Brock Lesnar is UFC's New Cash Cow.

by Jerret Anderson on Dec 14, 2008 5:12 PM EST Comment 44 comments

Of the top ten PPVs of the year Brock Lesnar was on three of them.

This is great news for the UFC. He could very well be the new cash cow when in comes to PPVs, replacing long time PPV draw Tito Ortiz.There are a few big fights coming up for Lesnar that could do monster PPV buys.

First up is the winner of Nogueira-Mir. A re-match between Mir and Lesnar would almost surely intrigue casual fans. It could be hyped up as a big time rematch between a re-motivated and rejuvanated Mir and a better and more skilled Brock Lesnar. Lesnar has a great heel charisma (pro wrestling term for "bad guy.") and people love to see heels lose (see Tim Sylvia). The UFC could hype up this fight and make Mir out as the good guy coming back from tragedy (motorcycle accident) and being under-motivated to make another run at the world title. And who doesn't like these types of inspirational type "Rocky" stories?

And if Nogueira, the favorite in the Mir fight, does win, the promotion would still have a great fight on their hands. Nogueira's two plus months on the The Ultimate Fighter have established him as a very friendly and humble man who is very hard to dislike. He could be hyped as the guy who has never been tapped or finished and who can take a beating and still pull off wins. The UFC could also promote this as a fight between the guy who beat the guy who beat Lesnar. The casual fans would eat this up and buy the PPV just to see if Lesnar could beat the crafty veteran.

Not only are these fights big money match ups but there is no doubt a re-match between Couture and Lesnar would also do great business. The UFC also has young prospects like Shane Carwin and Cain Velasquez that they could build up and have chase the title.

It's is an exciting time for the heavyweight division and with Lesnar as champion it could become a very profitable division for the UFC.

The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.

0 recs | Comment 44 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Gotta agree with all of that. Brock Lesnar has, if nothing else, made the heavyweight landscape much more interesting. Brock’s great for UFC business and what’s good for UFC business is good for everyone, including us.

by dropkick101 on Dec 14, 2008 5:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I totally agree. Along with cash that Brock will make for the UFC, I wonder if he might help rejuvenate the whole division. He might be able to become enough of a star that folk gravitate to the UFC’s division as opposed to other orgs’. This effect wouldn’t really materialize for another year or two at least, but I think that the longer that he’s there, almost regardless of how well he does, the more and better heavyweights will flock to the UFC.

by Rundownloser on Dec 14, 2008 5:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, it would be nice to see Arvlovski and Barnett come back. It would also be interesting to see if maybe Fedor would maybe come over.

by Jerret Anderson on Dec 14, 2008 5:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If Brock is able to get past the Nog/Mir winner, I would say it is almost a certainty that at least one of those three names will find himself back in the UFC. The potential money and notoriety to be made in a match with against Brock Lesnar is too good to pass up.

As a side note, I think we’ll see Bobby Lashley in the UFC after his third or fourth MMA bout. It would be interesting to see him against some of the other powerful up and comers in the division like Carwin, Velasquez, and Dos Santos.

by dropkick101 on Dec 14, 2008 6:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I guess Lashley looked like a beast in his win last night.

That would be a dream MMA match for all the WWE fans, Lashley Vs Lesnar.

by Jerret Anderson on Dec 14, 2008 6:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not just the actual WWE fans but the ex-WWE fans who have converted to UFC diehards. Remember how the original Ultimate Fighter aired directly after Monday Night RAW? The UFC owes a big chunk of its current audience to that lead in slot. That large contingent of fans would buy the shit out of that fight.

by dropkick101 on Dec 14, 2008 6:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i totally forgot about that lead in and that WWE Raw was on Spike back then.

by Jerret Anderson on Dec 14, 2008 9:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It could be even more, like Antonio Silva, Overeem, Kharitonov, and more importantly any new prospects.

by Rundownloser on Dec 14, 2008 6:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Antonio Silva?

He’ll never be in the UFC…. EVER….

Kharitonov is a more likely to end up in the UFC, we’re more likely to see Fedor in the UFC than Allistair Overeem in my opinion.

by Gunslinger20 on Dec 14, 2008 7:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Why?

I think you’re probably right being that Antonio Silva and Overeem could make a lot more fighting in Japan then the UFC would likely be willing to offer both of them, whereas Kharitinov doesn’t seem like he’s overly paid. Fedor is heavily sought after by the UFC. Is that the same reasoning you’re basing your ideas in or you got some other reason?

by dropkick101 on Dec 14, 2008 7:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Overeem doesn't make jack in Japan

The fans just don’t like him. Thats why they don’t care to do Mirko vs him rematch on NYE. Overeem vs Kharitonov is almost an afterthought for that card. He’s just never caught on over there, (probably resulting from Shogun beating his ass twice). He would probably be making more in the US if the UFC was paying him 50K per fight.

by skwirrl on Dec 15, 2008 1:32 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Why would you say that? Alistair Overeem is perfect for the UFC. Big guy, cut like a Greek god, great striker, and has no learned a pretty damn good ground game. I expect Overeem to be in the UFC if he keeps winning like he is doing right now.

by cyph on Dec 14, 2008 7:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

?

