UFC 141 is quickly approaching, and the hype is building for the battle between the two heavyweight giants, Alistair Overeem and Brock Lesnar.
Ever since joining the UFC, Lesnar has been a huge draw. He brought with him the fame of being a former WWE wrestler and the physical appearance of a monster. Lesnar‘s fights broke pay-per-view records and it was clear that he was an amazing asset for the UFC as they continued to grow in popularity.
The UFC rode the Lesnar hype as he went on to become the UFC heavyweight champion and one of the brand’s most popular stars.
However, it appears that the time to cash in on Lesnar‘s popularity is closing. He has had two battles with diverticulitis, an intestinal disease that causes sharp pains and vomiting. Lesnar is coming off his second surgery that has kept him out of the Octagon for over a year.
While Brock and his camp are saying that he is back and better than ever, it makes you wonder if this is really his last bout with the disease. You also need to question just how much it has taken out of him and if ring rust will be a factor in this fight.
Lesnar is already 34 years old and been an athlete all of his life. He has suffered his fair share of injuries in the WWE and no sport takes more out of you than MMA. The constant punishment that you can suffer in the Octagon stays with you.
Regardless of your opinion on the fight or on Lesnar, the key factor here is the UFC is a business. They are about making money and growing as a brand. In order to do so, they need to have marketable fighters who will continue to help them enter the mainstream sports world.
Enter Alistair Overeem.
He is a 6’5″, 256-pound physical freak. His appearance is similar to Lesnar‘s massive frame and superhero-like muscles. Overeem carries the kind of appearance that is marketable to the casual fan.
Not to mention his fighting style is what the casual fans want to see. Overeem may be the best striker in the heavyweight division. He is at least the most accomplished, as he won the K-1 striking championship in 2010.
His arsenal of heavy punches and kicks matched up with the vicious knees he can deliver in the clinch make for a very entertaining fighter. When Overeem hits you, there is a good chance that the lights are going out.
Overeem is by no means a one-dimensional fighter.
He was a European Champion in the 2005 ADCC submission grappling tournament. In fact, 19 of his 35 MMA victories have come by submission.
“The Reem” is the type of fighter who has all the skills to be a champion. We know because he already holds the Strikeforce and Dream heavyweight championships.
However, we recognize that the UFC is the home to the vast majority of the best fighters on the planet. Overeem has expressed this same acknowledgement and claims it is one of the reasons why he wants to fight under the UFC banner.
Without a doubt, Overeem’s accomplishments on paper are impressive. Yet, in order for him to earn acceptance by hardcore and casual fans alike, he will need to challenge himself in the UFC.
So when given the chance to bring in Alistair Overeem, who better for Dana White and the UFC to match him up against than Brock Lesnar?
The winner would then go on to face Junior dos Santos, the current heavyweight champion.
While this seems like a win-win scenario for the UFC, the real hope should be that Overeem destroys Lesnar in devastating fashion.
As I mentioned earlier, Lesnar‘s career is coming to an end whether he wins or not. There was talk about him retiring after his first surgery, and even more so after his second. Not to mention the rumors that are constantly swirling about him returning to the WWE.
It appears that the longevity of his MMA career is limited. There will only be so many more pay-per-view buys that Dana White will be able to squeeze out of him before people aren’t as interested anymore.
On top of that, if Lesnar wins and goes on to face dos Santos, it could create an appearance of a division in turmoil. Dos Santos beats Cain Velasquez who beat Lesnar who then comes back to beat dos Santos.
Some may argue that not having a dominant champion is a good thing, but having a belt constantly being handed off isn’t a positive either. Look at the light heavyweight division before the arrival of Jon Jones. The belt was passed off from fight to fight.
As frustrating as a dominant champion can be, I believe that people enjoy the stability in a division. That stability is especially important in a weight class as popular as heavyweight.
A Lesnar win also immediately discredits Overeem to the casual fans. They are most likely unaware of his accomplishments other than what Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg will tell them before the fight—even then they may not understand their significance. A loss in his debut would instantly create a black cloud when trying to market him.
An Overeem win opens a whole bunch of new doors for the UFC.
You then have the chance to market Overeem versus dos Santos, which will be a big draw. Overeem will get the push with the casual fans by beating Lesnar, a popular face. Most importantly of all, the fans will see him win.
All of his accomplishments outside of the UFC will gain more significance the more he wins UFC fights. Whether or not that is fair to Overeem, it is the reality of the situation.
If he goes on to defeat Junior dos Santos, Overeem will likely be touted as the next dominant heavyweight and “the baddest man on the planet.” The UFC will have the face of their heavyweight division. Overeem will not only be able to capture popularity in the United States, but he will bring in a huge international following as well.
The UFC will never publicly root for one fighter over another. However, deep down I have to believe that Dana White and company will have their fingers crossed for Overeem come December 30th.
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