #8 – #9 – #10 –	#1 – Rony Mariano #2 – Aljamain Sterling #3 – Chris Holdsworth #4 – Josh Hill #5 – Fabiano Fernandes #6 – Claudio Ledesma #7 – Sirwan Kakai #8 – Kyoji Horiguchi #9 – Leandro Hygo #10 – Pedro Munhoz	#1 – Hacran Dias #2 – Joey Gambino #3 – Brandon Bender #4 – Lance Palmer #5 – Jim Alers #6 – Anthony Gutierrez #7 – Max Holloway #8 – John Teixeira #9 – Cody Bollinger #10 – Bubba Jenkins	#1 – Fabricio Guerreiro #2 – Alessandro Ferreira #3 – Adriano Martins #4 – Justin Salas #5 – Neilson Gomes #6 – Eduard Folayang #7 – Zorobabel Moreira #8 – Anton Kuivanen #9 – Jordan Rinaldi #10 – J.P. Vainikainen

Welterweight	Middleweight	Light Heavyweight	Heavyweight
#1 – Andrey Koreshkov #2 – Dhiego Lima #3 – Brandon Thatch #4 – Nordine Taleb #5 – Hernani Perpetuo #6 – Brock Jardine #7 – Alan Jouban #8 – Mohsen Bahari #9 – Andre Santos #10 – Stephen Thompson	#1 – #2 – #3 – #4 – #5 – #6 – #7 – #8 – Tor Troeng #9 – Jack Hermansson #10 – Tim Ruberg	#1 – #2 – #3 – #4 – #5 – #6 – #7 – #8 – #9 – #10 –	#1 – #2 – #3 – #4 – #5 – #6 – #7 – #8 – #9 – #10 –