UFC 141 will go down at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on December 30 and feature the return of one of the UFC’s biggest draws in former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar.He will go up against former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alista…
UFC 141 will go down at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on December 30 and feature the return of one of the UFC’s biggest draws in former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar.
He will go up against former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem in one of the year’s most anticipated bouts.
It was recently determined that the winner of the bout will face current UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos, who defeated Cain Velasquez on the first UFC on FOX show.
After a second fight with diverticulitis, Lesnar will return to the cage for the first time in over a year. He was last seen getting pummeled by Velasquez in his third defense of the heavyweight championship in October 2010.
Overeem will enter the bout with an extensive 35-11 record, including a current 10-fight win streak with victories over Brett Rogers, Fabricio Werdum and Kazuyuki Fujita.
This video features predictions from Wanderlei Silva, Manvel Gamburyan, Kevin Randleman, Martin Kampmann and Master Rafael Cordeiro.
It’s that time of year again as Christmas is coming this Sunday. Now if you’re like most people, myself included, you still have a couple gifts to get for those special someones in your life. But what do you get someone on short notice when they’r…
It’s that time of year again as Christmas is coming this Sunday.
Now if you’re like most people, myself included, you still have a couple gifts to get for those special someones in your life. But what do you get someone on short notice when they’re an MMA fan as well? Well, this list is just for you—here are some quick ideas for the last-minute shopper.
Now while some of these may end up being a bit pricey, they make do in a pinch. I did say these were the last-minute ideas, not the cheapest ideas after all. With how close we are to Christmas, expect to pay a little extra for express shipping or for fighting people in stores as you try to get the last item in stock.
Despite having only competed in eight professional bouts in his career thus far, Brock Lesnar is still seeking to improve. Lesnar, who will make his long anticipated return to the Octagon next weekend at UFC 140, has only fought the best that the …
Despite having only competed in eight professional bouts in his career thus far, Brock Lesnar is still seeking to improve.
Lesnar, who will make his long anticipated return to the Octagon next weekend at UFC 140, has only fought the best that the heavyweight division has to offer. A former WWE star and collegiate wrestler, Lesnar’s main intention was to take the bout to the canvas and dominate his opponents utilizing ferocious ground-and-pound.
However, the 265-pound Lesnar has reassessed his career since recovering from a second encounter with diverticulitis and he said the only way to remain atop the heavyweight division is to be a more complete fighter than his competition, an essential key that can only contribute to his future success.
“I’ve had plenty of time to train and getting healthy has once again motivated me,” Lesnar told Fightline.com. “This is a sport that you have to evolve in and you have to get better if you’re going to stay on top in this organization.”
Lesnar will headline UFC 141 against arguably the most complete and versatile striker he has faced so far in Alistair Overeem. The Dutchman has accumulated some big victories since transitioning to the heavyweight division a few years ago, perfecting out his skills in Strikeforce and in K-1.
However for Lesnar, he is aware of the competition that lies in the division and he still sees himself hovering around the title picture, but the former UFC heavyweight champion understands the importance of being a more well-rounded fighter.
“Well, we’ve put lots of hours in the Octagon in training,” he said. “Lots of sparring, grappling, lot of jiu-jitsu sessions. It definitely hasn’t been a lack of trying here.
“It’s definitely getting more competitive, so I’ve got to be more competitive.”
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 …
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.
UFC 141 set for live stream on Xbox Live, will feature free fights. Lavar Johnson vs. Joey Beltran added to UFC on Fox 2 card. Brock Lesnar signs exclusive deal with Everlast. Chad Griggs is.
UFC 141 set for live stream on Xbox Live, will feature free fights.
Lavar Johnson vs. Joey Beltran added to UFC on Fox 2 card.
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.”
UFC 141 will go down at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on December 30 and feature the return of one of the UFC’s biggest draws in former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar.
As isolated as