Filed under: UFC, NewsAs isolated as Brock Lesnar is in his Minnesota training camp, and as successfully as he manages to avoid the internet most of the time, some criticisms still find their way out of the petri dish of MMA and into the former UFC cha…
As isolated as Brock Lesnar is in his Minnesota training camp, and as successfully as he manages to avoid the internet most of the time, some criticisms still find their way out of the petri dish of MMA and into the former UFC champ’s world. But as he told me when I spoke to him for a Sports Illustrated story this week, the key is not so much in avoiding those criticisms entirely, but rather in knowing what to make of them once they get there.
For instance, take the oft-repeated claim that Lesnar can’t take a punch.
“I think it’s a bunch of bulls—,” Lesnar said. “The fights that I’ve gotten hit, I’ve stood and banged with Heath Herring, Randy Couture, Frank Mir — I’ve taken a lot of shots. I mean, Shane Carwin. And I’ve yet to be knocked out. I had refs stop a fight for a submission and a TKO, which is a referee stoppage. I’ve never been knocked out cold.”
In fact, the ‘it’s a bunch of bulls—‘ response turns out to be Lesnar’s go-to move when confronted with MMA fans and media criticisms. It’s not that he doesn’t hear them — trust me, if you were around for the reception he got at the UFC on FOX event in Anaheim, you’d know there’s no way around it sometimes — it’s that he dismisses it as just another instance of haters hating. Not in those words, of course.
“Any time you’re on top, whatever it is, and I don’t care if it’s the business world or it’s in farming or fighting — and those are all things that I’m in — there’s people out to get you,” he said. “There’s criticism. I don’t know if it’s just that people don’t like to see other people succeed, or just if they want to see them fail.”
Which is, according to Lesnar, exactly what’s happening with Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow right now.
“There’s a stand-up guy who’s doing a lot of good things, a stand-up role model for kids, and this guy is taking a lot of criticism,” Lesnar said. “I guess it comes with the territory. When you’re in the spotlight and you’re one of the best people in your division, you better have some heavy armor.”
People can say his chin was exposed in the Cain Velasquez fight, Lesnar said, but as he pointed out, “in the heavyweight division, if guys are putting leather in the right spots, it’s hard to come back from that.”
As for Alistair Overeem, who has vowed to take Lesnar apart “piece by piece” at UFC 141, there’s no ill will there, according to the former WWE star.
“I don’t hardly even know him,” said Lesnar. “…He’s an opponent. He’s a guy I’m facing next Friday night, who I will have no remorse for, and who I will show no mercy to. I don’t have any emotions when I fight, for myself or anyone else.”
Given their frequency within the sport, we oft discuss the rematch here at CagePotato: we’ve mentioned a few that we’d like to see, we’ve mocked the possible occurence of others, and we’ve even gone as far as to predict how future ones would go down. And with 2011 featuring over 10 in the UFC alone, we decided to take a look back at at a year that both showcased and disgraced the awesomeness that is the rematch. Join us on this trip down memory lane, won’t you?
The Ones We Needed to See
#5 – Anderson Silva vs. Yushin Okami at UFC 134 (Silva v. Okami, though this image could be from just about any of Silva’s fights.)
Why it had to happen: Because the first fight marked the last time Silva had lost…at anything, and even if it was by way of illegal upkick DQ, it was enough to convince some people that Okami had his number. Plus, Okami had earned his shot by this point, and we were getting pretty damned tired of debating this old issue.
How it happened: Absolute. Domination. In typical fashion, Silva toyed with Okami like he was wrestling with his 4 year old nephew, letting the audience know that the fight would end when he decided it would. A head kick that rocked Okami at the end of the first round reinforced this belief, and Silva mercifully finished him off in the second. Cut. Print. TKO.
Given their frequency within the sport, we oft discuss the rematch here at CagePotato: we’ve mentioned a few that we’d like to see, we’ve mocked the possible occurence of others, and we’ve even gone as far as to predict how future ones would go down. And with 2011 featuring over 10 in the UFC alone, we decided to take a look back at at a year that both showcased and disgraced the awesomeness that is the rematch. Join us on this trip down memory lane, won’t you?
The Ones We Needed to See
#5 – Anderson Silva vs. Yushin Okami at UFC 134 (Silva v. Okami, though this image could be from just about any of Silva’s fights.)
Why it had to happen: Because the first fight marked the last time Silva had lost…at anything, and even if it was by way of illegal upkick DQ, it was enough to convince some people that Okami had his number. Plus, Okami had earned his shot by this point, and we were getting pretty damned tired of debating this old issue.
How it happened: Absolute. Domination. In typical fashion, Silva toyed with Okami like he was wrestling with his 4 year old nephew, letting the audience know that the fight would end when he decided it would. A head kick that rocked Okami at the end of the first round reinforced this belief, and Silva mercifully finished him off in the second. Cut. Print. TKO.
How they happened: Things didn’t go so well for “Bad Boy” the second time around; after falling prey to Jung’s Submission of the Year earning twister at UFN 24, Garcia would be upended by Phan in a Fight of the Night earning performance at UFC 136. Though detrimental to Garcia’s career, it did restore the balance between the sacred realms that had been thrown into chaos as a result of his previous “victories.” And hey, at least he took it with class.
What they proved: That MMA judging has not followed the sport’s rapid evolution over the past ten years, and perhaps it was time for a change. We’ve already discussed what needs to be done, but are still waiting for our lawyer to draft up the official documents. Anyone else got an idea?
There were many reasons why Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira wanted the rematch with Frank Mir, and it seems as if he might be looking for another one.After he suffered his first knockout loss at the hands of Mir at UFC 92, the Brazilian heavyweight …
There were many reasons why Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira wanted the rematch with Frank Mir, and it seems as if he might be looking for another one.
After he suffered his first knockout loss at the hands of Mir at UFC 92, the Brazilian heavyweight cited a staph infection as a reason that he performed poorly. It would be almost three years before they had a rematch at UFC 140 in November.
In the rematch, Mir looked to be all but out when Nogueira knocked him down and followed up with strikes. Instead of continuing his attack, Nogueira tried for a guillotine choke and let Mir recover long enough to lock in a kimura. Mir was able to jump to half guard and after a quick reversal, broke his opponent’s arm.
“I fought and lost by submission for the first time in my career,” Nogueira wrote in his blog at NogueiraBrothers.com. “That was a bad sensation, but it is part of the sport. Everything that happens inside the cage is very quick and the fighter acts more by reflex than by reasoning.”
Many thought former the Pride heavyweight champion would not need surgery on his broken arm after the fight, but it turns out he had to undergo surgery that required him to get 16 screws placed in his arm on Saturday.
“I know I made a mistake by trying to finish a bout that seemed won by knockout but when Frank Mir was almost knocked out, I heard the referee ask me to stop hitting the back of the head, so that was exactly when I looked to try the choke.”
“Mir recovered and finished me well. But I watched the replay and I was not hitting the back of his head, it was the side of his head, where it is permitted to hit. But I am not here to give excuses. I lost. I will heal up my broken arm and go for another bout, likely in the second UFC Rio event of 2012.”
Mixed martial arts fans have been treated to some of the best heavyweight fighting action ever in 2011 and the picture is heating up towards New Year’s Eve with the colossal battle between Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem. From the epic scramble …
Mixed martial arts fans have been treated to some of the best heavyweight fighting action ever in 2011 and the picture is heating up towards New Year’s Eve with the colossal battle between Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem.
From the epic scramble and roll between Mir and Nogueira to the bombing overhand right to Velasquez’s temple that won Junior Dos Santos the title, the division holds some exciting matchups for fans to want to see in the future,
With the recent news that Strikeforce will dissolve it’s heavyweight’s and almost all the best big men will be fighting under one promotional roof for the first time in history, the question remains who is the Best Heavyweight MMA Fighter Of All Time?
Alistair Overeem is now on the cusp of the biggest moment of his career as he takes on former UFC champion Brock Lesnar later this month.Early on in his career, Overeem was thought to be a top prospect in the 205-pound class and while he would fare wel…
Alistair Overeem is now on the cusp of the biggest moment of his career as he takes on former UFC champion Brock Lesnar later this month.
Early on in his career, Overeem was thought to be a top prospect in the 205-pound class and while he would fare well early against formidable opposition, he would tire and fatigue in later rounds, succumbing to many stoppages throughout his career.
However, since transitioning to the heavyweight class, the Dutchman has looked every bit as unstoppable as he’s become. Now, he resides as a top contender in the UFC and could earn his place as the No. 1 fighter in the division, thanks to his new found dedication that has resurrected his career.
On December 30th, 2011, over 500 pounds of mixed martial arts heavyweight brawn will collide inside the UFC Octagon. Two of MMA’s most polarizing heavyweights will look to destroy one another for a chance to challenge UFC heavyweight champion Jun…
On December 30th, 2011, over 500 pounds of mixed martial arts heavyweight brawn will collide inside the UFC Octagon. Two of MMA‘s most polarizing heavyweights will look to destroy one another for a chance to challenge UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos for his newly-found strap.
Former UFC heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar and former Strikeforce heavyweight champ Alistair Overeem are both ever popular fighters with a swath of fans and critics alike. There are not too many middle men when it comes to these two; either you are all for them or all against them, but either way, most everyone has an opinion.
This matchup of such iconic heavyweights is a goldmine for the UFC. Their ability to garner attention when they tape up their hands is hard to duplicate, and combining them in a heavyweight super-fight of former promotional champs is a no-brainer for UFC brass.
Simply put, whoever wins this fight, which should prove to be highly competitive, will then face the daunting challenge of dethroning the man simply known as “Cigano.” The best man for that job was just knocked out cold by the new champ as he took the belt from former champ Cain Velasquez.
