UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar is returning to the octagon ? #UFC

The buzz on social media this past week has been that former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar is returning to the octagon.

But if he is, UFC president Dana White isn't giving anything up.

"Really?" White said quizzically when asked whether Lesnar was attending Saturday's UFC 168 in Las Vegas. "I don't know. I honestly don't know."

Honestly?

"Honestly," White told MMAjunkie. "I don't know."

What White does know is that a Lesnar (5-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) return would be huge for the UFC's business. The hulking heavyweight did big numbers each time he fought on pay-per-view, reportedly cracking 1 million buys on four occasions.

But regardless of whether or not White has something up his sleeve, his response is likely to generate a fresh round of speculation on Lesnar's return, which has persisted despite his retirement in late 2011.

In late 2012, White said Lesnar contemplated fighting again, but was "never coming back."

Lesnar debuted in the octagon at UFC 81 and beat Randy Couture to take the belt at UFC 91. His title reign lasted nearly two years before Cain Velasquez defeated him at UFC 121.

During his UFC career, Lesnar suffered multiple bouts of diverticulitis, an intestinal disorder, and underwent surgery after a second bout. He retired following a first-round TKO loss to Alistair Overeem at UFC 140.

Lesnar subsequently signed a contract with pro-wrestling leader WWE, where he first gained stardom. He most recently appeared in the wrestling ring for the promotion's "Summer Slam" series

Alistair Overeem vs Brock Lesner UFC 141

heavyweight fights go bad, they go really, really bad. So please, Santa Claus. Make this fight an ending to 2011 that we will want to remember.
Fuel TV on every cable and satellite provider: The station is kicking off 2012 with a marathon of UFC content. They'll follow that with "Countdowns," pre-fight and post-fight shows, nightly news, and live fights. Fuel is an MMA fan's dream come true, but it still isn't distributed in the majority of homes. So Santa? Can you talk to some cable executives and make sure that every fight fan can watch Fuel?
Fewer injuries to champs: In MMA, injuries are inevitable, but 2011 was an injury-palooza. Jon Jones' hand, Georges St. Pierre's knee, Anderson Silva's shoulder, and Frankie Edgar's back and rib had effects on four different title bouts. Cain Velasquez's shoulder injury, sustained in 2010, put the heavyweight title on ice for more than a year. We know you can't heal injuries, Santa, but can you share some sort of a preventative salve over fighters around the world? Perhaps a magic powder that you can shake from your sled as it passes over Brazil, Canada and the U.S?
Compelling drama on "The Ultimate Fighter": The show that kickstarted the UFC's growth has grown stale. With the move to FX, live fights and a new format, there is hope for rejuvenation. Please, Santa. Make this a must-watch show again.
A coherent vision behind Strikeforce: Last week, Strikeforce and Showtime announced that they will continue their relationship. Until that deal was signed, Strikeforce's future seemed in doubt, as SF champions Nick Diaz, Dan Henderson and Alistair Overeem were all brought over to the UFC. Now that we know Strikeforce has a future, knowing its purpose would be nice. Is it a feeder system to the UFC? Will fights between UFC and Strikeforce stars happen? Let us know, Dana White Santa.
What are we missing? Add to this wish list in the comments or on Facebook.

Related: Georges St. Pierre, Jon Jones, Frank Edgar, Brock Lesnar, Dominick Cruz, Alistair Overeem, The Ultimate Fighter, Cain Velasquez, UFC 141

UFC NEWS – QuickTwitt: Rumors Flying That Overeem Is Out OF UFC 141 Main Event ?| MMA News

UFC NEWS – QuickTwitt: Rumors Flying That Overeem Is Out OF UFC 141 Main Event | MMA News

UFC: Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem fights on Dec. 30 ?

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UFC: Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem set for Dec. 30


September 6, 2011 | 12:16pm














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Brock Lesnar will return to the UFC octagon in a five-round main event Dec. 30 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, facing newly signed former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem.

"Brock is a big name, a dangerous guy, and this is a dream matchup," Overeem told The Times on Tuesday, just after signing a standard UFC fight contract in the office of Chairman Lorenzo Fertitta. "Brock's a big guy, an exciting wrestler with his takedowns.

"I want to see this fight myself. Overall, I'm a different fighter. A striker, athletic, big. These are going to be two big trucks going at it on a collision course."

The 6-foot-5, 260-pound Overeem, 31, is a former K-1 kickboxing champion too, He most recently defended his Strikeforce belt in June with a unanimous decision over takedown specialist Fabrio Werdum, who had previously defeated Fedor Emelianenko.

