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Dave Meltzer Discusses Brock Lesnar's Legacy

Photo via Esther Lin / MMAFighting.com

Dave Meltzer's history in covering pro wrestling may be the reason that he's had some of the most insightful things to say on the retirement of Brock Lesnar, but the hits keep on coming. In his most recent edition of the Wrestling Observer newsletter, Meltzer talks about Lesnar's legacy and what he would do to champions from the UFC's past.

From the newsletter:

The next question is Lesnar's legacy. Most have been positive about it. The reality is he was an amazing athlete who won the title despite inexperience and a long layoff from competitive sports, succeeding based on athletic ability and a lifetime of wrestling to beat some solid people at their own game.

Others, whether blinded by their hate for Lesnar, pro wrestling, or UFC, have used this loss to say he was never any good, and discredit him. Some have written he was the worst UFC heavyweight champion in history, which is beyond laughable. If you line up every UFC champion in history, when they were champion vs. what short window of prime Lesnar had, Lesnar beats most of them almost every time. He'd pound Shamrock, Severn, Coleman, Randleman, Smith, Rodriguez, Sylvia and Mir into the mat when all of them were champions. He'd struggle with Couture before beating him the majority of the time if not almost every time. He'd beat the Josh Barnett when Barnett was champion, although I'm not sure what would happen if he fought today's Barnett. He'd lose most of the time to Cain Velasquez, because that's a bad style match for him. He may not beat Junior Dos Santos either, and as the sport evolves, he wouldn't beat the majority of the champions of the future. He was a legitimate champion for his time, even though he had major holes in his game, and brought a ton of new fans to the sport, and drew more than anyone in history.

I'm not really sure what the grand point of saying he'd beat men from a different era is. Guys like Shamrock, Mo Smith, Dan Severn and so on are hardly men that Lesnar's ability to dominate is particularly meaningful when discussing legacy.

Still, Lesnar's accomplishments shouldn't be diminished. What he was able to do with his experience level was impressive. When I wrote the article questioning his retirement and legacy across all his endeavors it wasn't meant to belittle what he did achieve.

That being said, I think it's fair to question how good he truly was or could have been given that we can't really know if the same results would have happened against Velasquez and Overeem had Lesnar not had the issues with diverticulitis.

SBN coverage of UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem

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The point of him saying he'd beat all those guys

Was a response to the point that people said he was the worst HW champion. By pointing out that he would’ve beaten those guys, he refutes that point.

by The Burning Scheyer Jersey on Jan 6, 2012 2:10 PM EST reply actions  

I guess the question is, isn't it obvious Lesnar would beat the old-school champs?

I mean Kevin Randleman is tiny next to Lesnar. Randleman wrestled in college at 177 pounds. I think it would go without saying that if you could build a time machine and transport the Randleman of UFC 23 and the Lesnar of UFC 100 into the same Octagon, Lesnar would squash Randleman.

by MichaelDavidSmith on Jan 6, 2012 2:18 PM EST up reply actions  

Man what a shitty argument on Meltzer's part

That’s like saying a T-72 tank would wreck the shit out of a Cromwell tank. No kidding, guy, the fighter of today is an actual mixed martial arist, it’s no longer the mixing of martial arts. Sometimes that dude needs to be slapped, can we do a group buy on a plane ticket for psychoblack?

"Now you see that evil will always triumph, because good is dumb."

by menckenstein on Jan 6, 2012 2:18 PM EST up reply actions   1 recs

except Brock's not an actual mixed martial artist

he’s a wrestler with a tiny bit of sub training and almost no striking game.

Follow me on Twitter @KidNate

by Nate Wilcox on Jan 6, 2012 3:04 PM EST up reply actions  

Yes, because MMA has never seen a wrestling focused champion without much in the way of striking.

.

Oh, whoops!

Writer for Blistered Thumbs
Part of Team Luke Thomas' Beard (LTB)
You may like Diaz, but Brock actually won a title that mattered.

by MicahtheCynic on Jan 6, 2012 3:06 PM EST up reply actions  

Man look at those gloves...

"Now you see that evil will always triumph, because good is dumb."

by menckenstein on Jan 6, 2012 3:08 PM EST up reply actions  

Hughes had many more years of MMA training than Lesnar

he’s virtually a BJJ blackbelt for god’s sake. Lesnar’s a blue belt level at best. And Hughes doesn’t flinch when he’s punched.

