Butterbean

Boxing Legend Butterbean Challenges Brock Lesnar: The Real Battle of the Giants

Boxing Legend Butterbean Challenges Brock Lesnar: The Real Battle of the Giants Boxing legend Butterbean, AKA Eric Esch, has issued a bold challenge to former UFC champion and WWE superstar Brock…

Boxing legend Butterbean, AKA Eric Esch, has issued a bold challenge to former UFC champion and WWE superstar Brock Lesnar for a boxing match. Butterbean boasts an impressive record of 77 wins and has expressed his desire for a real fight rather than an exhibition bout. This is a matchup of knockout power facing unrelenting wrestling.

Butterbean vs. Brock Lesnar

Butterbean last competed professionally in 2013, with his most recent victory dating back to 2007. Despite his long absence from the ring, he stated that he has partnered with Lucky Energy, an energy drink company, to help make the fight happen. In his prime, he competed in boxing, kickboxing, and MMA and packed dangerous knockout power.

Meanwhile, Brock Lesnar, known for his dominance in WWE and UFC, has been inactive in combat sports since his last UFC fight in 2016, which was ruled a no-contest due to a failed drug test. This challenge comes despite Butterbean’s significant health struggles in recent years, including a period when he relied on a wheelchair. Brock Lesnar, 47, remains sidelined in the WWE.

Speaking to IFL TV, the 58-year-old said, “I would love to fight Brock Lesnar in a boxing match. He runs his mouth; he’s a big guy. It would be a great fight and something people would want to see… I was in a wheelchair for three years and lost all belief in myself… Prove to myself that I can accomplish anything.”

Butterbean is shorter but significantly heavier in his prime, with a weight advantage of up to 135 lbs over Lesnar. However, Lesnar’s height and athletic build provide him with greater agility and reach. Currently, Butterbean’s weight loss has reduced the gap, but Lesnar still holds a clear advantage in mobility and fitness.

Here is a size comparison between Lesnar and Butterbean:

Height: 5 ft 11(180cm).
Athletic Weight: 330 – 400 lbs (150 – 181 kg).
Current Weight: Under 300 lbs after losing over 200 lbs from his peak of 500 lbs.

Brock Lesnar

Height: 6 ft 3 in (191 cm).
Athletic Weight: 265 – 280 lbs (120 – 127 kg).
Current Weight: Approximately 286 lbs (130 kg).

In their prime, a matchup between Eric Esch and Brock Lesnar would have been a clash of power and contrasting styles. Butterbean is known for his devastating knockout punches and an impressive 75% KO rate. He thrived in short boxing bouts where his explosive power overwhelmed opponents quickly.

Lesnar, on the other hand, was a dominant force in mixed martial arts with a wrestling-heavy style, given his collegiate wrestling background. While Butterbean’s hands would have given him an edge in stand-up exchanges, Lesnar’s superior conditioning and grappling skills could have posed significant challenges if the fight occurred under MMA rules. The outcome would likely depend on the format of the fight, with boxing favoring Butterbean, while MMA would lean toward Lesnar.

Today, the matchup would be vastly different due to Butterbean’s health challenges and long absence from competition. At 58 years old, Butterbean has faced significant physical decline, reportedly being in a wheelchair at one point. Meanwhile, Brock Lesnar has remained inactive in the WWE and combat sports since 2016. While Lesnar’s age, 47, could limit his sharpness, his mobility would likely give him an advantage over Butterbean in any contest.

The trend of celebrity and exhibition boxing matches has seen a significant rise in popularity over the past decade. These events bring together a mix of internet influencers, retired athletes, and celebrities from various fields for boxing bouts. These fights have generated massive pay-per-view sales and global attention, despite criticism from traditional boxing purists.

These events continue to attract attention by bringing together big names from different sports and entertainment. Fans will now wait to see if Lesnar responds to Butterbean’s callout, however, it seems highly unlikely.

The 243-Pound Advantage That Didn’t Matter: When Genki Sudo Upset Butterbean

When you think of iconic MMA fights, the matchup between Genki Sudo and Butterbean might not immediately come to…

When you think of iconic MMA fights, the matchup between Genki Sudo and Butterbean might not immediately come to mind, but it should. This clash took place on New Year’s Eve at the K-1 PREMIUM 2003 Dynamite event in Japan and was a true spectacle.