Lesnar has been out of action since losing his UFC heavyweight belt to Cain Velasquez in October at Anaheim's Honda Center, suffering a return episode of the intestinal ailment diverticulitis.
The Dec. 30 winner will be first in line to fight the winner of a Nov. 12 fight between Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos.

"This is the fight the fans want," UFC President Dana White said. "Both of these guys are monsters. Can Lesnar take Overeem down?"

Fertitta said the Strikeforce belt won't be part of the promotion. The UFC has purchased Strikeforce.

"Our thinking when we bought Strikeforce was to give fans the fights they want," Fertitta said. "Obviously, Alistair's one of the best heavyweights in the world, but he also has that 'it' factor -- the tremendous look, he's huge. It's a star factor."

Overeem said he's exploring setting up training headquarters in Los Angeles.

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U.S. Open day and night sessions canceled

-- L. Pugmire

Photo: Brock Lesnar, top, pummels Frank Mir during a match at UFC 81 in February 2008. Credit: Ronda Churchill / Associated Press


Thoughts ???

Brock Lesnar on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon buy death clutch book here ...

Brock Lesnar on Death Clutch: My Story of Determination, Domination, and SurvivalLate Night with Jimmy Fallon


promoting his new book death clutch and

the new season of the ultimate fighter

The Ultimate Fighter 13 tryouts video

Ultimate Fighter 13.Brock Lesnar: The Making of a Hard-Core Legend

TUFF 13 COACHES ANNOUCED ( BROCK LESNAR VS ?? )

The big men of mixed martial arts are back on The Ultimate Fighter, but this time, they will be coaching, not competing.
UFC President Dana White announced today that former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar and number one contender Junior dos Santos will match wits as the coaches of season 13 of the hit Spike TV reality series.

Following the season, which begins filming later this month and begins airing on March 30, Lesnar and dos Santos will then match fists in the Octagon at a date and location to be announced in June. The winner will face current heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez, who is currently sidelined with a torn rotator cuff.

“It’s gonna be a very interesting six weeks of filming,” said White during a media teleconference Tuesday. “These two will coach, then they’ll fight, and the winner of the fight will fight Cain Velasquez when he’s healthy.”

This will be the first time either fighter has appeared on The Ultimate Fighter, which began airing on Spike in 2005. The last time heavyweights coached the show was during season eight in 2008, when dos Santos’ mentor, “Minotauro” Nogueira, faced off against former champion Frank Mir. This season, the two will coach a host of welterweight hopefuls looking to secure a UFC contract.

One of the biggest success stories of recent years, Brock Lesnar’s rise to the top of the UFC has been well-documented. A former NCAA Division I wrestling champion for the University of Minnesota, Lesnar brought size, speed, and power to the Octagon in 2008, and in only his fourth professional fight, he defeated Randy Couture for the heavyweight crown. After successful defenses against Mir and Shane Carwin, Lesnar lost his belt to Velasquez at UFC 121 last October. Determined to get his championship back, Lesnar knows the quickest way to do so is through dos Santos.

“The guy’s a former world champion, he’s beat guys and held the title,” said White of Lesnar. “No matter what his record is, what the guy has accomplished in the short amount of time that he’s been in MMA is incredible. He’s obviously got a lot that he can teach, and not only him, but the staff that he has around him have a lot to teach young, up and coming guys, and that’s what it’s really all about.”

Unheralded Brazilian prospect Junior dos Santos turned into a contender overnight in 2008 when he knocked out highly-regarded veteran Fabricio Werdum in the first round. This spectacular debut was followed by finishes of Stefan Struve, Mirko Cro Cop, Gilbert Yvel, and Gabriel Gonzaga before earning a shot at the heavyweight title with a three round win over Roy Nelson. Yet instead of choosing to wait for Velasquez to return to action, dos Santos will risk his number one contender’s spot by coaching against - and then fighting - Lesnar later this year.

“Junior dos Santos is a young, up and coming guy,” said White of dos Santos. “He’s been knocking everybody out, comes off a three round war with “Big Country” (Roy Nelson) and I love when guys do that because it’s good for them, it’s good experience, it gets them in better shape and it takes them to another level. And to put this guy on the shelf for a long time is ridiculous, and much credit to him for not wanting to go on the shelf.”

Happy Thanksgiving _ Topp MMA Ranking - Best Pound For Pound Fighter

10. Jon Fitch


Points: 23

Affiliation: UFC

Weight class:Welterweight

Hometown: San Jose, Calif.

