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The real winners and losers from UFC 121

26th October, 2010
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Roar Guru
26th October, 2010
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1253 Reads

In less than a round, ‘Brocktober’ had crumpled in a massive heap. It was billed as the “biggest heavyweight fight in UFC history” – and while this marketing slogan is up for debate, there’s no arguing the significance of Cain Velasquez’s victory against former World Wrestling Entertainment superstar Brock Lesnar.

The Mexican-American Velasquez, who sports a “Brown Pride” tattoo on his chest, joins the ranks of Mixed Martial Arts’ heavyweight elite. More importantly, he is the latest in a revolving door of fighters to hold the UFC Heavyweight title, which due an interim-championship fiasco, has changed hands seven times in the last two years.

With the event now in the history books and with the gift of hindsight, now is the time to analyse who the real winners and losers are after the UFC 121 main event, and where this takes them from this point on.

The winners:

Cain Velasquez: The now 9-0 Velasquez’s stock has reached an all-time high after his defeat of the UFC’s resident poster boy and cash cow. While the mild-mannered Mexican-American is far removed from the WWE-style theatrics of his predecessor, there’s no question that Velasquez now faces bigger paydays and more media exposure in the future.

What’s next: A match-up with top heavyweight contender Junior Dos Santos is the next logical step. A fight with recent Lesnar-victim Shane Carwin is also an interesting prospect.

There are also fights with Strikefore combatants Alistair Overeem and Fedor Emelianenko to consider, provided that the business logistics can follow through.

Mexican fight fans: While the UFC’s marketing-bestowed moniker of the “first Mexican heavyweight champion in combat sports” is false (former UFC champ Ricco Rodriguez comes to mind), Velasquez’s victory has undoubtedly struck a chord with the Hispanic demographic.

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While the U.S.-based UFC, under the management of Zuffa, LLC, has successfully hosted overseas events in England, Canada and Australia, the boxing-anchored Mexican market has proven to be a tough nut to crack.

What’s next: A pay-per-view event in Mexico, showcasing upcoming Mexican talent and with Velasquez in the main event.

WWE: In an ironic twist, Lesnar’s former employers look to benefit from his recent loss. Despite Lesnar figuratively body-slamming the WWE in the media following his departure from the company, it’s now been reported that he has been offered an opportunity to face ‘The Undertaker’ at the company’s annual ‘WrestleMania’ event.

This news comes on the heels of a tense face-off between the Undertaker (Mark Calaway) and Lesnar as the latter exited the Octagon. The scene was filmed during an interview by MMA reporter Ariel Helwani.

What’s next: If Lesnar does accept the offer, it’s likely that the deal will be a one-time event. Nevertheless, the deal would involve negotiations between the WWE and the UFC, which could lead to crossover events in the future.

The losers:Brock Lesnar: Since his MMA debut in 2006, Lesnar’s record now stands at 5-2. Despite his impressive collegiate wrestling credentials, the Minnesota-native is still an inexperienced commodity.

At the age of 33, questions linger as to how long Lesnar intends to stay in the game and just how much more he can improve before his physical gifts decline. While his wrestling ability is arguably the best in the division, his striking and submissions game leave much to be desired.

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Though he claims to be ‘the baddest man on the planet, in the year 2010, a one-dimensional fighter never lasts.

What’s next: a third fight with Frank Mir is the best thing, both stylistically and financially.

The new offer from the WWE is also on the table. Perhaps the most sensible thing is for Lesnar to leave the confines of his ‘DeathClutch’ gym and seek out training with other world-class fighters.

Dana White: Try as he might, there was no hiding the UFC President’s displeasure at Brock Lesnar’s defeat. The reason is obvious: Lesnar is a marketing dream, bringing in many different demographics with his WWE past, gargantuan size and cocky charisma.

Not to mention that Lesnar makes more money in one fight than most fighters do in one year (he earned US$400,000 in his last fight, compared to his opponent’s US$40,000), White has definitely made a big investment in the former champion. To add to his woes, the WWE is now competing for Lesnar’s attention.

What’s next: a power struggle with WWE owner Vince McMahon. White has tried for many years to lose the pro-wrestling association that the media has made with the UFC, and will definitely not go down without a fight.

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