I thought Randy would test Lesnar. I think he did in some areas. If there is a rematch I’ll pick Couture again. He was wearing the bigger man down against the cage and Brock couldn’t stay on top of the older fighter when they got to the mat. Randy came in too light and the year off did him no favors. That being said, the advent of Brock Lesnar becoming heavyweight champion is a boon for the UFC. A former pro wrestler will drive no MMA fans away. They can still wax philosophical about possible Fedor opponents and root for someone to knock Lesnar off his hastily built high horse. One of the many things that Lesnar will do is put the MMA bug in even more professional wrestlers heads. Those with amatuer wrestling backgrounds would be fools not to consider taking a shot if they have grown weary of the WWE’s grueling road schedule. Certainly those with Lesnar’s gentic makeup and God given abilty are few and far between, but he has paved the way.
Let’s talk about some of the other things Lesnar does for the sport. At the very least Lesnar brings excitement to a stale division. At the most he has single handedly taken the UFC into the mainstream. I don’t want to get carried away and I don’t want to take away anything from what the UFC had built before Brock Lesnar joined the company. The fact is that more people watch when Lesnar fights and the UFC gets more coverage from mainstream sports outlets when Lesnar fights. The video above is just one example.
This isn’t like Kimbo Slice. This isn’t some paper champion that is being fed tomato cans to keep him propped up. Dana White (at Lesnar’s request) fed Brock to the wolves. His first 3 fights have included two UFC Heavyweight Champions, former and current. He manhandled UFC/PRIDE/K1 vet Heath Herring in his third career MMA fight. Brock Lesnar’s baptism by fire should give him near instant credibility as champion coupled with his big name and even bigger body. That’s a marketing major’s dream. Why wouldn’t ESPN be all over this guy?
What MMA has working for it as a sport is almost instant appeal. Wrestling fans or sports fans who are drawn into watching a pay per view because of Lesnar will almost certainly find something to like with the rest of the fight card. Last night had very few big names other than the main event. What it did have were some tremendously entertaining fights. Jeremy Stephens’ knock out, Kenny Florian doing what Kenny Florian does and Gabriel Gonzaga nearly decapitating Josh Hendricks in the first round. If you can get em in the door, they will become fans. I firmly believe that.
I was rooting for Randy Couture but I was happy to see the way Lesnar handled the win. He was very respectful to the man he beat and seemed to have gotten over the “me first” attitude he displayed after he beat Herring. I was rooting for Randy, but I root for the sport first and foremost. With this victory I think that Brock Lesnar may have done more for this sport than any other fighter could have. This is no slight to Liddell, Rampage, Shamrock or any other fighter that has paved the way. Brock Lesnar is bigger than life, and hopefully he can be the one to make the UFC even more bigger than life.
November 16th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Last night was truly a passing of the torch. It was good seeing a humbled lesnar in the post fight interview.
November 16th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
What is the deal with the giant hog on Lesnar’s chest?
November 16th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Wish I could have been there at V5. Great post Fukes.
November 16th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
last nights fight was amazing, i wasnt excited for any of the other fights except for florian, but once they came on, they were all damn good. especially gonzagas Tiger Uppercut, str8 up street fight 2 style, lol
i was rooting for lesnar the entire time, i was worried, i wasnt sure if he was gonna win, but i sure did want him to, ive been an mma fan for a while, i still miss the pride tournys though, seeing a fighter have to win multiple fights in one night was true power.so dont think im some hack who jumped on the lesnar bandwagon, but ever sicne his 1st fight in k1 ive been routing for him, his next test is going to be Nogueira i think this guy is gonna whoop up on frank mir, and then hopefully fight lesnar, i think that will be a good and tough fight for him, just hope he is ready for it
lol the big hog on lesnars chest, i never noticed it looked like that until my friend pointed it out to me last night, i dunno i guess i dont have penis on my mind all the time, but he got the sword because he said growing up , he felt he always had a knife at his throat.
im out
drab is gay
-aphex
November 16th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
I feel like I’m in the twilight zone… did nobody else see the phantom punch that took Randy to the ground. I found the footage on youtube and watched it like 12 times. The punch missed completely and Randy’s hands just dropped like he had taken a punch right to his face. Regardless, I hope Rampage kicks Silva’s ass and can then go on to destroy Lesnar. Let the hating begin.
November 16th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
as incredible as last nights fights were. I think UFC 92 might be equally if not more rod worthy
November 16th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
I’m not so sure I agree with you in saying “With this victory I think that Brock Lesnar may have done more for this sport than any other fighter could have. This is no slight to Liddell, Rampage, Shamrock or any other fighter that has paved the way. Brock Lesnar is bigger than life, and hopefully he can be the one to make the UFC even more bigger than life.”. Brock is a good fighter who has the makup to bring in fans, but not more than a year and half ago no superstar was bigger than Chuck Liddell, not even the current version of Brock.
Brock can bring in fans, but he has a long ways to go to be the main-event draw of a Chuck, Silva, a young Tito, and even Randy. Lets see how we draws when he is the MAIN draw, then I will buy he is the future.
As far as him being the Champ, thats ok. He is big and aggressive, but I would like to see him vs a Nog. He is a better verson of Mir and if that happens this could be a quick title reign for Brock.
November 16th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Iza, I saw a solid punch to back of Randy’s skull, behind his ear.
I picked Lesnar in this fight, but I think he may have trouble holding the belt for a significant amount of time. Furthermore, I think a non-UFC fighter like Fedor should be able to him out, if only we could see that matchup.
No doubt, Lesnar’s name recognition is a huge plus for the UFC at this point.
November 16th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
frank mirs blood must be boiling in his suit…. hes probablly distraught
November 16th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
I think we can all agree Lesnar’s a class act and only acts like an idiot in front of the camera. I was glad to see how he acted in the post-fight interview. One thing, I really wouldn’t group Rampage in that list of fighter’s who have paved the way. he hasn’t been in it long enough. Take Rampage out and add Ortiz (who is an ass, but did alot for the sport) and the Gracie boys.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Lesnar is not a class act, but I’m glad he has decided to act like one.
I can’t say how mad I am that Randy couldnt pull this one out, Lesnar Is a gifted athelete, and he has the tools (and size) to be a very good fighter, but he has turned the UFC into clown shoes. Who tatoos a god-damned knife on their chest? uhhh, and his flat top? when is the last time a flat top was cool outside of an MC Hammer video?
BTW that retard said “God Bless God”
November 17th, 2008 at 9:57 am
that was a great fight on a stellar card. i am very pleased to see that brock has lost more, most?, of his old wwe douchebag-ness. his display of respect only bolsters his image. and ive never seen another human being that big move so blisteringly quick either. phenomenal.
November 17th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Tim, I dissagree with you about Rampage, his Pride fights were epic.
November 17th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Woodbridge Rick
Yes, but you can say that for alot of guys. In terms of moving the sport forward, I don’t agree. He is great though, now let’s see how he comes off after a big loss.
November 21st, 2008 at 10:58 am
Why isn’t there a super heavyweight division? I mean Coutre was very competitive, but I’m not sure that it was very fair to have his rep tarnished because he couldn’t take out a guy that size.