Record: 23-3, 1 no-contest (won past five)

Last month’s ranking: unranked

Most recent result: Def. Thiago Alves, unanimous decision, Aug. 7

Analysis:Would a finish here and there instead of one decision win after another help perception of Fitch? Sure. But there’s no denying his results.









Shields



9. Jake Shields

Points: 35

Affiliation: UFC

Weight class: Welterweight (never lost Strikeforce middleweight title)

Hometown: San Francisco

Record: 26-4-1 (has won past 15)

Last month’s ranking: 9

Most recent result: Def. Martin Kampmann, split decision, Oct. 23

Analysis: Didn’t help himself with a listless performance in his UFC debut.









Emelianenko

8. Fedor Emelianenko

Points: 51

Affiliation: Strikeforce/M-1

Weight class: Heavyweight

Hometown: Stary Oskol, Russia

Record: 31-2, one no-contest (lost last one)

Last month’s ranking: T-6

Most recent result: Lost to Fabricio Werdum, R1 submission, June 26

Analysis: Emelianenko is a year removed from his most recent victory and has no next fight in sight.











Velasquez

7. Cain Velasquez

Points: 64

Affiliation: UFC

Weight class: Heavyweight (UFC heavyweight champion)

Hometown: Salinas, Calif.

Record: 9-0 (won past nine)

Last month’s ranking: unranked

Most recent result: def. Brock Lesnar, R1 TKO, Oct. 23

Analysis: Has passed every test with flying colors. Next up: Junior dos Santos and his nasty striking.











Cruz

6. Dominick Cruz

Points: 73

Affiliation: WEC

Weight class: Bantamweight (WEC bantamweight champion)

Hometown: San Diego

Record: 16-1 (has won past seven)

Last month’s ranking: T-6

Most recent result: Def. Joseph Benavidez, split decision, Aug. 18

Analysis:Has to get past the underrated Scott Jorgensen on Dec. 16 before he can officially become the first UFC 135-pound champ.









Edgar



5. Frank Edgar

Points: 111

Affiliation: UFC

Weight class: Lightweight (UFC lightweight champion)

Hometown: Toms River, N.J.

Record: 13-1 (has won past five)

Last month’s ranking: 5

Most recent result: Def. B.J. Penn, unanimous decision, Aug. 28

Analysis: Has the chance to avenge the only blemish on his record when he meets Gray Maynard on New Year’s evening.







Rua



4. Mauricio Rua

Points: 118

Affiliation: UFC

Weight class: Light heavyweight (UFC light heavyweight champion)

Hometown: Curitiba, Brazil

Record: 19-4 (won previous fight)

Last month’s ranking: 4

Most recent result: Def. Lyoto Machida, R1 TKO, May 8

Analysis: Most recent rumors have his return from knee surgery pegged for a Match Abu Dhabi date with Rashad Evans.











Aldo



3. Jose Aldo

Points: 156

Affiliation: WEC

Weight class: Featherweight (WEC featherweight champion)

Hometown: Rio de Janeiro

Record: 17-1 (has won past 10)

Last month’s ranking: 3

Most recent result: Def. Manny Gamburyan, R2 TKO, Sept. 20

Analysis:Had to pull out of Jan. 1 fight with Josh Grispi due to a compressed vertebrae.









Silva



2. Anderson Silva

Points: 186 (9 first-place votes)

Affiliation: UFC

Weight class: Middleweight (UFC middleweight champion)

Hometown: Curitiba, Brazil

Record: 27-4 (has won past 12)

Last month’s ranking: 2

Most recent result: Def. Chael Sonnen, R5 submission, Aug. 7

Analysis:Super Bowl weekend showdown with Vitor Belfort looms.









St. Pierre



1. Georges St. Pierre

Points: 191 (11 first-place votes)

Affiliation: UFC

Weight class: Welterweight (UFC welterweight champion)

Hometown: Saint-Isidore, Quebec

Record: 20-2 (has won past seven)

Last month’s ranking: 1

Most recent result: Def. Dan Hardy, unanimous decision, March 27

Analysis: Some fighters look to avenge losses. St. Pierre’s bar is set so high, he’ll be looking to avenge the guy who last won a round against him three years ago in Josh Koscheck.



Thoughts ???

Brock Lesnar vs Frank Mir Rubber match 3 ?

has been about a month since Brock Lesnar went from being the most physically prominent force in UFC history to an all-but-invisible fighter.




One would expect by now, with so many pay-per-view main events to fill and barely enough headliners to fill them, the company would have a good idea of when their biggest drawing card will fight next.



But according to UFC president Dana White, right now there are no answers as to whom Lesnar, who lost the UFC heavyweight title to Cain Velasquez on Oct. 23, will meet.



