When Lesnar still worked off scripted interviews and planned finishes, far before his first professional contest, the buzz on him was “if he had the training, he’d be UFC champion”.
Now fighting out of the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy, the same camp of amateur wrestler turned lightweight titleholder Sean Sherk, he’d have to make good on those expectations at UFC 81 against a very game, very seasoned Frank Mir.
February 3rd, 2008, an almost jittery Brock Lesnar marches the aisle of the Mandalay Bay Events Center, before 10,000 hysterical attendees that included former pro wrestling colleagues Steve Austin and Mark Callaway (AKA The Undertaker) and millions of viewers watching on PPV.
Brock’s Debut
American fight fans got their first real look at the collegiate champion: the build of an African gorilla, blonde crew cut, demonic skull tattoo emblazoning his back and upturned sword down his chest, size 4XL gloves tightly pulled over his gargantuan paws.
The grappler had his opportunity to mute his critics; media who mocked his endeavor into pro football, now spouting similar derisions about his entrance into the fight game, web writers who labeled him a UFC publicity stunt. Waiting in his corner, as announcer Bruce Buffer introduced the fighters, every unkind comment must have rung in Lesnar’s ears: pro wrestling phony, gimmick, pretender.
The fight lasted 90 seconds. It didn’t go Brock’s way.
An aggressive Lesnar drew on 18 years of mat-drills, shooting low on Mir in the early seconds of the fight. After Nevada appointed referee Steve Mazzagatti controversially called a stop to the action and deducted a point from Lesnar for an accidental strike to the back of the head – an infraction more suitably handled with a warning – jiu-jitsu wizard Mir caught the larger fighter in a knee bar from his back, forcing the tap out. The loss humbled Lesnar.
This Saturday Lesnar gets his second chance.
Enter: The Texas Crazy Horse
At 6’4”, 260, ‘Crazy Horse’ Heath Herring (28-13-1), a cowboy out of Waco, Texas, famous for his Old West lawman entrance attire and outrageously styled and colored buzz cuts, has shared the ring with the top heavyweights in the world, namely Fedor Emelianenko and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, and earned a unanimous decision victory over Muay-Thai phenom Cheick Kongo in his last fight.
The kickboxing practitioner will want to stand-and-trade with the less experienced striker, a cowboy looking to outgun his opponent. But a combination of an unusually long reach – the Ape-Man’s hands hang down to his mid-thighs – and Brontosaurean muscle makes Lesnar a dangerous striker, even if a bit unpolished. Don’t forget about Brock’s concrete cranium and tree-trunk neck, either. Even with seven KO victories, Crazy Horse might have trouble tagging out Lesnar.
Practiced in Sambo, the Russian art of submission grappling, Herring has stockpiled 16 tap out victories over his career. He’s no slouch; however, Lesnar’s quickness, ground control, and takedowns are world class. It’s difficult imagining Herring winning advantage on the ground against Lesnar, or getting his back.
The Next Big Thing entered fight game relatively late in life, at 29 years-of-age, UFC rushed him into a big match scenario (and opponent) he wasn’t ready for because of his money-drawing potential. Breakdown the match up and Mir’s custom built to beat Brock: a minimally trained powerhouse whose only weapon is his wrestling background versus an expert at submitting from his back.
The match with Heath is different. The advantages lie in his favor; six more months of training behind him and the schooling of clashing with one of the sport’s best. The pressure’s on Lesnar, but that’s nothing new for the farm boy.
Read Part 1 of this article or find results from UFC 87
Chris Capozzi - null
