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At UFC 199 fans were treated not only to a shocking main-event title change but also a surprising announcement of a returning fighter.
In a superbly directed video package promoting UFC 200, fans saw and heard from a former Heavyweight Champion as ‘The Beast’ Brock Lesnar declared his return to the octagon.
The 41-year-old has been away from the UFC since 2012 after losing to Alistair Overeem at UFC 141. Following defeat Lesnar returned to the world of professional wrestling with WWE.
In his time in ‘Sports Entertainment’ Brock has been built as one of the company’s premier superstars. ‘The Beast Incarnate’ has battled the industry’s biggest and brightest superstars and holds victories over Triple H, John Cena, Seth Rollins, and most importantly The Undertaker.
His victory over the Phenom at Wrestlemania 30 was the biggest shocker to hit the world of professional wrestling in the last decade, maybe even ever. The Undertaker held a 21-0 record at the event and his undefeated streak was pivotal to his character.
Giving Lesnar the victory made him, in the storyline world of wrestling, the new big dog – the top superstar in the company who conquered the unconquerable.
His return to the octagon means that the scripted world of WWE and the real world of UFC now collide.
In the eyes of MMA fans, Brock is a former champion and a force to be reckoned with, but one who retired four years ago and may be well past his prime.
In his return Lesnar will be driven to prove that he still has what it takes to top the card and a victory over New Zealand’s Mark Hunt could prove just that.
Lesnar has little to lose in this fight, other than the fight itself. Dana White would have opened his sizeable cheque book to secure the services of the former champion so Lesnar will be well compensated for the fight, and if he wins it will only add to his appearance fee in both UFC and WWE.
If he loses it will show that his decision to retire was a well-made one and as unfortunate as it may be it will show that he just doesn’t have it any more. If he does succumb to Hunt, Lesnar still has a place to go though, back to the world of pro-wrestling where scripting can protect him.
It is that world though, and more importantly the head of that world – Vince McMahon, that has the most to lose with Brock at UFC 200.
In defeating The Undertaker, McMahon made Lesnar his most feared fighter. If his best and brightest ventures back into the ‘real world’ and gets knocked-out it will be yet another barb that can be held against ‘fake’ wrestling.
Behind the scenes there is surely more the WWE is getting out of this fight other than promotion but on the surface it seems like a bad investment.
If Lesnar wins all WWE gain is some name recognition and vindication of their decision to put Lesnar at the top of the card, neither of which are needed. If he loses the WWE is shown to be weak as their top superstar just got beat by a middle of the card guy.
UFC and Dana White have nothing to lose with Lesnar.
Lesnar has little other than pride to lose.
WWE and Vince McMahon have everything to lose and little to gain in this deal, and for that it may show to be a very bad decision on the part of management to let Brock anywhere near an octagon again.
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