Brock Lesnar knows a thing or two about overcoming adversity.
The former UFC heavyweight champion has battled back from two cases of diverticulitis that nearly ended his fighting career.
Now that he has a clean bill of health, Lesnar is reinvigorated in his pursuit to recapture the UFC title and climb back to the top of the heavyweight ranks.
At UFC 141, former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem will be the man standing in his way.
“I’m knocking on the door to being the UFC heavyweight champion again,” Lesnar said in his pre-fight interview for UFC 141. “I got this fight against Alistair, and this guy is not going to stand in my way. There’s no way in hell that I’m going to let that happen.”
Overeem has been wreaking havoc in the heavyweight division as of late. He is currently riding a 10-fight win streak, with his most recent victories coming over Fabricio Werdum, Todd Duffee and Brett Rogers.
While UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos certainly makes a case, Overeem is widely recognized as the best striker in the entire heavyweight division, but all of the accolades in the world won’t faze Lesnar when the cage door closes.
“He’s very versatile on his feet, and he’s got a long range, both with his hands and legs,” admitted Lesnar. “I don’t care how many fights he’s had. I don’t care where his career has been. When the door shuts and it’s time to go, he’ll know really quickly that he’s got a fight on his hands.”
After nearly losing everything, Lesnar has refocused his training in his time away from the sport. Filled with a new purpose, he plans on making an example out of Overeem and beginning his road back to the heavyweight title.
“In my mind, I think he’s in over his head,” said Lesnar. “He doesn’t understand the beast that he’s going to enter the Octagon with.”
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