My two cents on Brock Lesnar
I know I’m almost a week late on the subject of Brock Lesnar, but since several people have asked what my take is, I’m going to weigh in on the former WWE champion and his antics after his UFC match last weekend.
First of all, I want to make it clear that I am far from an MMA aficionado. In fact, I have never watched a single fight on pay-per-view. But I don’t think I really need to follow MMA closely to form an opinion about Lesnar.
Quite simply, I think Lesnar is the greatest thing to ever happen to the sport. Love him or hate him, every UFC fan has strong feelings about him, and that kind of passion is very good for business. I’ve seen buy rates for Lesnar’s successful UFC heavyweight title defense against Frank Mir last Saturday estimated at 1.5 million, which would be more than any WWE event in history.
Lesnar certainly is a compelling individual. Beyond his ability as a fighter, Lesnar’s abrasive personality and pro wrestling background have stirred the emotions of UFC followers, many of whom strongly dislike him for those reasons. People were talking more about Lesnar’s post-match behavior after he defeated Mir – he cut a promo on Mir, trashed a sponsor and flipped off the fans – than they were about the fight.
UFC president Dana White publicly condemned Lesnar’s post-match actions, but privately he had to love it (well, maybe not the sponsor part). I’m sure that White understands that antagonists such as Lesnar draw money. That’s true in legitimate sports as well as pro wrestling. Look at pro boxing over the years and the box office appeal of fighters such as Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson. As was the case with those two, Lesnar is someone fans are willing to pay money to see put in his place.
Was Lesnar’s behavior Saturday calculated or was he actually caught up in the moment? Personally, I think it was just Lesnar being Lesnar, but what does it matter? Scripted or unscripted, Lesnar is an awesome heel. And that makes him a very valuable commodity for UFC.
Comments
Sort of like John Cena in the WWE? Whether he is loved or hated, wreslting fans have strong opinions on him.
Right?
Posted by: Nimesh | July 17, 2009 2:51 AM
I'm not a huge MMA fan, but I have friends who are, and I've watched my UFC events on pay-per-view. That being said, while Lesnar is good for UFC for the reasons you gave, there is one drawback - the guy is just too damn good. We wrestling fans knew it before, and now everyone does: Brock Lesnar is a beast. And maybe I'm alone here, but I can't get excited about a fight when I know the outcome beforehand (this might sound counterintuitive coming from a wrestling fan, but we know that our fights aren't actually fights, and knowledgeable wrestling fans can often predict PPV results before the matches are announced).
To summarize, until UFC find a legitimate challenger to Lesnar (who isn't even anywhere near his prime), I won't be able to find it compelling.
Posted by: Michael in Virginia | July 17, 2009 3:24 AM
While I wouldnt have put the name Ali in an article about Brock Lesnar, i completely agree with this point. A modern day example in boxing is Floyd Mayweather Jr. The man knows that business is generated by being a heel. It is no different in UFC, WWE, or professional boxing.
In fact, Mayweather played his part so well that when he had his stint with the WWE, he couldnt even get over as a face (they brought him in as a buddy of mysterio's). So whenever Mayweather fights, people pay money to see him get his face punched in. Which of course, hasnt happened yet. (until of course he faces off against my man Pacquiao... im sure Batista would agree too).
Posted by: The Natural | July 17, 2009 4:26 AM
I could not agree with you more Kev. In life we have 3 choices in life...we can choose to love the guy, hate the guy or not care about the guy. Whichever you choose you are still TALKING about Brock and the UFC which leads to more fans and PPV buys. He had almost every fan of sports talking about him the following days after the fight as his "act" was plastered all over ESPN and every other media outlet, which will result in more revenue. In life we love to see the "Bad Guy" lose (what is our facination with wanting to see the "Bad Guy" lose and the "Good Guy" win)...it happens in movies all the time...
He is doing what every business loves and that's make money for himself and the company.....
Posted by: T.T. | July 17, 2009 8:12 AM
Speaking of Lesnar, don't you think Shleton is kept back by his former link with him ?
Vince is able to have a grudge with Brock and make the gold standard pay for it.
Posted by: Lafcadio | July 17, 2009 8:22 AM
Like him or hate him, Lesnar is on top of the world in the UFC heavyweight division. Lesnar is such a gifted athlete and performer (Thanks to WWE) that he makes any one of his fights must see PPV. Dana White is a former boxing promoter, so he knows that any publicity is good publicity...just like a certain someone in Stamford, CT.