Yet no matter who wins a chance at Dos Santos between Brock and Reem, something off in the peripheral view of fight fans should be distracting them. That something is former UFC heavyweight champ Frank Mir, a man who, quite honestly, is far more deserving of a shot at Dos Santos than Brock or Alistair.
No disrespect intended towards two exciting fighters both with championship pedigrees. Yet the math on this one is simple. Lesnar is coming off a loss to Cain Velasquez that took place over a year ago. Overeem is coming off a performance, if you can call it that, with Fabricio Werdum that most can assume he would prefer to forget. The man has not ever once set foot inside the Octagon.
Brock is returning to the cage after his second bout with a very dangerous and taxing condition of diverticulitis. There is no telling what condition or shape he will or even can be in after his corrective surgery.
Before Overeem’s fight with Werdum, he too had not fought in Strikeforce in over a year. His previous Strikeforce bout was a title defense against Brett Rodgers. This title defense was his first in almost three years. So his championship status is questionable at the very least. His win streak is undeniable, yet on the other hand, his strength of schedule is.
So, up for No. 1 title contention in the UFC heavyweight division is a guy who has not fought in over a year, and a guy who has never fought inside the UFC. All respect as it is due. Perhaps there is another guy more deserving of a title shot than these two?
Or at the very least, that guy, Frank Mir, should be afforded the opportunity to fight the winner of this bout and earn his chance to face Junior Dos Santos as well. You have the short math on Brock and Overeem, here is the math on Mir.
Since one month before Lesnar’s last fight, Mir has fought and won three times in the UFC. Two of those wins were by way of stoppage. Most recently, Mir tapped out Minotauro Noqueira with the filthiest submission this sport has seen since Mir broke the arm of Tim Sylvia. His kimura, in which he also broke Big Nog’s arm, marked the first time the legend had ever been tapped out.
Before shocking the world with his second consecutive stoppage over the unstoppable Big Nog, Mir fought to a decision win over the ever-astonishing Roy Nelson. Prior to that, he destroyed another Pride legend in Mirko Filipovic by TKO due to knee strikes.
So, while the business sense of any fight fan can fully understand the allure of Lesnar vs. Overeem, the mentality of challenging rights is left questioning: Why is this fight for No. 1 contender status? Hands down, the true No. 1 contender to the heavyweight title is Frank Mir.
No amount of ticket sales can deny that.
Again, Frank has won three times since one month before Brock’s most recent fight, which was a loss by the way. In that same time frame, Overeem had fought and won twice. Once in Dream and the other a lackluster win over Werdum that made fight fans worldwide cringe for 15 straight minutes. Obviously, neither of Reem’s wins were in the UFC.
Mir has been raking in his stomping grounds and proved to be the same top heavyweight he has always been. Something just hasn’t seemed right since after his most recent win, as we wonder what will be next for him while we already know either Brock or Alistair will be facing Junior Dos Santos.
If we were allowed to play matchmaker for just a moment, this is what makes the most sense from where Hurtsbad MMA is sitting. Mir fights “Cigano” as soon as possible, no questions asked. The winner of Lesnar and Reem faces Cain Velasquez for the next shot thereafter. Hell, even Cain is as equally deserving of a shot at contender status as anyone else.
This mix up with Cain would allow either a rematch with Lesnar, which he “claims” he wants, or Cain could become the litmus test for Overeem as to how he matches up against a true MMA veteran, which quite honestly, Lesnar has yet to prove he is with any consistency.
So all things being what they are, what we will probably see is the winner of the December 30th match go off and probably lose to Junior Dos Santos. From where we are sitting, neither man can match the striking of JDS (sorry, Overeem fans).
In the mean time, while waiting for the first title defense of Dos Santos, we will most likely see Mir fight Velasquez for the next shot thereafter.
At the end of the day, though, while Bellator is forcing warriors to earn their way to the top, the UFC is still booking fights based on popularity and sales. Understanding that approach from a business standpoint, in the back of the mind of the fight fan, it still just doesn’t seem right.
Mir will have to further prove his worth while two guys who haven’t earned a thing in the UFC get to fight for a shot at the title while Mir has been killing it. Whoever wins between Lesnar and Reem will earn their first UFC win over a course of time that Mir won three times. That doesn’t include the win Mir will have to earn to get one step closer before he gets there.
That math just does not make sense.
This article originally featured at Hurtsbad MMA. Follow us on Twitter @hurtsbadmma.
As isolated as Brock Lesnar is in his Minnesota training camp, and as successfully as he manages to avoid the internet most of the time, some criticisms still find their way out of the petri dish of MMA and into the former UFC champ’s world. But as he told me when I spoke to him for a Sports Illustrated story this week, the key is not so much in avoiding those criticisms entirely, but rather in knowing what to make of them once they get there.
There were many reasons why Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira wanted the rematch with 