At 33 years of age, the question begs asking: could Brock Edward Lesnar be the most over-hyped MMA fighter ever?
With a total of only five MMA fights below his belt, he’s record reads four wins, and one loss, I think this might just be the case.
His career leading up to joining MMA (and UFC) however is pretty damn impressive. Brock, born in Webster, South Dakota was an accomplished amateur wrestler from an early age. He won the 2000 NCAA heavyweight wrestling championship and ended second in 1999, losing in the finals to Stephen Neal.
Brock ended his amateur wrestling career with a record of 106-5.
After this, he gained prominence in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), where he was a three-time WWE Champion and the youngest person ever to hold that championship at that time. Lesnar was also the 2002 King of the Ring, and the winner of the 2003 Royal Rumble.
But we all know WWE is more closely related to The Bold and the Beautiful than it is to an actual contact sport. With scripted lines, and expected outcomes in effort to increase revenue, once can hardly rate Lesnar based on his success in Clown Collage.
With the WWE behind him, he finally started gaining some sort of credibility in the professional arena when he returned to competitive wrestling at the end of 2005. He joined New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and held the belt until June 2007.
Following this, Lesnar started a career in MMA and won his first fight in June 2007 against a no name, Min-Soo Kim. Calling Min-Soo a no name is possibly disrespectful, but with a record of three wins from 10 fights, one can hardly call Lesnar a champion for scqueezing out a win against Min-Soo.
He then signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in October 2007. Upon signing with the organization he had an unsuccessful debut against Frank Mir, but has since remained undefeated, capturing the UFC Heavyweight Championship from Randy Couture on November 15, 2008 and avenging his earlier loss to Mir by way of a second round TKO at UFC 100.
Brock’s MMA record should effectively read: four fights, three wins (two by knockout). His three wins came against Heath Herring, Randy Couture, and Frank Mir.
Stripping away everything you know about Brock, does this record at all compare to that of Shane Carwin?
Compounding to his lack of experience is the fact that he’s only had four fights in over three years. There’s something to be said for match fitness or rather being Octagon fit, and that’s something Brock is lacking dearly.
Signing Brock Lesnar to the UFC was a stroke of genius by Dana White.
Brock brought with him the technical know how of amateur wrestling, the dramatic bravado of WWE, and the physical strength and intimidation that comes with a 1.91m, 120kg man-tank.
Dana pulled fans from Brock’s short lived NFL career, he converted fans from WWE Championships, and he won over fans who know a thing or two about amateur wrestling and it’s technicalities, but sooner or later the giant will fall, and against a more experienced, more match fit Shane Carwin this could just be the case.
On Sunday Brock will leave the Octagon empty handed, and Shane Carwin will be crowned the new UFC heavyweight champion!
Mushi
Guest
Agreed - if it were democracy it would be Zimbabwae
MarkR
Guest
Jerry, that's what confuses me. There's some great fighters in the lower weight classes & they have to WORK for their shot, Lesnar comes along & gets a shot almost immediately. Where are the 100kg + quality fighters ? I suppose in retrospect UFC was always a commercial operation with zero oversight from an external body so I shouldn't be surprised that while the skill level has evolved, so has the dubious nature of some of the matchups. Perhaps what will happen is similar to boxing where the many World Orgs have allowed boxers to gain conhttp://cdn0.theroar.com.au/wp-content/themes/roar/images/butt_addcomment.giftrol of the matchups & by default the money. Enjoy the monopoly while it lasts Dana !
Scott
Guest
If Brock comes back as good as he was he will destroy Carwin.
Jerry
Guest
It does seem that in MMA it's really the lower weight divisions that provide the better spectacle and competition. In boxing people have tended to gravitate to the heavyweights and a big part of that is that there are more knockouts, but you can get knockouts in any weight division in MMA plus the fight can end in other ways of course. And it does seem that it's hard to carry as much muscle as a heavyweight boxer and still retain the fitness and mobility necessary.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
MMA: not the world's most legititmate sport. Brock draws huge pay-per-view numbers and that's why he got the title shot so soon.
MarkR
Guest
Yes, I realise he's been ill for a while. Good on him for coming back & on doing 30seconds research I can see they've held an 'interim' title in the meantime so he's obviously not been dodging anyone. This brand does seems to be losing credibility though where a guy can come in and get a title shot after 2 wins (first fight was a loss).I realise he's an ex-NCAA wrestler but it just stinks of hype & marketing to me. Are there NO other decent heavyweights ?
Jerry
Guest
He had some serious illness that kept him on the shelf for a fair while, I seem to recall. This fight was supposed to be last year or something.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Dude, the guy's been sidelined with a severe illness since October last year.
MarkR
Guest
Weird, he's the heavyweight champ & he's fought four times in 2.5 yrs. It's official, the UFC is just a moneyspinner & the fighters are secondary to the brand. What a joke !
thesportsguyau
Guest
carwin will beat lesnar. just my 2 cents
apaway
Guest
I don't think Kimbo Slice was as overrated as Tank Abbott.
Jim Calhoun
Guest
Moreso, how can you question the legitimacy of his wrestling after already mentioning his all american NCAA performances.
Jim Calhoun
Guest
That is ridiculous, gaining more credibility in the fakest of all wrestling domains - the Jap league.
PeteHarrison
Roar Rookie
Kimbo Slice was the most overrated figher ever, I think that is clear. Brock at least won the UFC belt. Brock also has brilliant positioning and uses his body on the ground to excellent effect. He was a champion amateur wrestler for a reason. I don't think its fair to say that Lesnar is overrated, or over hyped, because he has delivered. He is a genetic freak, but he uses it well.
gcagle
Guest
Brock is definitely a gifted athlete but... I think he is overrated. He hasn't beat anyone of consequence besides Mir (who also beat Brock). Couture is really a light heavyweight and was at the tail-end of his career when he faced Brock. My prediction: Carwin by KO, however, if Brock beats Carwin I will change my POV on Brock.
apaway
Guest
Ah yes, the IWGP Heavyweight Title - the same belt once held by that bastion of real athletic endeavour Hulk Hogan, who was awarded the title when he accidentally knocked opponent Antonio Inoki unconscious "for real" in a 1983 match, despite Inoki being the owner and booker of New Japan. Inoki was "supposed" to win that night. Sadly, Brock Lesnar holding this belt doesn't exactly add to his fighting credentials.
Gibbo
Guest
the fight against Carwan will go a long, long way to answering the question posed here. Brock certainly got his title shot very early in his UFC career. Too early for some, but in all his matches, even when he got caught and submitted by Mir, he has looked dominant. Carwan, undefeated and has never been taken into a second round by any opponant... should be a ripping fight!
ohtani's jacket
Guest
"With the WWE behind him, he finally started gaining some sort of credibility in the professional arena when he returned to competitive wrestling at the end of 2005. He joined New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and held the belt until June 2007." I'm sorry but this is rather amusing. NewJapan is a pro-wrestling company and no more competitive than the WWE.