Genki Sudo vs. Butterbean

On one side was Genki Sudo, 165 lbs, the small, agile fighter with a flair for entertainment; on the other, was Butterbean, the colossal 408-pound behemoth whose punches could end a fight in an instant. It was a battle of opposites, both in size and style. But despite the massive disparity, Sudo walked away victorious, and the fight became a legendary moment in combat sports history.

The Incredible Size Difference: David vs. Goliath

Butterbean weighed in at a staggering 185 kg (408 lbs), while Sudo tipped the scales at a mere 75 kg (165 lbs). The 110 kg (243 lbs) weight difference was the main story. From the moment the bell rang, the contrast was impossible to ignore. Butterbean’s sheer size and strength were obvious, but Sudo’s speed, technique, and creativity proved to be the real game-changers.

Sudo, despite being vastly outsized, employed a strategy that would make any David proud. When Butterbean launched his first significant punch, Sudo quickly ducked under, seized a single leg, and executed a smooth takedown. Once on the ground, Sudo wasted no time, locking in a perfectly executed heel hook submission. Butterbean tapped out in the second round at just 0:41.

Genki Sudo: The Pop Star Fighter

But here’s the real twist, Genki Sudo wasn’t just a fighter. He was a pop star. While his fight skills were impeccable, his career outside the ring was even more surprising. Sudo retired from MMA in 2006 and went on to become a multi-talented entertainment sensation. He became the lead vocalist, director, and choreographer of the techno music group World Order, known for their robotic choreography.

Sudo’s transition from MMA to music was almost as smooth as his fight against Butterbean. With his unique blend of choreography and artistry, he charmed audiences beyond the fighting world. Sudo also wrote over 10 books, served as a political independent in Japan’s House of Councillors, and even dabbled in calligraphy. To top it off, his music continued to soar, with World Order garnering a loyal fanbase worldwide.

Butterbean

As for Butterbean, his post-fight journey was equally fascinating. Known for his knockout power, he remained a dominant figure in boxing for years after the fight with Sudo, retiring in 2013 with an impressive record of 77-10-4 and 58 KOs. He also ventured into kickboxing and MMA, where he earned a solid 17-10-1 record.

But the most significant transformation came in recent years. After years of struggling with his weight and health, Butterbean sought help from wrestling legend Diamond Dallas Page and managed to shed over 200 pounds, regaining his mobility and walking again after being confined to a scooter for three years. This incredible health turnaround has become an inspiring story.

The 243-Pound Advantage That Didn’t Matter: When Genki Sudo Upset Butterbean

When you think of iconic MMA fights, the matchup between Genki Sudo and Butterbean might not immediately come to…

Genki Sudo vs. Butterbean

The Incredible Size Difference: David vs. Goliath

Genki Sudo: The Pop Star Fighter

Butterbean

Minowaman vs. Butterbean: 200 lb difference in This MMA Freakshow (and We Loved It)

The year was 2006. The event? PRIDE FC: Bushido 12. The matchup? Ikuhisa “Minowaman” Minowa versus Eric “Butterbean” Esch….

The year was 2006. The event? PRIDE FC: Bushido 12. The matchup? Ikuhisa “Minowaman” Minowa versus Eric “Butterbean” Esch. It was the kind of glorious, absurd spectacle that could only happen in the anything-goes world of mid-2000s Japanese MMA.

Minowaman vs. Butterbean

On one side stood Minowa, the fearless “Giant Killer,” weighing in at 198 pounds of scrappy brilliance. On the other side loomed Butterbean, the bowling ball-shaped boxing legend who tipped the scales at over 400 pounds. That’s right, this fight featured a jaw-dropping 200-pound weight difference. Think David vs. Goliath, but with more spandex and way more chaos.

When the bell rang, Minowa wasted no time in showing why he’s an MMA cult hero. He sprinted across the ring and dropkicked Butterbean square in the face like it was a WWE Royal Rumble. The crowd erupted. For good measure, he tried it again moments later, only to find himself pancaked on the mat under Butterbean’s sheer gravitational pull.
Butterbean, despite his mobility challenges, managed to use his bulk to gain top position. Things looked dicey for Minowa, as Butterbean’s mass seemed more like a geological event than a fighting style. But this wasn’t Minowa’s first time grappling with giants.