Follow me on Twitter @KidNate

by Nate Wilcox on Jan 6, 2012 3:08 PM EST up reply actions  

Uh, Matt’s never had the best chin.

Writer for Blistered Thumbs
Part of Team Luke Thomas' Beard (LTB)
You may like Diaz, but Brock actually won a title that mattered.

by MicahtheCynic on Jan 6, 2012 3:09 PM EST up reply actions  

He does the wave, hehe.

But Lesnar’s BJJ coach is COMPRIDO, man!

"Now you see that evil will always triumph, because good is dumb."

by menckenstein on Jan 6, 2012 3:10 PM EST up reply actions  

But in the era of MMA that we're in that's no excuse, especially when you're a millionaire with two/three amazing grappling coaches.

There wasn’t that kind of crosstraining available in the neolithic days of MMA and Matt Hughes and Sakuraba did pretty well for themselves against “actual mixed martial artists”

"Now you see that evil will always triumph, because good is dumb."

by menckenstein on Jan 6, 2012 3:07 PM EST up reply actions  

he's not making excuses for Brock

he’s pointing out a fact. Brock wasn’t a modern MMA fighter. He was a freak athlete with a great wrestling background who was able to walk into MMA and win the UFC title in his 4th fight. It won’t happen ever again.

Follow me on Twitter @KidNate

by Nate Wilcox on Jan 6, 2012 3:09 PM EST up reply actions  

I agree with that last bit. I'm more impressed by his smashing of Herring than I am of his win over Randy

I am not trying to take away that he won the championship belt in that fight but Randy had been out for a long time, was a lot smaller, a lot older and given how his fights since then have gone, it was basically the stars aligning for Brock to do what he did (in terms of a newbie with one strong skill set becoming champ). Nobody else will have as easy a time (unless they’re already famous coming into the sport) reaching a title shot and there’s no Old Man Randy to take the belt from.

"Now you see that evil will always triumph, because good is dumb."

by menckenstein on Jan 6, 2012 3:15 PM EST up reply actions  

Brock would have been a great champion

if he was not such a quitter. He had all the talent. He got in late. But we all knew he wouldn’t last more than 6 or 7 fights. This guy does not stay in one sport for too long. I loved his fights, except the last two which he clearly just showed up to cash his paycheck.

"Turn yourself not away from three best things: Good Thought, Good Word, and Good Deed" - Zoroaster
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**I am back, and I will bust you!**

by SheepleBuster on Jan 6, 2012 2:26 PM EST up reply actions  

There's a flip-side to that coin that I've mulled over for awhile.

I sometimes wonder what would have happened if you could take say a prime Mark Coleman, and bring him into modern MMA complete with today’s training and knowledge. He may very well have beaten a lot of the top guys today; who knows. The point is, it’s always silly to compare the athletes of yesterday with the athletes of today as if they are all on some level playing field. The sports change, so it’s not fair to say “Brock Lesnar would’ve destroyed Mark Coleman when he was champion.”

Example: I’m willing to bet today’s Frank Mir beats the Frank Mir who won the title. However, if THAT Frank Mir had been forced to compete in today’s MMA, in today’s HW division, he would have had to step up his game, and most likely would have done just that. There’s no way to know, and no fair way to make a comparison.

by Machiel Van on Jan 6, 2012 2:50 PM EST up reply actions  

Yeah that’s why it doesn’t work. The closest thing you could do is imagine all of the fighters at an equal skill set and then compare size, speed and strength. I think it’d be hard to find an ex UFC champ that can compare with him in that area, but it really doesn’t matter. You just can’t compare guys from different era’s.

If you can't wow them with brilliance, then baffle them with bullshit.
LSU! LSU! LSU! LSU! LSU! LSU!

by DayGeaux on Jan 6, 2012 2:55 PM EST up reply actions  

Kerr or Coleman would be my picks

"Now you see that evil will always triumph, because good is dumb."

by menckenstein on Jan 6, 2012 2:56 PM EST up reply actions  

Kerr before the downfall is hard to beat. He was a lot like Coleman except better subs and cardio.

