The buzz over a dream UFC fight coming to life between WWE universal champion Brock Lesnar and Jon “Bones” Jones is crackling loudly already.
The Beast Incarnate’s name is in headline after headline. MMA experts are debating the outcome. Oddsmakers are drawing up each man’s chances.
Not surprisingly, the potential meeting of a megastar and a knockout artist who may be the greatest cage-fighter we’ve ever seen has the fighting world in a feverish state.
That’s great news for UFC. MMA writer Damon Martin is among those who believe Jones vs. Lesnar could be the biggest fight ever:
One can just imagine UFC President Dana White hearing a “ca-ching” sound going off in his head, but WWE headman Vince McMahon has to be grinning, as well.
Lesnar, one of his top Superstars, is half of one of the biggest stories in sports right now. His company and top champion are set for great major exposure. And Lesnar’s sizable aura could grow even more.
Speculation about a Lesnar-Jones superfight began moments after Bones chased down his opponent at UFC 214 on Saturday. Jones immediately set his sights on The Beast Incarnate after pounding Daniel Cormier into the mat. His newly won UFC light heavyweight championship hung around his waist as he called out Lesnar:
“If you want to know what it feels like to get your ass kicked by a guy who weighs 40 pounds less than you, meet me in the Octagon,” Jones said in a post-fight interview.
Lesnar heard him. He told the Associated Press in response: “Careful what you wish for, young man.”
To go from verbal shots to real ones is going to take some work. Lesnar has six more months left to serve for a suspension due to taking banned substances. He is still under contract with WWE. And Jones would have to move up a weight class to take on the heavyweight slugger.
After seeing the Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor megafight come together, those obstacles don’t seem like much at all, though.
During the build to Jones vs. Lesnar, WWE’s name is sure to come up several times. The latter crossing over from pro wrestling again would be a major part of this story.
It’s possible Lesnar could still even hold WWE’s Universal Championship when squaring off against Jones. The visual of Lesnar wearing that red and gold title on his shoulders as he stepped into the Octagon would delight McMahon.
When Lesnar fought Mark Hunt at UFC 200 while still working for WWE last year, the company was happy to be a part of the promotional effort, airing video packages to hype the bout.
More eyes on Lesnar fighting creates more chances for casual fans to glom onto him, to seek out his WWE exploits. And if he’s still under contract, WWE can work out a deal to air some promos for one of its one events at the fight as did at UFC 200.
There’s also the issue of legitimacy.
WWE is often laughed off as “fake.” There’s a subset of the sports audience who doesn’t respect or understand what pro wrestlers do.
When they succeed in the Octagon or the gridiron, WWE is quick to point it out, to remind us that its history is filled with athletes from the world of sports.
Should Lesnar defeat Jones, it would be a victory for pro wrestling. It would be the latest piece of evidence that the men and women of the squared circle are not to be dismissed as stunt artists.
Not to mention, The Beast Incarnate would step back into the WWE circle with an even more impressive resume, as a bigger icon of combat sports, with his specialness highlighted even more.
Even a Lesnar loss would be beneficial to WWE, though. The company would be a part of the subplot of the sports story of the year. It would showcase one of its best on a grand stage.
And it would get free advertising throughout the journey to the fight.
This isn’t a pipe dream of a bout, either. OddsShark has the odds for the fight to happen before July 15 next year at -160 (bet $160 to win $100). ESPN MMA insider Brett Okamato said of it: “If Brock Lesnar is serious about coming back to the Octagon, I do think this fight will happen.”
If it does, whether Lesnar or Jones comes out on top, WWE would be one of the victors that night.
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