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Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir have split their first two fights. They might not get a chance to determine an ultimate victor.

UFC 100 Frank Mir Limited Edition Collectible Coin

“I haven’t talked with him since the fight,” said White.



While in Germany promoting UFC 122 a couple weeks ago, White said what was expected by most: The fight that makes the most sense for Lesnar is a third meeting with archrival Frank Mir.



Almost as soon as that statement made its way to cyberspace, several MMA message boards suggested people flood White’s Twitter account with messages saying they didn’t want to see that trilogy play out.



“I’ve never gotten such a negative response to any fight,” said White of the immediate Twitter messages.



So, White changed his mind on the fight.



In talking about the change, White said he did not listen to the Internet but rather to his followers on Twitter, although it’s hard to really separate the two.



“I usually don’t gauge things by the Internet,” said White. “The Internet is [expletive] stupid. My Twitter, I do. On my Twitter, there are 1.2 million people that care about this thing and everything else, and you don’t get the goofy [expletive] that you get on the Internet.”



White unabashedly will tell anyone who will listen that UFC’s goal is to make fights that people want to see the most. It’s the reason that Josh Koscheck, who has done an incredible role as antagonist to Georges St. Pierre on the current season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” is getting a welterweight title shot on Dec. 11.



Koscheck’s campmate, Jon Fitch, is on a five-fight win streak that includes beating Thiago Alves and Paulo Thiago, both of whom beat Koscheck, and is generally regarded as St. Pierre’s top contender. He’s got no title shot in sight, but there is public interest in Koscheck challenging.



The idea of making the most marketable matches led UFC to set a company pay-per-view record in 2009 with close to eight million buys, a record that will be broken again this year, as the UFC should finish in the nine million total buys range after the St. Pierre vs. Koscheck fight. Much of that success comes from listening to the audience and having a feel for the matches people want to see most.



But MMA also has a vocal hardcore minority that doesn’t always agree with the bigger audience. In the case of Lesnar-Mir III, even if the hardcores do speak for the average fan, they’re not looking at the long-term picture that the promoters must consider.



Currently, there is no viable, big-money alternative to Lesnar-Mir III. That’s why White pulling back on a fight that likely would do more business than any other on the books so far for 2011 is so perplexing.



If Twitter was prominent in 2006, White would have been flooded with negative remarks about Tito Ortiz vs. Ken Shamrock, as insiders knew Shamrock was past his prime. The UFC took a beating on blogs and message boards for making the match. But reality was it set a new business record and to this day, their final meeting – the single most heavily criticized UFC match in history – is still the second-most-watched MMA fight on cable TV.



That third fight, in Oct. 2006, beat several games of that year’s World Series in the coveted 18-34 male demographic, a statistic that led to a breakthrough in mainstream sports media coverage because the numbers were so impressive that many felt the sport could no longer be ignored.



Quite frankly, if White had listened to the hardcore fans in 2008, he likely never would have signed Lesnar to a contract to begin with because of the issues they had about Lesnar’s pro-wrestling past.



Yet as difficult as he can be to work with, Lesnar has been a key element in the growth of the sport over the past three years. The second Lesnar-Mir fight, which did have the advantage of being the main event of UFC 100 and promoted as a special event, did more than 1.6 million buys on pay-per-view, a number far beyond anything any sport but boxing has ever done. Only three boxing events – Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Oscar De La Hoya and Mike Tyson fights with Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis – have topped it.



Lesnar and Mir are even in their series with a win each. A third meeting, without the title at stake, unlikely would come close to the numbers their second fight pulled, but probably would do more than any other heavyweight fight currently available to the UFC, more than anything other than a blockbuster along the lines of a St. Pierre-Anderson Silva fight.



There is an argument that if the UFC was to proceed with Lesnar-Mir III, Lesnar would only have seven fights in the organization, with three against the same person. But the alternatives are not only worse from a single-event box office standpoint, but also for building the heavyweight division for the future.



Roy Nelson, who White conceded would have been the next choice to face Lesnar, is in the middle of a legal situation regarding a contract he signed in 2009 with the Roy Jones Jr.’s Square Ring promotion. Jones’ promotion filed a lawsuit against Zuffa and Nelson, and Zuffa responded to the claim by stating that when Nelson signed his first contract with UFC on June 27, 2009, to participate in “The Ultimate Fighter” reality show, Nelson stated he was not under contract to any other organization. Until the legal proceedings are over, UFC will not be using Nelson.



Another potential opponent, Shane Carwin, recently underwent major back surgery and is out of the picture.