There is no reason why Silva or Overeem wouldn’t go to the UFC.

by banter on Dec 14, 2008 8:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Why couldn’t they come to the UFC? Antonio Silva might not be back in the US for awhile due fighting abroad while suspended for drugs. But Vitor came back so it’s not impossible. Overeem is probably a longer shot given that he can make quite a bit of money in Japan but in a few years the situation in Japan could be very different. The Kakutogi boom looks to be over and lord knows if interest will continue to bottom out further. If it does, it isn’t unlikely that Overeem parlays his Strikeforce belt into a UFC deal.

Are there any other reasons that you know of?

by Rundownloser on Dec 14, 2008 8:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Think we will ever see Cro Cop back?

by Jerret Anderson on Dec 14, 2008 9:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not in so many words…

by Rundownloser on Dec 14, 2008 9:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If he starts dominating guys again, then the UFC would have incentive to bring him back and he would be paid accordingly. Otherwise, he could make a boat load of money in Japan fighting lesser opponents. I for one hope he KOs Overeem and eventually makes his way back into the octagon. Cro Cop is fucking lethal when he is on.

by dropkick101 on Dec 14, 2008 9:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I thought Overeem said in a recent interview that he would consider a move to the UFC once all his existing contracts are up.

I believe it was the same interview where he said he thought he would beat Brock.

by mattman73 on Dec 15, 2008 12:10 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

For Overeem to even start talking about beating Brock, he has to get past Cro Cop. Overeem has no doubt been nothing short of outstanding as of late at heavyweight but he needs to do more than knee Mirko in the balls if he wants to make a claim as a serious top contender. Right now Fedor is at the top of the HW heap, with a group of fighters including Arlovski, Nog, Barnett, and Lesnar seated right below. Overeem needs to get past Cro Cop if he wants to break into that group of serious contenders.

by dropkick101 on Dec 15, 2008 12:34 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

There’s a fun fight for Cain or Shane.

by subo on Dec 15, 2008 2:06 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Overeem

was handling CroCop fairly easily in that fight until the ending.I don’t think you’ll see a rematch for that fight,because I don’t believe CroCop wants any part of it.Overeem in a rubber match with Kharitonov is a great fight however and that looks like it’s going to happen.

by tylerdurden1 on Dec 15, 2008 2:09 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes he was. However, I also agree that a rematch is needed to clear up all the controversy around it. I don’t think it is as much CC not wanting it to happen, as it is Dream not wanting their biggest HW draw to get demolished.

Eliot Marshall: Bader won. Like I said in the episode, I'm not going to make any excuses. It's my job to be able to deal with when somebody's doing that. It's not his job to change up his tactics.

http://eliotmarshall.com/

by BJJDenver on Dec 15, 2008 11:43 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Best MMA Free Agent Signing Ever

From rookie to champ in a year. Nuts.

by subo on Dec 14, 2008 8:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think that’s ever happened in any sport ever. To say the guy is a quick learner is like saying Oprah likes the occasional cupcake.

by dropkick101 on Dec 14, 2008 8:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think

Any sport has ever given a rookie a road straight to the championship passing by all the longstanding contenders that have paid their dues. Even Tyson had to win 18 fights to get a title shot – and nobody was even in the division at that point. Brock got his title shot (at Randy coming off a year layoff) before Nog had a chance to unify his interim title. Come on its obvious the UFC just all but gave him the title.

by skwirrl on Dec 15, 2008 1:36 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If by ‘the title’ you mean ‘a shot at the title by beating the best heavyweight champion in the history of the organization, fresh off a two fight winning streak against beasts that have been doing this for years and years’, then I totally agree.

But I don’t imagine you do.

For all the cans Joe Silva could’ve fed Brock for ratings, you’d think Zuffa would get a little credit for not taking it easy on Brock. You’d think.

by subo on Dec 15, 2008 2:09 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If the UFC fed Brock cans, then people like skwirrl would simply say “Big deal. Wake me up when he fights somebody good.” Had Brock lost against Couture, nobody would have even brought up the “easy” title contention question.

Brock and the UFC can’t win in their eyes either way. From a business point of view, the UFC already proved that it was the right decision. The haters need to let this go.

by cyph on Dec 15, 2008 10:42 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

The haters need to let this go.

But what will they do then?

by Rundownloser on Dec 15, 2008 10:46 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hate on Brock’s penis tattoo or his fear of airplanes, not his accomplishments in the cage.

by dropkick101 on Dec 15, 2008 2:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

They will rush to sign Lashley within the next 6 mths IMO.

A potential Lashley/Lesnar showdown may do 1 million buys.

by lbk on Dec 14, 2008 9:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Lashley doesn’t have anyway near the level of starpower with pro wrestling fans that Brock Lesnar did. Lesnar was literally the number one guy in the company for a good two years maybe. They were grooming him as the next Austin/Hogan type guy and he left in the middle of it. Lashley was pushed too soon before he was really over with the crowd and then they handed him the ECW title and put him in a marquee match at Wrestlemania. Lashley was just about as talented as Lesnar was but never really got over as much as Lesnar did, in my opinion.