Using his superior grappling skills, Minowa deftly swept Butterbean, turning the tide in his favor. From there, it was classic Minowa: ground strikes, slick transitions, and an armbar that looked impossible but somehow worked. Butterbean tried to resist, but after 4 minutes and 25 seconds of the first round, he had no choice but to tap out.

The fight was everything fans loved about PRIDE. This was a fight, theater, comedy, and display of skill all rolled into one. Minowaman with his fearless approach and pro-wrestling-inspired flair, cemented his status as a true fan favorite. Butterbean, for his part, dusted himself off and went on to win his next two PRIDE bouts, finishing his MMA career with a respectable 17-10-1 record.

Minowaman vs. Butterbean may not go down in history as the most competitive fight, but it was pure entertainment. A freakshow match in the best possible way. PRIDE gave us fights no one else would, and for that, we’re forever grateful.

800 Pounds of Fury – The Seismic Battle of a Giants that Shook 2007 – Butterbean vs. Zuluzinho

In the annals of combat sports history, few bouts stand out like the super heavyweight spectacle that was Eric…

In the annals of combat sports history, few bouts stand out like the super heavyweight spectacle that was Eric “Butterbean” Esch versus Zuluzinho at PRIDE 34. Dubbed “The 750-Pound Fight” (though, in reality, it was closer to 800 pounds), this clash of titans in April 2007 was it was a seismic event that physicists would study for generations.

Butterbean vs. Zuluzinho

On one side, you had Butterbean, the 5’11”, 350-pound striker, known for his no-nonsense knockouts and unique appearance. His signature bald head and immense round frame made him impossible to miss. He looked like an American Doctor Eggman. With 77 wins in professional boxing, 58 of those by knockout, Butterbean was a walking wrecking ball.

On the other side loomed Zuluzinho, a colossus at 6’7″ and tipping the scales at a jaw-dropping 407 pounds. With his massive size, he was an intimidating figure who, at least on paper, seemed like an immovable object. For Japanese audiences of the Kakutogi-boom era, giants such as Bob Sapp and Hongman Choi were simply too small. They only whet the appetite. These audiences begged for something bigger. And Zuluzinho was the answer to their giant fight cravings.

PRIDE 34

Fans tuned in for one simple reason: they wanted to see what would happen when 800 pounds of human flesh collided. Would the ring survive? Would gravity give up? Would Butterbean, for the first time in his career, look small?

The answers came quickly, which was a surprise given the size. Despite their reputations for flattening opponents with fists the size of dinner plates, the fight took an unexpected turn. Butterbean, the man once described as “a bowling ball with arms,” decided to skip his knockout power and go for a takedown. Yes, you read that right. Butterbean—known for sending people to dreamland with haymakers—took the fight to the ground like a seasoned grappler. A Ryan Hall with some muscle, if you could imagine.

If that wasn’t shocking enough, the real surprise came moments later when Butterbean locked in an Americana submission on Zuluzinho, forcing the Brazilian giant to tap out. The crowd, and probably the planet itself, shook with disbelief. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Butterbean? Grappling? Is there even a black belt long enough for his frame?

Physicists may still be scratching their heads over the Butterbean-Zuluzinho fight, a bout that seemed to defy the laws of nature. When two objects of this magnitude collide the formation of a black hole should occur. Instead, what we got was Butterbean, the human wrecking ball, channeling his inner astrophysicist and Gracie by using leverage and torque to topple a man who could easily double as a celestial object.

For Zuluzinho, it was a rough night. Losing to a man half a foot shorter and best known for punching Johnny Knoxville wasn’t exactly the highlight of his career. But for us normal-sized mortals, it was pretty fun.

The Eight Most Bizarre MMA Fights In Modern History

Editor’s Note: “Modern History” is being loosely defined as the post-formative years of MMA, when the sport became more widely and thoroughly regulated. Every so often, a fight comes along that’s just so bizarre it causes you to…

Continue Reading The Eight Most Bizarre MMA Fights In Modern History at MMA News.