There are loads of questions regarding Lesnar and how he’ll respond to the loss. He’s disappeared from public view. His friends say he’s spent the past few weeks hunting and spending time with his family. He’s 33 years old, and has made a fortune in his recent fights.



Will he be like the 22-year-old Brock Lesnar, with barely a dime to his name, who came back from finishing a close second in the NCAA tournament as a junior and won it as a senior? Or even the 30-year-old Lesnar, who lost in 90 seconds to Mir in his debut, but came back to beat Randy Couture and win the heavyweight title? Lesnar has stated that he’s a prize fighter, emphasizing the word “prize,” and notes money is a major part of it.



With his financial success, is Lesnar ready to commit to reinventing himself and, in particular, shore up his weakness when it comes to his reactions to getting hit? Will he be able to outwork a machine like Velasquez? The lack of a next fight is a two-way street, and there’s no indication he’s been burning up the phone lines calling the UFC to ask to get back into the cage as soon as possible.



It’s an open secret that if Lesnar had his way, he’d headline WrestleMania in April, after being pitched a Floyd Mayweather Jr.-type World Wrestling Entertainment offer. White, who has Lesnar under exclusive contract, has publicly stated he would not allow him to do pro wrestling, which is likely to lead to underlying tension.



Lesnar has made millions in his UFC fights based on getting a cut of pay-per-view revenue, and it simply would not be cost effective to be in a match for the company to have Lesnar in against anyone but a top star. This eliminates the next level of fighters like Cheick Kongo, Ben Rothwell and Brendan Schaub from being considered. Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic, who was knocked out by Mir and hasn’t looked impressive in years, is at best a last-ditch desperation name.



This leaves only Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. But Nogueira has two strikes against him: First, he is nowhere near the draw Mir would be. But second, throwing short-term money gains aside, Nogueira makes even less sense long-term.



UFC has to create a top contender for the winner of the upcoming Velasquez-Junior Dos Santos title fight. Lesnar would be the biggest drawing challenger for either, but he’s going to need one if not two wins to earn that shot. If he lost to Nogueira, he’s out of the running. However, if Nogueira wins, Velasquez beat Nogueira easily on Feb. 21 in Sydney, Australia, and a rematch would be a tough sell. Worse, if Dos Santos wins, a Nogueira-Dos Santos title match would be almost impossible to make, given that Dos Santos is a personal protégé of Nogueira.



If Mir beat Lesnar, matches against Velasquez and Dos Santos are not only fresh matches, but also Mir’s ability to sell a fight would make them bigger than any other potential heavyweight matchups on the roster except one with Lesnar.



Which brings us back where we started: Regardless of what angry Twitter fans might say, Lesnar-Mir is the most logical match to make.

yahoo/ufc.com


Thoughts ?

WWE's Undertaker, Brock Lesnar Exchange Words Following UFC 121

WWE's Undertaker, Brock Lesnar Exchange Words Following UFC 121 WWE Tombstone - History of the Undertaker

UFC 121 has a new HeavyWeight Champ - Cain Velasquez ?

Cain Velasquez weathered an early storm from Brock Lesnar and proved why he has long been regarded as one of the top prospects in the sport, pounding Lesnar in a stunningly brutal and one-sided fight to win the UFC heavyweight championship at the Honda Center in the main event of UFC 121.






Cain Velasquez made quick work of former champion Brock Lesnar.




Velasquez hurt Lesnar with nearly every punch he threw and knocked him down several times. After the final knockdown, Velasquez pounded him with elbows and punches before referee Herb Dean stopped it at 4:12 of the first.



“He was better than me tonight,” Lesnar said.



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Lesnar roared out of his corner and threw a knee, but Velasquez answered with a hard combination that opened a small gash under Lesnar’s left eye. After they grappled briefly, Lesnar took Velasquez down hard.



Velasquez, though, was calm and worked back to his feet quickly. After one more Lesnar takedown, he bounced up and began letting his hands go. He battered the retreating Lesnar all over the ring, pummeling him with hard shots until Dean halted it.



Jake Shields won his UFC debut, but struggled to get it, pulling off a split decision over Martin Kampmann. Shields seemed to be completely gassed by the middle of the second round and struggled to do much in the final seven or eight minutes.



But judges had it 30-27 and 29-28 for Shields and 29-28 for Kampmann, apparently qualifying Shields for a shot at the winner of the welterweight title bout at UFC 124 on Dec. 11 between champion Georges St. Pierre and Josh Koscheck. Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin Iole, Dave Doyle and Dave Meltzer all had it 29-28 Kampmann.



