UFC heavyweight Brock Lesnar has retired. Following his defeat at the hands of Alistair Overeem at UFC 141, Lesnar announced during the telecast that “I can officially say this is the last time you see me in the Octagon.”
Lesnar, retiring with a 5-3 record attributed his retirement to a rough couple of years battling diverticulitis on two occasions. Losing for the second time in a row, Lesnar looked lost in the cage against feared striker Alistair Overeem in their heavyweight title elimination tilt.
The question to be pondered, was Lesnar’s retirement a surprise to all? This question is more of an opinion than mere fact. I am sure there are analysts and journalists that would say that it was not a surprise at all.
However, to me, and I am sure I am not alone, it was a surprise.
Lately, there has been talk of Lesnar showing his interest elsewhere, mainly his former employer, WWE. This all began last October at UFC 121 when he had a scene with Mark Calloway, better known as the Undertaker in WWE, after his title loss against Cain Velazquez.
That episode made a huge splash on the Internet with many people saying that Lesnar was in talks to be on his way back to WWE, perhaps wrestling the Undertaker at WrestleMania.
Then, over this passed summer, Lesnar was announced to be included in WWE’s latest video game, WWE ’12 as a legend. This only created more of a stir that Lesnar’s focus and attention was on professional wrestling rather than his mixed martial arts career.
Lesnar, however, was adamant that he is a mixed martial artist, saying his was born to do this and that this is his life. He explained that fighting is what he loved to do and wouldn’t be anywhere else.
Lesnar has always loved to be in the spotlight, that is something that cannot be disputed. From his days as a wrestling star at the University of Minnesota to his days as WWE Champion in World Wrestling Entertainment, Lesnar has been in front of the camera for over a decade.
Lesnar, though, did a good job in convincing us that MMA was his calling, MMA was his dream and even went so far as to talk ill towards his days as a professional wrestling star.
Lesnar did well in his first few fights, albeit losing his first UFC fight to Frank Mir in the first round via submission. Lesnar went on to defeat Heath Herring in a three round lopsided drubbing, then won his first and only championship when he defeated then heavyweight and MMA legend Randy Couture via TKO.
It seemed at this point that Lesnar was a bit unstoppable. His size and athleticism being something that UFC heavyweights had not seen before. His first fight against Mir seemed to be lucky in favor of Mir. Lesnar would get a second shot to prove that is was luck.
Lesnar defeated Mir at UFC 100 in July of 2009 in a heavyweight title defense. He battered Mir, taking him down and completely overpowering him and eventually pinned him against the cage where he would land punch after punch to Mir’s face. Lesnar was now the real deal.
Lesnar then fell ill with his first bout with diverticulitis, being hospitalized. It took Lesnar months to recover and when he did, his return fight was against Shane Carwin.
Carwin and Lesnar faced off at UFC 116 in July of 2010 where Carwin would have Lesnar on the brink as he dropped Brock in the first round. Lesnar though, to his credit, withstood Carwin’s power punches to end the first round. Lesnar then defeated Carwin in the second after taking him down and submitting Carwin with an arm-triangle choke.
Lesnar seemed invincible, withstanding the punishment dealt by the massive Carwin and even doing something he had never done before, winning by submission.
However, just four months later, in another title defense, Lesnar was exposed. Many pundits questioned whether Lesnar would be able to withstand an opponent with superior striking.
Lesnar lost to Cain Velazquez at UFC 121 via TKO after showing no striking skills and no defense standing up, letting Cain pick his shots.
Many would ask if Lesnar would ever be able to improve his striking in training camp. It was obvious he needed a lot of work and it was obvious that his inexperience would eventually lead him into trouble against someone with a bigger resume.
Lesnar then came down with diverticulitis a second time, needed surgery once again. He pulled out of his scheduled June 2011 bout with Junior dos Santos, Lesnar’s surgery was major, as he had about 12 inches of his colon removed just to prevent a third illness.
Many thought that, with the severity of his first case, Lesnar would have a difficult time returning from it.
Though in August 2011, Lesnar announced his health was back to normal and he was ready to return to the UFC. His fight with newly signed Alistair Overeem was announced for Dec. 30.
There were many questions going into this fight, would Lesnar’s health be 100 percent, would Lesnar be able to regain all of his strength and would Lesnar be able to improve to withstand the striking of Overeem.
Overeem, an elite striker from K-1, posed many problems for Lesnar including size. To say that Lesnar had a tough fight ahead of him would have been an understatement.
Lesnar faced many questions regarding his health and his focus, each time claiming his health was 100 percent and that he was a mixed marital artist through and through, and fighting is what he wanted to do.
There wasn’t any indication he was ready to walk away. He had a hiccup against Velasquez, but being so early in his career, Lesnar could only get better with training and experience.
Lesnar would go onto lose to Overeem at UFC 141, being exposed once again for his lack of skill in the striking department. He would attempt a takedown on Overeem, but to no avail as it was easily defended.
Lesnar took many body shots from kicks and knees by Overeem, eventually being dropped for the finish in the first round.
Looking back, Lesnar has had a difficult couple of years. Diverticulitis is a very serious illness and if not properly diagnosed and treated, could lead to extreme serious health problems.
Lesnar also had a problem dealing with opponents that were far superior than himself. As big and powerful as Lesnar is, you cannot fight without being able to withstand punches and defend against them.
I didn’t see this coming because Lesnar did a good job of saying he was born to fight and mixed martial arts was where he wanted to be.
Having a fight team and gym, Death Clutch, in Minnesota, to a high position with UFC brass, to his history with professional wrestling, speculation will run high. Only time will tell where Lesnar goes from here.
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