Brock Lesnar weighed in at 266 pounds and Alistair Overeem weighed in at 263 pounds. For UFC 141 this is a huge fight, literally and metaphorically.
The two heavyweights square off in what is a title elimination fight for the two former champions. Overeem could have had an easy road and fought right away for the title, but instead chose to face Lesnar and here we are.
I know this has been used several thousand times, and it is all we have heard/will hear before, during and after the fight, but this is the classic striker versus grappler match.
Alistair obviously owns the striking department. He is a former K-1 world kickboxing champion and utilizes a diverse array of strikes. Elbows, knees, punches, kicks, Brock will see everything.
But Brock’s standup is nothing to scoff at. It isn’t amazing and it won’t dazzle you, but it got him by until Cain Velasquez and Shane Carwin found out he doesn’t like to be punched. Honestly though, who likes getting punched? Especially by Carwin and Velasquez. I know I’d be at the back of the line for that one.
On the ground, though, it is the same thing. Brock owns the ground game here. He is a former national champion and All-American wrestler. If he comes out and takes down Overeem it will lead to two things.
No. 1, Overeem will gas out quicker and No. 2, Overeem will get beaten to a pulp. It would also be a good move for Lesnar if he gets hurt standing by Overeem. A quick takedown and he can take some time to fully recover and then beat Overeem.
Lesnar, though, has to be weary of Overeem and his guillotine choke. Much like Lesnar, Overeem’s ground game isn’t awful. I can’t see Overeem winning this fight by submission, though.
One of two things will happen in this fight: Overeem knocks out Brock in the first round or Brock takes Overeem down and pounds him out in the first or second.
I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if right out of the gate Lesnar shoots for the takedown. If he gets it, it will be a long round for Overeem.
I’m an Overeem fan, and I hope he wins, but I’m always inclined to take the wrestler over the striker in every fight. It will be a great fight, though, and send 2011 off in a bang—literally.
Lesnar by first or second round TKO.
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