Kampmann never let his hands go, and that may have hurt him with the judges. But Shields was breathing hard, looking at the clock and appearing to try to stall over the final few minutes of the match.



Diego Sanchez was coming off a pair of bad losses, to then-lightweight champion B.J. Penn and to John Hathaway, and he seemed to be written off as a contender. But after a slow start against Paulo Thiago, it was vintage Sanchez the rest of the way.



In a high-action fight, Sanchez won the last two rounds on all three cards in a high-energy match to take a unanimous decision. Sanchez was flipped by Thiago in the second, got up and slammed Thiago hard. He dominated the fight after that point and won by scores of 30-26, 29-28 and 29-28.



“I was very humbled by the last two losses,” said Sanchez, who returned to train with Greg Jackson in Albuquerque, N.M. “My motto for this camp was ‘Just earn it.’ “



And earn it he did with a high-energy performance that had the large crowd roaring its approval.



Matt Hamill got an emotional victory over his former coach on “The Ultimate Fighter,” Tito Ortiz, scoring a unanimous decision that puts the future of the former UFC light heavyweight champion in question.



Ortiz is now 0-4-1 in his last five fights and 5-6-1 in his last 12 and appeared to run out of gas midway through the bout.



Ortiz had a solid first round and seemed in control, but Hamill took Ortiz down in the second and did a lot of damage. The third round was spent mostly with the men trading blows, with Hamill landing far more often and with much more authority. But with about 1:20 left, Hamill took Ortiz down and then beat on him for the remainder of the fight.





Velasquez won by referee stoppage at 4:12 in the first round.



(Jae C. Hong/AP)

Ortiz was cut on the side of the head and below his right eye. Both of his eyes were badly swollen.



“I’m happy that this fight is over because I had a lot of pressure heading into it,” Hamill said. “I feel like I controlled the wrestling. That’s something I wanted to prove because Tito is such a good wrestler. I was able to control him and I still have a lot of work to do but a win over Tito is huge.”



Brendan Schaub made a big statement in the heavyweight division, winning a unanimous decision over Gabriel Gonzaga. All three judges had it 30-27 for Schaub, whose punches wobbled the big Brazilian on several occasions.



Schaub backed Gonzaga up for much of the fight and avoiding the ground, where Gonzaga would have been able to work his jiu-jitsu.



Court McGee started slowly in his middleweight fight with Ryan Jensen, but roared down the stretch and pulled out an arm triangle submission victory in the third round.



Jensen’s strikes controlled the first round, but McGee picked up the pace in the second. In the third, he landed a big right that decked Jensen and put him in position to secure the triangle.



“I landed that big overhand right because I set it up well,” McGee said. “He kept hitting me and hitting me and I was able to get his timing. I got to mount and that was it.”



Tom Lawlor put on the performance of his career in scoring a unanimous decision victory over Patrick Cote in a middleweight bout.



Lawlor took Cote down repeatedly, got in the guard and pounded on Cote, who was a better than a 2-to-1 favorite. Lawlor also mixed in submission attempts in his best overall performance in the UFC.



“I’m very excited about the win,” Lawlor said. “I executed my game plan. This is the first time I ever started with a game plan. I know he has a big right hand and I did a good job staying away from it. I was happy that I was able to get the takedown when I needed it. I feel like I did a good job of controlling the fight.”



Still, Lawlor wasn’t about to call out the top dogs in the middleweight division.





Brock Lesnar took plenty of lumps in his loss to Velasquez.



(Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images)

“I’d like to fight an 0-15 fighter next so I can get an easy win,” he said, smiling.



Daniel Roberts went for a guillotine choke, didn’t like what he had and moved into an anaconda choke, which he applied beautifully to submit Mike Guymon at 1:13 of the first round of their welterweight bout.



“I was expecting a three-round war and I was surprised when I got the choke,” Roberts said. “First, I had a guillotine and then I went for the anaconda. I was surprised that I caught him because he’s a ground guy, but I’ll gladly take the win. I knew it was tight, so I just kept squeezing.”



A lot of media were predicting that the lightweight bout between Sam Stout and Paul Taylor would be Fight of the Night, and it turned out to be a high-energy standup battle.



Taylor landed a series of hard kicks, while Stout punished Taylor with big right-hand strikes. Stout pulled out a split decision. Cecil Peoples had it 30-27 and Mike Beltran scored it 29-28, each for Stout. Larry Landless had Taylor, 29-28.



“When the judges said his name first my heart dropped, because usually in a split decision they say the winner’s name first,” Stout said. “I knew he wanted a war and that’s not what the game plan called for. I’m not one to shy away from a war, but I knew he was going to come straight at me and I didn’t want to get caught in those exchanges. In fact, the only time he caught me was when he sucked me into an exchange.”