Posted by: J Dubz | July 17, 2009 9:05 AM
Brock is awesome. I am just waiting for him to destroy his next opponent and then asai moonsault into the crowd onto Dana White.
Posted by: David B | July 17, 2009 9:54 AM
Hey Kevin, good post, and always a good read. To continue with a topic somewhat unrelated to WWE, what are your thoughts on Ken Kennedy (Anderson) recent postings about his career and future? Your take would certainly be a good article.
Posted by: Cal | July 17, 2009 11:52 AM
I will also own up to knowing damn little about MMA.But the people I know who are familiar with it tell me that he is the real deal,and that he is still very very green,and he is only going to get better.Lesnar will likely be the man to take this sport (and it appears to truly be a sport) mainstream.OK by me.
Posted by: Bill | July 17, 2009 12:28 PM
I agree 100% as a hardcore fan i hate lesnar but can't stop watching and i believe that dana secretely loved most of the antics as well. love him or hate him he is exactly what this sport needs.
Posted by: riffmasta | July 17, 2009 12:32 PM
Like I said in the comments section before the fight, Brock did his work in 2. The guy is an animal. Also, he seems to be hated everywhere except here in Minneapolis. Lets see Fedor in the ring with Brock
Posted by: Mike B | July 17, 2009 2:20 PM
I watch basically every UFC PPV and I sort of agree that Brock is good for the sport. Every organiztion needs a "bad boy" because fans will want to see him lose or continue to be a menace. My problems with Brock is that he is TOO big. He outweights his opponents by 40-50 lbs. Thats not his fault because the heavyweight weight division is basically 206-265.
Posted by: Phi | July 17, 2009 2:26 PM
Maybe not completely on the subject, but Brock isn't a WWE wrestler turned fighter. No other guy on the WWE roster could do what Brock has. He was a great athlete in college and he's a huge man, which has translated well to MMA. So it gets annoying to see the words "heel" and "promo" when I read things about Brock (on wrestling related sites) because that just isn't what mixed martial arts is all about.
Brock hated the WWE lifestyle. Why the heck would he bring it over? He got fired up, lost control, and did some dumb things. It's the past. People don't hate him anymore because of his WWE past, but because the way he comes across.
Personally, I think he's great. Other then getting in Mir's face at the end of the fight, what he did at the end was hilarious. He'll need to tone it down though because all eyes will be on him from now on.
Posted by: Vince | July 17, 2009 2:45 PM
Kevin , while I understand your point , that being basically any press is good press , I have to disagree with you .
For a sport that is trying hard to gain national respectability , not so much national "attention" , Lesnar's actions lend to the chances of setting them back a few years .
I neither like or dislike MMA , but as an outsider , I just don't think it looked very good for them . Definitely didn't make Lesnar look very good . While Brock is a good athlete , as far as MMA is concerned , I place him just a notch or two ahead of Kimbo Slice .
Saying it gently , he's not my cup of tea . Being more succinct , I think he's an ass_ _ _ _ . IMO
Posted by: the artist formerly known as jack in hebron | July 17, 2009 5:13 PM
Sorry Vince, but Lesnar is a total heel, and he cut a promo on Frank Mir. The only thing missing from it was "And that's the bottom line, cuz Stone Cold said so!" Flipping the bird and ripping on authority figures was classic Steve Austin.
Posted by: Sean | July 17, 2009 5:33 PM
I think it is safe to say that Brock Lesnar is to MMA, not just UFC, but the whole business premise, what Hulk Hogan was to pro wrestling in the 80s. Having said that, Fedor will be able to put him into an armbar and make him cry like a little girl, and that will be the end of Lesnar.
Posted by: tony | July 17, 2009 8:00 PM
Kev, I am a huge fan of Lesnars and of MMA(not just UFC). I think a lot of people want to believe that Brock can't be the real deal because of his association with the WWE. However, i think the MMA fans that boo Brock are ridiculous as these are the same fans that cheer George St. Pierre( a man with usually a 20 lb weight advantage at fight time who wrestles opponents down for the ground and pound) and who also cheered Tito Ortiz(who after beating Ken Shamrock, pantomimed digging a grave and then flipped ken off)
Posted by: rubxcubedude | July 17, 2009 11:45 PM
A legitimate contender to make a UFC fight vs Lesnar compelling? One name. Fedor. The best in the business.
Posted by: Notch Eight | July 18, 2009 1:03 AM