Does a Lesnar victory cost the sport of mixed-martial-arts? Will people then want to compare MMA to professional wrestling?
No one can take away from Lesnar’s wrestling credentials. He has dominated the sport of wrestling from going 33-0 at Webster High School to being a two-time All American wrestler at the University of Minnesota. Clearly, being a runner-up in 1999 and winner in 2000 in the heavyweight division of the NCAA wrestling championships makes for a solid fight-resume. Just look at what other former-wrestlers have done: Randy Couture winning three titles; Dan Henderson holding two belts at once; Koscheck earning the right to fight GSP for a title shot; and Tito Ortiz successfully defending his title five times.
There is just one thing that sets Lesnar’s resume apart from the other wrestlers—his career with World Wrestling Entertainment.
Lesnar joined the World Wrestling Federation, now the WWE, in 2000. It is the source of almost all of his name recognition, and possibly an MMA detractor if he beats Former-Champ Frank Mir.
While it is a bit inaccurate to call professional wrestling fake, it is no doubt choreographed (kind of like dancing).
MMA fans have shown more interest in fights that are sport than circus. (Think of the disappointment of Fedor Emelianenko vs. Hong-Man Choi, instead of Couture) Circus-fights, while intriguing, do not lend any credence to the idea that MMA is a sport.
Let me take pause, just a moment, to state that Brock Lesnar is a phenomenal athlete. (Is that you Joe Rogan?) He had just as much success wrestling as any other former-wrestler turned mixed-martial-artist, but he is known as an entertainer.
To add to that, Mir is a former champion, an Octagon veteran and claiming to be in the best shape of his life. With only one fight to his credit, should we even believe that Lesnar even stands a chance against such competition?
The other side of this argument, is the fact that Brock Lesnar could bring in another market. While there is almost definitely an overlap of professional-wrestling and MMA fans, Lesnar most likely brings in many who do not already belong to that overlap.
So does a Lesnar win solidify that fan base?
Perhaps it does, but his means to victory probably will affect that scenario a great deal. A slow, methodical victory, rife with take-downs and strikes from the guard, will excite no one, especially people used to seeing Goliaths hit each other with chairs.
Nice read. Yesterday I did a write up for UFC 81 that I’ll be posting on here this afternoon, just waiting on someone, and I used the word “phenominal” and then put in ( ) Joe Rogan adjective
What if Lesnar had bypassed the WWE and gone straight to the Minnesota Vikings and spent five years as a defensive tackle? Would his move to MMA be scrutinized any more or less than it is now? I’ve said it before, and I’ll probably have to say it again at some point, but WWE wrestlers are all remarkable athletes, and Lesnar is one of the best they’ve ever had. They are the best in the world at what they do, and it is far more physical than the people who call it fake fighting would like to believe. Yes, the outcomes are predetermined, and the wrestlers have to work together to execute a lot of the moves, but they are still really getting punched, kicked, hit with chairs, etc. Even if Lesnar wins, I think some people will call it lucky or call Mir ashed up. But if Lesnar beats Mir and wins his next fight or two after that then people will have to accept that he is a real fighter.
PW: I will agree that they are great athletes….but how much of it was the roids? It is no secret that I dont like how the UFC sold us that fight as a co-main event, but I am hoping that either Mir or Brock are impressive. The HW division is in desperate need of a tough HW fighter. In a perfect world they will both look great and become forces at HW….will that happen? who really knows.
I would be a lot less critical about this fight if it were the 1st televised fight of the night instead of the co main event. Lets face it, we havent seen the Champion version of Mir in a long time and I dont know if he will ever return to that form. Also, as much potential as Brock has his mma record is still (1-0).
All I know is with the amount of maerketing the UFC has invested in this fight and the way that Dana chose to appeal to wwe FANS INSTEAD OF US LOYAL MMA FANS, Brocks G n’ P better be the second coming of Fedor’s! If tis fight is a bust, I will be real pissed.
Also, I think Brock gives the worst interview of any mma star besides Liddell. Is it just me being to critical or does he sound real dumb, with nothing to say. And Sometimes he still talks like a WWE wrestler in his interviews….
FWIW, Lesnar has never tested positive for anything.
PW: Doesn’t mean he never did Roids.. I personally take Lesnar fighting MMA seriously thus far..I for the sport..not the spectacle.
Mahde: Very nice thread.
Brock is the co main event for his athletisim, his name, and his approach to training. If you take away any of those things..he would be in this position.
I’m intrested in seeingthe fall out of UFC81..just a tad bit disappointed in the heavy title match not being pushed as much as Brock..Big Nog is in the back seat. Big Nog is front seat material..him being the former Pride Champ vs the Former UFC champ..I really want BiNog to rock that belt..cuz if it’s Timmy..I would never order a main event with his name on it.
There arent many WWE fighters that havent used roids. Its not like the WWE tests their actors before each event. So how can u be convinced that he has never done roids? I give the man the benefit of the doubt but come on, we cant say that he has never tested positive for anything based on NCAA wrestling and his 1 mma fight, lots of time was passed in between his NCAA career and MMA career. But I dont want to smeer his name without having proof so I will give him the benefit of the doubt. Do I think he will test positive for roids at UFC 81? hell no! I doubt he would be that stupid!
I do agree with Phil that Brock has taken mma seriously, and I have to appreciate and respect that. I hope he comes out and shuts me up and looks great. it would benefit the HW division. As long as he takes it serious, which he has…I have no problem with him making the transition to mma…. I cant wait to see how he shoots on Mir.
Who expects to see him slam Mir? I hope he does unleash nasty rampage-like slams. it would be great for the sport if he turns out to be the real deal.
Phil, I have a bg problem with Noguerra taking a back seat to this match up. noguerra is the best possible candidate to wear the UFC HW crown. As a chanmpion, Tim is even more of a boring fighter then usual because he is so scared of loosing the belt that he fights not to loose, instead of fighting to win.
If Tim becomes champion, I dont see how I could possibly order any UFC pay per views that he headlines. 5 rounds of Tim Sylvia is enough to make you want to blow your head off!…..His fights should be one 3 minute round!
5 rounds of Tim Sylvia is enough to make you want to blow your head off!…..His fights should be one 3 minute round!
hehehehehehehehehehehehhehe!!!!!!
If Tim Slyvia wins the heavy weight belt this would be the look on my face…….
http://www.jokeroo.com/funnyvideos/dramatic_lemur.html
He was tested all throughout his collegiate career and never came up positive. Also, the WWE does have a steroid testing program and wellness program in place. Not sure how effective it is since Chris Benoit came up clean a few months before he turned his home into Jonestown.
Phil u r nuts…where the hell did u find that Horrid thing? lol
Lesnar has proven himself to be legit with his fights against Mir and Herring. I guess everyone will see in November when he faces off against Randy Couture