If you can't wow them with brilliance, then baffle them with bullshit.
LSU! LSU! LSU! LSU! LSU! LSU!

by DayGeaux on Jan 6, 2012 3:04 PM EST up reply actions  

And he saved the world from SAFTA

"Now you see that evil will always triumph, because good is dumb."

by menckenstein on Jan 6, 2012 3:04 PM EST up reply actions  

It was Vitor who smashed Jon Hess.

Kerr put an end to Greg Stott and the RIP (Ranger Intensive Program).

by rabrown on Jan 7, 2012 12:30 AM EST up reply actions  

I think the best we could say is what potential did a historical fighter have

If we are going to project at all we are going to have to look at what is missing from a fighters game hypothesize whether they would have been able to make up those deficits going forward.

I very strong case can be made that an elite historical fighter CAN improve over time. I feel Randy Couture improved his standup considerably over time. Yves Edwards has become much faster on his feet in recent years. But the real deal is Dan Henderson. I frankly thought he was done after his back-to-back title unification losses. But this guy is, if anything looking better than ever.

But then there is the question, what makes a guy like Mark Coleman different from Dan Henderson? Why has Hendo excelled and Coleman floundered? I think it has to do with a personalty type that actually has a degree of curiosity about becoming a better fighter, and maybe enjoying the process of training. I obviously don’t know Coleman but from what I have seen in the cage, has never really done much to evolve his game.

So projecting these ideas onto Brock, we would need to know whether Brock is more like Hendo or more like The Hammer. A young, hungry Brock Lesnar, one who wasn’t already financially settled, one who wanted to fight MMA as a primary career, would, I feel have been able to grow into the sport and cross train the various MMA disciplines – just like a Cain Velasquez has done – and gone on to become a real legend in the sport.

Imagine Brock in PRIDE in 2004 rather than transferring NJPW after his stint in the WWE. (We no offers made?) We would have seen Brock/Big Nog, Brock/CroCop, or at least Brock/Bob Sapp. Who knows… even Brock/Fedor. He would have lost a few but he also would have won a bunch as well. And I think he would have become a major draw in UFC for both is pro wrestling background, as well as his success in PRIDE.

"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."
Mohandas Gandhi

"The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses - behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights."
Muhammad Ali

"If MMA is like dog fighting, those are some pretty fucking smart dogs."

"I don’t want to lick any butt."
GSP

by jackbox on Jan 6, 2012 4:20 PM EST up reply actions  

I question if he'd beat Coleman when Coleman was champ

If Brock had been born a decade earlier and they’d fought in 1997 then it would have been a matchup of two wrestlers. This was before cross-training became the norm, so I don’t know if a wrestling only Brock has any advantage over a 1997 wrestling only Coleman.

This is also why I hate comparing fighters from different eras.

Follow me @heynottheface where I occasionally tweet inane comments

by John Nash on Jan 6, 2012 2:18 PM EST reply actions   1 recs

I think Coleman would have the advantage in the wrestling departmant, but Brock’s spped and size could be the difference maker if they had fought. Brock’s just such a huge, fast, and agile guy. Man would I have loved to see that fight!

If you can't wow them with brilliance, then baffle them with bullshit.
LSU! LSU! LSU! LSU! LSU! LSU!

by DayGeaux on Jan 6, 2012 2:31 PM EST up reply actions  

Coleman by head-butt.

Tatum: I think he's a good man. I like him. I got nothing against him, but I'm definitely gonna make orphans of his children.

BECW Season 1 - The NOT LAST PLACE Team Spinning Fish
BECW Season 2 - WAR Cecil Peoples Champs

by Dave Strummer on Jan 6, 2012 3:02 PM EST up reply actions  

it’s laughable to call Lesnar the wost Heavyweight champ ever. Or even a bad Heavyweight champ. The attacks on Lesnar are almost the same attacks on Fedor. It is true that both have big questions hovering over their careers, but for reasons that probably have little to do with their in-ring performances, people feel the need to denigrate their records.

Follow me @heynottheface where I occasionally tweet inane comments

by John Nash on Jan 6, 2012 2:24 PM EST up reply actions   1 recs

Um..we talkin about the same guy who showed up for a paycheck in his last fight?

Lets not praise a guy who quit on the promotion and the fans in his last bout. Don’t tell me its okay to phone in fights, then quit, and please dont tell me he didn’t phone in the Reem fight. He sucker 750,000 people out of their money. “best I’ve ever been” my ass

Police have mounted a Phuket-wide hunt

by warren305 on Jan 6, 2012 3:36 PM EST up reply actions  

phoned it in?

Let’s be fair here. He didn’t get a chance to take the Reem down, he got caught with some nasty knees by (arguably) the best striker in MMA, and didn’t get a chance to carry out his gameplan. He looked a little gunshy, but I would too after eating some Uberknees.

It was almost the same as Cain’s fight with JDS. They knew they couldn’t just dive in for a shot, had bad luck with their first shot, and got taken out by better strikers. Are you saying Cain phoned it in?

I'd rather be trollin'.

by thirdparty on Jan 6, 2012 8:20 PM EST up reply actions   1 recs

Quality wins over quality opponents

The Carwin win for me is his highlight match. Apart from the excitement of Carwin coming close to getting the win, seeing Lesnar come back and sub Shane was truly a remarkable moment.

"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."
Mohandas Gandhi

"The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses - behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights."
Muhammad Ali

"If MMA is like dog fighting, those are some pretty fucking smart dogs."

"I don’t want to lick any butt."
GSP

by jackbox on Jan 6, 2012 4:40 PM EST up reply actions  

Who is Meltzer referring to

When he says, “Some have written he was the worst UFC heavyweight champion in history”? When I google “worst UFC heavyweight champion” I can’t find a single person who has ever written that Lesnar is the worst UFC heavyweight champion.

by MichaelDavidSmith on Jan 6, 2012 2:21 PM EST reply actions   2 recs

My thought exactly

I think Meltzer is throwing up a giant straw man.

Most of the criticisms I’ve seen about Lesnar have been about his heart and his commitment to the sport. I have seen virtually no debate about the quality of his athleticism, or his potential. Quite to the contrary, I think it’s that potential — which wasn’t every truly fulfilled — that causes people to question him.

Tatum: I think he's a good man. I like him. I got nothing against him, but I'm definitely gonna make orphans of his children.

BECW Season 1 - The NOT LAST PLACE Team Spinning Fish
BECW Season 2 - WAR Cecil Peoples Champs

by Dave Strummer on Jan 6, 2012 3:06 PM EST up reply actions  

Doubt it's any reputable source

Just angry Youtube fanboys and the like

by Cunny on Jan 6, 2012 3:22 PM EST up reply actions  

I do not believe we will never really know Brocks legacy until a couple of years from now.

Are the fans that he brought in permanent or will they pick up their steel chairs and leave the arena. One cannot deny that Brock made an impact and that he fought the top of the division at that time and now. While I will never deny Lesnar took tough fights, brought fans and more media exposure to the UFC, I cant say with certainty that these positives will stay with the UFC post-Brock.

I've got something to say; it better to burn out than to fade away!!!
I'm still waiting for my CM Punk WWE Ice Cream Bar.
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It would lead me to believe that @bisping must have pissed off @danawhite something fierce. RT @drjamezkelske: @danhendo just out of curiosity, if the #ufc comes to you and asks you to fight Bisping again how do you respond?" -Dan Henderson
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by Luke Thomas on Jan 5, 2012 1:40 PM PST up reply actions

by dandeman on Jan 6, 2012 2:22 PM EST reply actions  

I enjoyed his fights and ordered all of his pay per views.

At first I wanted him to lose, then I just wanted to watch his fights win or lose. The Carwin fight definitely was what won him over with me and many people.

I think he had a huge short term effect on UFC and MMA in general. But I have to think you pose a valid question about “will those positives stay with the UFC post Brock.” I don’t think they will very long. I think the fact that he didn’t have that many fights will hurt him in the end. I think many people looking back will be fixated on his record and just think of him as nothing more than a celebrity who had a very brief, yet successful, fight career.

No, your dumb

by RashadsLeftNipple on Jan 6, 2012 2:43 PM EST up reply actions  

Lawdy lawdy

This argument reads like a fucking Sherdog forum post.

by Subbevil on Jan 6, 2012 2:23 PM EST reply actions  

uh oh

Quietly leading Cecil Peoples Champs to victory and beyond.

All in the game yo, all in the game

by Our Bovine Public on Jan 6, 2012 3:18 PM EST up reply actions  

Imagine if Karelin was born about a decade later.

It's that the world is basically a forced labor camp from which the workers, perfectly innocent, are led forth by lottery, a few each day, to be executed.
I don't think that's just the way I see it. I think that's the way it is. Are there alternative views? Yes. Will any of them stand close scrutiny? No.

by memitim on Jan 6, 2012 3:03 PM EST via mobile up reply actions  

I get it, but Mark Kerr was never the athlete that Lesnar was (speed disparity). I’d argue Coleman was actually the superior athlete between himself and Kerr, Kerr was just more aggressive.

by Machiel Van on Jan 6, 2012 3:03 PM EST up reply actions  

I wonder why...

[scene from Smashing Machine where Mark tosses out all his prescription confidence]

"Now you see that evil will always triumph, because good is dumb."

by menckenstein on Jan 6, 2012 3:09 PM EST up reply actions  

Come on, you think Coleman was training on good steaks at the time? They were all juiced up then, take a look at guys like Kimo, Coleman and Shamrock.

by sheikybaby on Jan 6, 2012 3:14 PM EST up reply actions  

Shamrock aint pretty either

I've got something to say; it better to burn out than to fade away!!!
I'm still waiting for my CM Punk WWE Ice Cream Bar.
Go Chargers (oh yeah I said that)
X Box Gamertag: OneRabidDingo
It would lead me to believe that @bisping must have pissed off @danawhite something fierce. RT @drjamezkelske: @danhendo just out of curiosity, if the #ufc comes to you and asks you to fight Bisping again how do you respond?" -Dan Henderson
You're an idiot.
Follow @SBNLukeThomas
by Luke Thomas on Jan 5, 2012 1:40 PM PST up reply actions

by dandeman on Jan 6, 2012 3:25 PM EST up reply actions  

Maybe in stringing 4 or 5 coherent words together yes, having good insight and judgment no.

I've got something to say; it better to burn out than to fade away!!!
I'm still waiting for my CM Punk WWE Ice Cream Bar.
Go Chargers (oh yeah I said that)
X Box Gamertag: OneRabidDingo
It would lead me to believe that @bisping must have pissed off @danawhite something fierce. RT @drjamezkelske: @danhendo just out of curiosity, if the #ufc comes to you and asks you to fight Bisping again how do you respond?" -Dan Henderson
You're an idiot.
Follow @SBNLukeThomas
by Luke Thomas on Jan 5, 2012 1:40 PM PST up reply actions

by dandeman on Jan 6, 2012 4:57 PM EST up reply actions  

Brock didn't lose to natural 205ers though.

Writer for Blistered Thumbs
Part of Team Luke Thomas' Beard (LTB)
You may like Diaz, but Brock actually won a title that mattered.

by MicahtheCynic on Jan 6, 2012 3:24 PM EST up reply actions   1 recs

Brock was tremendously gifted athletically, especially for his size. He used that to overcome many of the fighters he faced but once that advantage was negated he really didn’t have any answers and never tried to develop any. Still, he was fascinating in many ways.

It's that the world is basically a forced labor camp from which the workers, perfectly innocent, are led forth by lottery, a few each day, to be executed.
I don't think that's just the way I see it. I think that's the way it is. Are there alternative views? Yes. Will any of them stand close scrutiny? No.

by memitim on Jan 6, 2012 2:43 PM EST via mobile reply actions  

MMA fans

Are the quickest fans to bury someone after they lose. It happened with Arlovksi, it happened with Fedor, and it is happening with Brock. Never mind that these men were at the top of their sports for an extended period of time, as soon as they lose, fans want to bury them. The same will happen the first time Jon Jones gets beaten. People will get on here and be like “OVERRATED, HE WAS NEVER GOOD, HE WAS LUCKY”. Lesnar was hardly the worst HW champion ever, and did more with less than any other modern day MMA fighter.

Robbie Lawler vs Nick Diaz UFC 47

Rogan: (after Diaz throws a looping left kick) Look at this Karate Kid stuff right here

Goldie: Daniel Miyagi has arrived in the OCTAGON.

by HeadKickOfDoom on Jan 6, 2012 2:52 PM EST reply actions  

I dunno man...

He was a champion collegiate athlete with millions of dollars to fund his own training camp, bringing in whoever he wanted to do whatever he wanted. He hardly had “nothing” to work with.

"Now you see that evil will always triumph, because good is dumb."

by menckenstein on Jan 6, 2012 2:54 PM EST up reply actions  

Yup

“do whatever he wanted” like NOT get hit in the face.

by nickrodamous on Jan 6, 2012 2:59 PM EST up reply actions  

Really?

this isn’t sherdog give people here a bit more credit.

by nickrodamous on Jan 6, 2012 2:59 PM EST up reply actions  

I didn't say everyone

But the majority of MMA fandom is ready to bury a guy when his time comes to an end. The list goes on and on really. Rich Franklin is literally the best example of this. The man went 22 -1, with 21 finishes to start his career. He dropped two fights to Anderson Silva, lost a razor close decision to Dan Henderson, got KOed by Vitor and dropped a decision to Forrest, and if you talk to like 95% of MMA fans, they will be like “Rich Franklin isn’t that good”. MMA fans are the worst example of “what have you done for me lately” mentality. I don’t mean this as an insult or anything, it is really just my observation.

Robbie Lawler vs Nick Diaz UFC 47

Rogan: (after Diaz throws a looping left kick) Look at this Karate Kid stuff right here

Goldie: Daniel Miyagi has arrived in the OCTAGON.

by HeadKickOfDoom on Jan 6, 2012 3:37 PM EST up reply actions  

It’s pretty similar to boxing in this regard, but more pronounced in high level MMA because the athletes don’t fight as many times in their careers. For a lot of fans, at a glance a 50-4 record with wins mostly against “cans” (I just can’t use that term without the quotes, always feels very disrespectful) is much better than a 16-4 record with wins against nothing but top competition. MMA and boxing just aren’t sports where stat sheets tell the tale of someone’s career; it requires context and a decent amount of knowledge to understand what a combat sports athlete’s record means, hence it requires effort to understand, and a lot of fans won’t have the desire or time to familiarize themselves enough with the ebbs and flows of the sport to really get it.

by Machiel Van on Jan 6, 2012 3:01 PM EST up reply actions  

I think you will probably find...

…that those who railed against a given fighter did so consistently. It’s not like someone was a huge fan and then become dump machines. Anti-Brock folks mixed with those who have legit, but respectful criticisms of Brock’s career probably make it seem like a ground swell. But this is the way things seem to go. Eventually things will settle down and Brock’s place will be secured.

"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."
Mohandas Gandhi

"The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses - behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights."
Muhammad Ali

"If MMA is like dog fighting, those are some pretty fucking smart dogs."

"I don’t want to lick any butt."
GSP

by jackbox on Jan 6, 2012 5:25 PM EST up reply actions  

I agree with Luck Rockhold

100% what he said is spot on. Now the question is was Brock the biggest bust in UFC history? According to this site a few months back it was Shogun…who went on to KO Forrest then put on the best MMA fight ever.

by nickrodamous on Jan 6, 2012 2:54 PM EST reply actions  

Bust don’t win belts. Bust go fishing in Privlaka.

If you can't wow them with brilliance, then baffle them with bullshit.
LSU! LSU! LSU! LSU! LSU! LSU!

by DayGeaux on Jan 6, 2012 3:00 PM EST up reply actions  

Not sure who Luck Rockhold is, but what Luke said made him look like a douche, and he wasn’t right. Saying Brock wasn’t a “real fighter” is idiotic.

People who aren’t real fighters don’t do shit like this:

Writer for Blistered Thumbs
Part of Team Luke Thomas' Beard (LTB)
You may like Diaz, but Brock actually won a title that mattered.

by MicahtheCynic on Jan 6, 2012 3:00 PM EST up reply actions  

Opps

LUKE* sorry I am not worthy……..but for real what he said is right and not idiotic at all. It didn’t look like he tried to hard in his last 2 fights.

by nickrodamous on Jan 6, 2012 3:06 PM EST up reply actions  

Saying someone who reached a level in MMA that Rockhold will never reach “isn’t a fighter” reeks of someone who is just jealous of someone else’s success.

Writer for Blistered Thumbs
Part of Team Luke Thomas' Beard (LTB)
You may like Diaz, but Brock actually won a title that mattered.

by MicahtheCynic on Jan 6, 2012 3:08 PM EST up reply actions   2 recs

Everyone that wins is the best everyone who loses is the worst, there is no in between, welcome to the internet.

by Phildo on Jan 6, 2012 2:59 PM EST reply actions  

Meltzer, stick to pro wrestling, i hear you know what you’re talking about on that subject. Meltzer is good for finding out PPV figures, Meltzer the MMA historian fucking stinks.

by sheikybaby on Jan 6, 2012 3:09 PM EST reply actions   1 recs

“Dave Meltzer’s history in covering pro wrestling may be the reason that he’s had some of the most insightful things to say on the retirement of Brock Lesnar”

That post goes with what I was going to say about the opening quote. Meltzer has covered MMA far longer than most of the current “hardcore” MMA fans even knew it existed. His vast knowledge of the history of the sport mixed with his history of the business makes him one of the very few legit people who cover MMA.

Look at how he was able to use both to completely embarass many MMA sights when the first numbers for UFC on Fox came out. MMA sights were running around with the first number reported and acting like it was a complete failure. Meltzer, having a clue of how to be a professional, waited for the more accurate number and was able to put it in context.

The fact that his banner is “pro wrestling” he’s wrongly dismissed out of hand by fanboys wanting to act cool, when in reality he’s probably the most reliable and long-term source for MMA news.

by ChicagoMMAFan on Jan 6, 2012 3:18 PM EST up reply actions  

Cool....

so you must subscribe to his newsletter do you have to pay for that? and good for him he has the inside info when it comes to nelson.

by nickrodamous on Jan 6, 2012 3:44 PM EST up reply actions  

You don't need inside info on Nielsen Ratings

they are released. What he has is the experience and knowledge of how to interpret them.

Again, to my point, he has a vast knowledge base for MMA… and no, I don’t subscribe to the newsletter, not really sure what my subscribing or not subscribing has anything to do with Meltzer’s credentials in covering MMA

by ChicagoMMAFan on Jan 6, 2012 3:54 PM EST up reply actions  

I almost rather listen to Jim Ross talk about MMA

"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."
Mohandas Gandhi

"The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses - behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights."
Muhammad Ali

"If MMA is like dog fighting, those are some pretty fucking smart dogs."

"I don’t want to lick any butt."
GSP

by jackbox on Jan 6, 2012 5:26 PM EST up reply actions  

My take away from this.

A lot of excuses for Lesnar. Basically using MMA math to explain how he would win against the Dan Severns and Ken Shamrocks 18 years ago. Funny he didn’t mention how he would do against Fedor. Who unlike Lesnar seems to have reinvented himself after a few humbling losses.

by nickrodamous on Jan 6, 2012 3:12 PM EST reply actions  

Fedor is an all time great...

Meltzer is defending the people he’s heard say Lesnar is the worst UFC champ ever. Two completely different arguments.

by ChicagoMMAFan on Jan 6, 2012 3:13 PM EST up reply actions   1 recs

What does Fedor have to do with anything?

Obviously, Fedor’s MMA career was far superior to Lesnar’s. Not sure what that has to do with this discussion.

by MichaelDavidSmith on Jan 6, 2012 3:17 PM EST up reply actions  

It has to do with the list of names he dropped

and Fedor is curiously absent. He admits how Cain would beat him most of the time and even how JDS would most likely beat him as well.

by nickrodamous on Jan 6, 2012 3:31 PM EST up reply actions  

when was Fedor UFC champion?

by Phildo on Jan 6, 2012 3:53 PM EST up reply actions   2 recs

Wait... you're serious with this?
reinvented himself after a few humbling losses.

1. Anderson Silva is waiting for you to punch him.
2. That guy is Anderson Silva.
3. Don't fucking punch that guy.

by Chris Barton on Jan 6, 2012 5:34 PM EST up reply actions  

why’d you do that? This could have been easy, I got the one liner about how he missed the part where he was being compared to UFC champions, we all could have laughed and moved on. Now we’re going to have 3000 comments of Fedor bullshit. I hate you.

by Phildo on Jan 6, 2012 5:54 PM EST up reply actions  

You see

I was gone for a couple weeks. I need this to acclimate.

1. Anderson Silva is waiting for you to punch him.
2. That guy is Anderson Silva.
3. Don't fucking punch that guy.

by Chris Barton on Jan 6, 2012 6:13 PM EST up reply actions  

Brock was good for the sport

Thanks for helping us get there man.

"Now you see that evil will always triumph, because good is dumb."

by menckenstein on Jan 6, 2012 3:18 PM EST up reply actions  

Lesnar was an odd case

He was athletic enough to beat the old guard of the UFC HW division, not good enough to compete with the newer incarnation of the same division.

by discoandherpes on Jan 6, 2012 3:38 PM EST reply actions  

His timing was perfect. Great stroke of luck for the UFC.

He used star power to get himself into the UFC, bridged the gap between the “generations” and brought a lot of new eyes to the sport, most people won’t remember this sad showing against Overeem because history is kind to champions (usually).

"Now you see that evil will always triumph, because good is dumb."

by menckenstein on Jan 6, 2012 3:41 PM EST up reply actions  

Yup

I don’t like him at all which made it such a good moment when he folded in half via a liver kick but he was good for the UFC I can at least admit that.

by nickrodamous on Jan 6, 2012 3:49 PM EST up reply actions  

Poor Brockle.

Sucks to be Brockle, right about now, but there you go.

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by Unabomberman on Jan 6, 2012 3:52 PM EST reply actions  

Why are you talking about diverticulitis when mentioning Overeem? What's the connection? He was cured when they fought?
I think it’s fair to question how good he truly was or could have been given that we can’t really know if the same results would have happened against Velasquez and Overeem had Lesnar not had the issues with diverticulitis.

Overeem? Eh?

ONE FC NEVER DIE

by Robust23 on Jan 6, 2012 4:42 PM EST reply actions  

You’re never cured of diverticulitis. And if you think the Brock in there against Overeem last week was the same than the one against Mir at UFC 100, well you’re wrong.

by Shnak on Jan 6, 2012 4:56 PM EST up reply actions  

what the f’ evidence do you have of that? Are you his doctor? When the inflamed/infected diverticula are resected you no longer have diverticulitis. His ass getting beat doesn’t mean he was suffering from diverticulitis at the time.
“You’re wrong” is a bullshit argument

ONE FC NEVER DIE

by Robust23 on Jan 6, 2012 6:06 PM EST up reply actions  

but the argument that losing a large piece of his colon and sitting out for so long and having multiple major surgeries would have no effect is somehow not bullshit, interesting.

by Phildo on Jan 6, 2012 6:15 PM EST up reply actions  

Explain to me please scientifically why losing a piece of colon would effect this fight? Also explain to me how the 1st surgery effected his performance at 141 or even the 2nd.
I have trouble seeing why when the fighter himself states he feels fine and in good health, when his training partners said he’s training harder than ever & looks better than ever, when his doctors gave him a clean bill of health and told him he’s good to fight, that you somehow know better.

ONE FC NEVER DIE

by Robust23 on Jan 6, 2012 6:55 PM EST up reply actions  

Not when you're fucking wrong.

Writer for Blistered Thumbs
Part of Team Luke Thomas' Beard (LTB)
You may like Diaz, but Brock actually won a title that mattered.

by MicahtheCynic on Jan 6, 2012 6:26 PM EST up reply actions  

the Brock fans have myths that they need to believe

Like Brock from UFC 100 would have beat the Reem. Or at least wouldn’t have had such a pathetic showing.

Let them believe what they want.

When I'm on the mic it goes down, CINTRON

-Joell Ortiz

by The Lethal Haze on Jan 6, 2012 6:47 PM EST up reply actions   1 recs

The big thing about Lesnar is his inexperience.

Athletes from the beginning era of MMA were just as inexperienced as Lesnar. He came in only knowing his wrestling and made it to the top of the heep of the modern MMA 265 lb. weight class. Lesnar was a force to be reckoned with. I think that he still is. He could easily be a middle of the pack heavyweight at this point. And being able to even compete in the UFC heavyweight division with little experience is pretty impressive if you ask me.

by RyanHobbs on Jan 6, 2012 9:44 PM EST reply actions  

Disagree with the Coleman assessment

Coleman was extremely athletic albiet one dimensional, he would have given Brock problems with his wrestling in his prime for sure, people discount Coleman he won the UFC HW championship and the Pride HW GP, that is quite the accomplishment.

I am willing to test myself against the toughest fighters in the world, in front of hundreds of thousands or even millions of fans, over and over again. Sometimes I win, sometimes I lose, but I always come to fight. I've been doing this for the past fourteen years, and I have at least a few more strong years left in me. What have you done in the past fourteen years other than act like a moron on this forum and hang on Anderson's nuts? - Dan Henderson.

by elmojo on Jan 7, 2012 5:07 AM EST reply actions  

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