Also, based on the fact that the WWE pay-per-views are only averaging around 200k buys and Lesnar alone has pulled in as much of the pro wrestling audience as we’re going to get, I don’t see how Lashley would pull in more viewers. The same people who would buy the pay-per-view for Lashley have already bought to see Lesnar. I see a Lesnar-Lashley card doing about the same as the two Lesnar fights before Couture did – roughly 600k – 700k buys. For that reason, I don’t see Lashley coming in and getting the same type of contract Brock did. He’s going to have to prove himself in a few lower level fights before he gets brought in, at which point it won’t be for the $250k + that Brock is making but probably around $50k – $100k a fight, depending.

by dropkick101 on Dec 14, 2008 9:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Pro Wrestling

Is the strongest. Nobody even needs Jiujitsu or boxing/Muay Thai anymore

by skwirrl on Dec 15, 2008 1:38 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Lashley was actually a multiple time all-american in college and placed i think silver at the national championships. Couple that with his amazing speed and agility for a 250+ pound man (see: Lesnar, Carwin) and you’ve got yourself a serious prospect.

by dropkick101 on Dec 15, 2008 6:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think Mir beats Nogueira and then takes the title from Brock. Yeah, he is the cash cow now but for how long? Brock is big but with mistakes he can be put in an ugly position again.

by vikingfiend on Dec 14, 2008 11:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah but even with a loss to Nog he’ll still be able to draw in at least one, if not two, more big pay-per-view buyrates, depnding on how he performs in those fights. Basically, Brock is going to still be the biggest draw in the UFC no matter what throughout 2009. And honestly, if Brock is able to get past Nog I don’t see how anyone beats him. He already has bear striks while standing up and an amazing wrestling base – if he beats Nog and shows he has picked up an adequate submission base then the guy will pretty much be unstoppable. They’ll have to start giving his opponents weapons to make it fair.

by dropkick101 on Dec 14, 2008 11:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Also, if he beats the winner of Mir/Nog, expect him to coach a season of TUF immediately after. It gives him more time to train/develop, contenders to sort themselves out, the division to develop a bit, and puts the biggest draw they’ve ever had on Spike every week.

It would be H-U-G-E.

by Rundownloser on Dec 15, 2008 12:00 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Definitely likely.

You know what would be sweet? If they signed Fedor and filmed the entire season in Russia. Fucking sledgehammers hitting tires and wrestling grizzlies in the woods.

Oh shit this is totally whats going to happen. By the time Brock fights the Nog/Mir winner, Affliction will no doubt be going under and Fedor will have no other option to face the best heavyweights.

by dropkick101 on Dec 15, 2008 12:36 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Honestly, as long as there are options other than the UFC (Sengoku and Dream could still be functional), I don’t see Fedor coming to the UFC. Hell, I think that he’d go to Strikeforce before he went to the UFC. As long as he has the management he has, I don’t think the UFC signing is gonna happen.

Another likely candidate for Fedor’s wares to eventually be plied in, look not to MMA; look to Hollywood. If the decision was between the UFC and nothing, I think it’s entirely possible that he just does movies and the occasional M-1 show.

by Rundownloser on Dec 15, 2008 12:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Fedor will never make as much doing movies as he does fighting.

Fedor’s management knows what they have on their hands and are waiting until the offer from the UFC is as big as it’s going to get. The UFC didn’t really need to bring in Fedor to fight Randy as a Brock fight was bigger. If Brock gets past the Nog/Mir winner and Fedor gets past Arlovski on the Affliction show, US fans are going to be clamoring for that fight in a big way. Also, Fedor will be much more widely known after disposing of two former UFC champs in a row. Basically, should Fedor get past Arlovski, the bargaining chips will be much larger and I could defineitely see it happening.

by dropkick101 on Dec 15, 2008 1:13 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Money clearly isn’t the only factor for Fedor, otherwise he’d already be in the UFC.

by Rundownloser on Dec 15, 2008 1:34 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

In addition, a spot coaching TUF opposite Brock Lesnar on US television would simply be too big to past up for his management. They have the Japanese market dominated by Fedor but not so much in North America. If the UFC offered him the coaching spot before they even had him fight, in order to basically sell him to the public and pump a Brock match-up, it would simply be too good to pass up. Fedor would no doubt be turned into a superstar overnight and his management team would reap the benefits. The potential for pay-per-view percentage on top of a base salary would see Fedor making in the realm of $2 million to $3 million for one fight with Lesnar, and if he was victorious, those paydays would continue.

by dropkick101 on Dec 15, 2008 1:20 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Insofar as there is a clause anywhere in Fedor’s contract that requires him to be accompanied by essentially free promotion for M-1, there won’t be a deal between the UFC and Fedor’s management. The second that happens, all you say could come to pass. However, at least at this juncture, it seems unlikely.

by Rundownloser on Dec 15, 2008 1:33 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs