The Case for Brock Lesnar

by Luke Thomas on Aug 5, 2008 6:57 PM EDT in News

Heath Herring may currently be hovering in UFC gatekeeper purgatory. After an ‘almost’ against old foe/buddy/nemesis Rodrigo Nogueira (UFC 73), when Herring had the Brazilian all but out via a picture perfect head kick, he hesitated, which caused the fight to swing the other way (Nogueira got the decision). I doubt Heath intentionally let Nog off the hook. But the result was that he lost and as popular and likable as he is, it had to have hurt him on the inside.

Brock Lesnar, like Kimbo Slice, is famous from exploits outside of MMA (WWE), headlined a major TV broadcast with less than a handful of MMA fights to his credit (when he fought Frank Mir at UFC 81) and is trying to make up for lack of MMA experience without losing momentum. I’m sure the pro wrestling industry in the US dreaded when Lesnar stepped into the fight game. In Japan when pro wrestlers like Nobuhiko Takada and Yuji Nagata fought and lost high profile bouts against high caliber MMA opposition (Rickson Gracie and Mirko Filipovic respectively), it hurt the image of pro wrestling.

Brock’s loss to Mir wasn’t as damaging to him or his buffed brethren because he was smashing the former champion quite handily before the fight was restarted after an errant Lesnar punch connected to the back of the turtled up Mir’s head. Getting beaten by a former champion in your UFC debut, in your second pro MMA fight, is not humiliating to an athlete with the amateur wrestling credentials of Lesnar (two-time NCAA All-American, two-time Big Ten Champion, and the 2000 NCAA heavyweight champion). If anything it motivated him.

So how will this clash of the big boys play out? Herring needs to do damage quickly with punches to the face Lesnar, while using side-to-side movement. He cannot stand in one place and prepare to sprawl or stuff the takedown of the wrestler. A Lesnar takedown is a sure thing and Heath has to be smart when this happens and tie up Brock’s arms with overhooks and maintain guard. Otherwise he will find out what Mir did; Brock Lesnar hits really hard.

Brock Lesnar by TKO in the first.

I'd be shocked to see this.

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(Best) odds for this fight are Lesnar: -234, Herring: +215.

Luke, you seem pretty confident in Herring in this match-up. What do you think the real odds should be?

by idefinecagefighter on Aug 5, 2008 7:07 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

I agree with Luke.

What promise has Lesnar shown? Ok, he pounded on Mir for a while but showed his monumental lack of MMA skill by allowing himself to get caught (note allowed himself).

My Bodog money is on Herring.

by HoustonRaven on Aug 5, 2008 7:28 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

As I pointed out in the other thread…what has Herring shown in his career? What is his best win? In his last 3-5 fights, what has he done to impress you?

by Mike Fagan on Aug 5, 2008 9:36 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

More than Lesnar

He’s hung in there with real MMA competition in their prime, which is far more than Lesnar has done so far.

by thetakeover on Aug 6, 2008 10:16 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

I think all Lesnar has shown is potential. Power and speed is what he has. That’s it. It’s like a chimp driving a Porsche.

Rob Dib
http://www.break-your-face.com

by Rob Dib on Aug 5, 2008 7:47 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

Of course that’s all he’s shown—he’s only fought once in the UFC. Having said that, his potential is enough for another huge PPV—I’ll predict 600K+ buys again.

I thought he looked awesome, even in defeat.

by steak_knife on Aug 6, 2008 2:28 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

5 Times

...in the back of the head. Not one. Five. One looked accidental. Am I the only person with a TiVo?

So his argument is: Herring almost beat the current champion. Lesnar lost to an old, washed-up, post-never-walk-again motorcycle accident champion. Therefore Lesnar beats Herring. What?

And to continue on the “Quadros can’t count” theme, I’ll also point out that “less than a handful of MMA fights” is 1. Look at how many characters I saved by doing it that way!

Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones

by jemaleddin on Aug 5, 2008 7:49 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

Actually it's 2

He has a fight in the small leagues.

by thetakeover on Aug 6, 2008 10:17 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

But Quadros was talking about how many fights before the Mir fight – so 1. :-)

Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones

by jemaleddin on Aug 11, 2008 7:52 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

But they were little girly arm punches!

by thetakeover on Aug 6, 2008 10:19 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

The guy made his pick, let him live with it. Can you honestly say your jaw would unhinge at the sight of Lesnar finishing the fight? He’s a big, athletic, powerful dude.. It’s not beyond the realm of reason.

Hate to revisit this point as often as I have, but it’s probably going to be a really good fight.

by Blackout612 on Aug 5, 2008 7:57 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

Since the Greco fight Heath has KOed, before the fight sometimes, or dropped all of his opponents with strikes. After the stand up, Frank was dropped by a barely glancing Lesnar punch. Heath has shown little submission offense in the last almost decade, tapping out Giant Silva and Yoshihisa Yamamoto means nothing. Brock has shown little submission defense, escaping and armbar before getting caught in a leg lock by a frighteningly quick and powerful grappler/former world champion. Heath was taken down at will by a guy who’s wrestling is a joke amongst MMA fans in Kongo. Brock is probably the most credentialed wrestler in UFC history save for the Team Quest trio )Lindland, Hendo, Randy) and a handful of others.

Brock by first round ground and pound TKO, unless Heath Hulks up and finishes him twice in the same fight like he did against Erikson.

by godzillad on Aug 5, 2008 8:10 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

This guy is in no way shape or form like KImbo Slice. Lesnar’s going to be a serious threat to the title within one year. Mark my words. I saw him fight in person at UFC 81.The dude moves like a welterweight and is probably about 300 lb come fight time. Remember what Jake O’Brien did to Heath Herring in his debut? Lesnar is 70 pounds heavier than O’Brien and a far superior wrestler. The only chance Herring has is to K.O Lesnar with a head kick or chop him down with leg kicks. I see Lesnar winning via GNP round two, or Lesnar lying on top of Herring like O’Brien did to win a decision.

by Josh H. on Aug 5, 2008 8:21 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

To change up a quote from the great Next Friday: O’Brien missed with his stick, Brock won’t miss with his bullet. You can count on one hand the most amount of strikes Lesnar needs to jack someone up, I doubt Heath can take even a little of Brock’s ground and pound before it starts looking like he’ll need help leaving the octagon.

by godzillad on Aug 5, 2008 8:40 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

When you have guys like Sherk saying that Lesnar can shoot in as fast as a welterweight from distances like 7 feet out you can bet Herring will be going to the ground, whether or not Lesnar can actually finish Herring is the thought in my mind, Herring is pretty resilient.

by pr0cs on Aug 5, 2008 9:36 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

Like Kimbo??

How is Brock anything like Kimbo? I mean Brock comes from a real backround in combat. In fact got him some championships doing it. That’s nothing like back yard brawling. Wrestlers get caught when they first transition to mma, it happens. Especially againt submission pros. Look at Couture, Hughes ect. Herring has looked decent lately but no way will he win this fight. Plus I think the UFC will generate buys from Lesner as well. I’ve had several people tell me their getting the fights that would normally just ask me the results. When I asked why they all said the same thing, Lesner. I haven’t watched wrestling since I was 8 but this guy sure is loved by their fans.

by Tommy7 on Aug 6, 2008 1:40 AM EDT reply reply 0 recs

How is Brock anything like Kimbo?

Brock Lesnar, like Kimbo Slice, is famous from exploits outside of MMA (WWE), headlined a major TV broadcast with less than a handful of MMA fights to his credit (when he fought Frank Mir at UFC 81) and is trying to make up for lack of MMA experience without losing momentum.

by mythbuster on Aug 6, 2008 10:33 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs