Just kidding about the title, couldn't resist making an Al Jaffee reference. The New York Times' Freakonomics blog features Brock Lesnar answering questions sent in by their readers, pretty good stuff, a cut above the kinds of questions Lesnar usually gets I'm sure. Here's a few of the questions:
Q: What is the prevalence of steroids in M.M.A. and the U.F.C. in particular?
A: Outside of what you can already find out on your own, I really don’t know. I mean, the shows are tested and the results are made public. A vast majority of the time the guys are clean, but occasionally they’re not. I can tell you that the testing is real and, at least in the U.F.C., the fighters can be tested at any time.
Q: Are there any legal M.M.A. techniques or moves that fighters won’t use because they are considered unfair?
A: No. If it’s legal, it’s fair!
Q: Inside the ring, are you ever bothered with doubts about possibly losing the match or personal injury? Likewise, do you ever worry about permanently damaging an opponent?
A: The second you have doubts about losing or getting hurt, one of the two is bound to happen. As for permanently damaging an opponent: it’s not something I worry about because my opponent and I accept that risk long before we ever step into the octagon.
Q: The W.W.E. is well known to be rife with backstage politics; does the unscripted nature of the U.F.C. eliminate that aspect, or does it still exist?
A: Where there’s money, there’s politics! I do my best to stay out of it all.
Q: If someone fights dirty, are they likely to quickly be branded as a dirty fighter and have people fight back dirty?
A: There is really no such thing as fighting dirty. People are going to do what it takes to win. If they break the rules, they will be penalized; otherwise, everything is fair game.
Q: Why do U.F.C. fighters seem to have better sportsmanship (i.e., hugging each other after a fight) while other televised fighters (W.W.E.) have little or no sportsmanship and turn the fight into a soap opera?
A: Because U.F.C. fighters are really fighting and professional wrestlers are entertaining. After you fight somebody, in most cases there is a certain mutual respect.
Q: Gov. Jesse Ventura recently stated during an interview on The Howard Stern Show that he felt M.M.A. fighters were "working stiff," or that the match outcomes are already decided but there is no "script" to be followed by the athletes. As a former professional wrestler, do you believe his comments have any merit whatsoever, or do they stem from an unfamiliarity with M.M.A.?
A: I think Jesse was unfamiliar with the sport when he made those comments and probably has a different view after sitting ring-side at U.F.C. 87 last Saturday. It’s one thing to see it on the TV, but it’s a completely different experience when you are there live.
Q: Who would you consider fighting even if there was no money on the line?
A: Would I fight somebody if there was no money on the line? Absolutely not.
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