Chris Camozzi rallied in the second half of the fight to reverse the early momentum that Dongi Yang built and pulled out a split decision. Cecil Peoples had it 29-28 for Yang, but Landless and Nelson Hamilton each scored it 29-28 for Camozzi.



“I was a little nervous when the judges were announcing the decision,” Camozzi said. “I was a little nervous; I wasn’t landing the combos that I wanted to. His distance was throwing me off. I stunned him with that left and I feel like that was the determining factor. I felt like he was gassing in the first round.



“I feel pretty healthy so I’m going to go home and train. There are a lot of middleweight fights coming up and I’ll be ready if the UFC needs a late replacement and I’ll be ready for my own fight.”



In the opening fight, Jon Madsen took Gilbert Yvel down, got into Yvel’s guard and pounded him out, forcing McCarthy to stop the fight. Madsen had been criticized by many for being boring, but he put on a good show this time out.



“This win was huge,” Madsen said. “I needed to make a statement to Joe Silva and the UFC that I can finish fights.”

yahoomma.com

Thoughts on the fight?

UFC® 121: Lesnar vs. Velasquez

UFC® 121: Lesnar vs. Velasquez

UFC 121
When:

Saturday October 23rd, 2010 10 pm EDT / 7 pm PDT

Venue:

Honda Center

Where:

Anaheim, CA

Countdown to the event:

00 Days

09 Hours

44 Minutes

24 Seconds Watch the UFC® 121 PPV on Yahoo! Sports

Live video on fight night streamed to your computer

High quality video streaming at 300k, 700k, and 1200k

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Buy NowUFC Fight CardMatchup #1

Fighter #1

Name:

Brock Lesnar

Height:

6’3” (191cm)

Weight:

265 lbs (120kg)

Record:

5-1-0 Fighter #2

Name:

Cain Velasquez

Height:

6’1” (185cm)

Weight:

240 lbs (109kg)

Record:

7-0-0 Matchup #2

Fighter #1

Name:

Jake Shields

Height:

0’0” (0cm)

Weight:

0 lbs (0kg)

Record:

25-4-1 Fighter #2

Name:

Martin Kampmann

The Hitman

Height:

6’0” (183cm)

Weight:

185 lbs (84kg)

Record:

15-2-0 Matchup #3

Fighter #1

Name:

Diego Sanchez

Nightmare

Height:

5’11” (180cm)

Weight:

170 lbs (77kg)

Record:

23-2-0 Fighter #2

Name:

Paulo Thiago

Height:

5’11” (180cm)

Weight:

170 lbs (77kg)

Record:

12-1-0 Matchup #4

Fighter #1

Name:

Tito Ortiz

Huntington Beach Bad Boy

Height:

6’2” (188cm)

Weight:

204 lbs (93kg)

Record:

16-6-1 Fighter #2

Name:

Matt Hamill

The Hammer

Height:

6’1” (185cm)

Weight:

205 lbs (93kg)

Record:

7-2-0 Matchup #5

Fighter #1

Name:

Brendan Schaub

Height:

6’4” (193cm)

Weight:

240 lbs (109kg)

Record:

7-1-0 Fighter #2

Name:

Gabriel Gonzaga

Napao

Height:

6’1” (185cm)

Weight:

242 lbs (110kg)

Record:

10
 
Brock Lesnar doesn’t read any of the millions of words that have been written about him. He doesn’t have “The Ultimate Fighter” set to record automatically on his DVR. On Thursday during a television interview with Jim Rome, Lesnar claimed not to know Chael Sonnen, who only two months ago came within seconds of defeating Anderson Silva for the Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight title.




The UFC heavyweight champion is an outsider in the sport he dominates. Few of the other fighters know him well and those who do don’t have anything to say about him. There are more leaks about President Obama’s plans for the war in Afghanistan than there are from Lesnar’s camp about any aspect of his life, in the cage or out of it.



More From Kevin IoleShields' star turn a long time in the making Oct 21, 2010 Supposedly healthy Ortiz wants to be on top again Oct 20, 2010 ADVERTISEMENT





UFC champion Brock Lesnar will talk all day about the fight business. Just don't ask him about his personal life.



(Getty Images)

Lesnar does his share of interviews and public appearances in order to build interest in his fights, as all UFC fighters are required to do. But Lesnar controls his appearances in a manner that others are unable to do. Many of the fighters are exceptionally open and reveal the most intimate details of their private lives with the public. Court McGee has been extraordinarily open about his battles with heroin addiction. Aaron Simpson was forthcoming about his mother-in-law serving as his child’s surrogate mother.



They provide a look into their souls and what makes them tick as men and as fighters.



But there is no such look inside Lesnar’s world. There are no photos of Lesnar with his wife and family on a weekend outing, since Lesnar declared them off-limits.



He’s by far the biggest star in mixed martial arts, as evidenced by the fact that each of his last three bouts has sold more than a million pay-per-views and generated about $14 million in ticket sales.



He’ll fight in front of another sellout crowd on Saturday at the Honda Center when he defends his UFC heavyweight title against unbeaten Cain Velasquez in the main event of UFC 121.



But ask his training partners what kind of camp he had and how he’ll cope with Velasquez and they’re suddenly very late for an appointment.



The truth is, there isn’t a lot to know. He’s a simple guy with simple tastes who prefers a night at home in Alexandria, Minn., to a night in a club packed with people.



“It’s very basic for me,” Lesnar said. “When I go home, I don’t buy into any of the b.s. Like I said, it’s pretty basic: Train, sleep, family, fight. It’s my life. I like it.”



Lesnar is an extraordinarily competitive man – “I’ll tell you, I’m a sore frickin’ loser,” he said – and in an amazingly short time, has become one of the world’s finest fighters.



For as much success as he’s had, though, he still doesn’t get the kind of recognition he deserves. This is a man who in four of his five UFC fights has faced a current or former heavyweight champion.



In his last three fights, Lesnar has defeated Randy Couture, a Hall of Famer and the best strategist in the sport; Frank Mir, the best ground fighter in the heavyweight division; and Shane Carwin, the most powerful heavyweight in the world.



The scary part is, he’s still improving rapidly. He’s only been a professional for a little more than three years and he’s still picking up the finer points of MMA that Couture had down solid years ago.



“I consider Brock one of the best of all-time and he’s just getting started,” UFC president Dana White said.



When it’s all finally second nature to him, he may be virtually unbeatable. And so if there is a good time to get him, it must be now. In Velasquez, he meets a guy who has essentially the perfect style to beat him. Velasquez is a better pure boxer, has good movement and unlimited cardiovascular endurance.

Brock Lesnar UFC 121 Death Clutch Walk Out T-Shirt - with Sponsors, XXXL

The conventional wisdom is that if Velasquez can survive the first three rounds, the pendulum will tilt enormously in his favor.



Lesnar’s legendary competitive nature won’t allow him to concede even the smallest point to an opponent, and he’s unwilling to concede he won’t be able to keep pace if the pace is fast and the fight moves into the later rounds.



He loves what he is doing and fighting, unlike professional wrestling, gives him a vehicle to channel his competitiveness. Fighting is a job, and a means of supporting his family, but it’s also a way of life for him.



As he’s talking about the UFC’s growth potential, White often says that “fighting is in our DNA; we get it and we like it.” Lesnar’s DNA is clearly loaded with the love-for-fighting genes.



Because he loves it so much, he’s eager to go to work and, as any human resources director will tell you, a happy worker is a more productive worker.



“At the end of the day, we all sit up here and we just love this,” Lesnar said of the fight game. “I don’t have to prod myself to get out of bed in the morning. I try to be the first one to the gym. I’m so thankful and glad there is an Ultimate Fighting Championship, because if there wasn’t, I don’t know what I’d be doing with myself.

Brock Lesnar UFC 121 Death Clutch Walk Out T-Shirt - with Sponsors, XXXL

“I just want to be better and I want to be the best I can be. Everybody who fights and gets into the cage, that’s the whole purpose of this: Proving that I’m better than the guy I’ve stepped into the ring with.”



Since being submitted by Mir in his UFC debut, which was only his second pro bout, Lesnar has won four in a row and has gotten better each time out. But when it’s over, he retreats into the anonymity of his home in Alexandria, Minn., where he keeps a small circle of friends and a very low profile.



During his appearance on Rome’s show on Thursday, Lesnar was as revealing as he ever has been about his desire for privacy in his personal life.



“I’ve been in front of the cameras for 10, 12 years,” the 33-year-old Lesnar told Rome. “I was a star at the University of Minnesota. I went on to World Wrestling Entertainment. Wannabe NFL player. And here I am, the UFC heavyweight champion.


UFC 121
“I just don’t put myself out there to the fans and prostitute my private life to everybody. In today’s day and age, with the Internet and cameras and cell phones, I just like being old school and living in the woods and living my life. I came from nothing and at any moment, you can go back to having nothing.”



So, his private life will remain private. But he’s leaving us a heck of a lot to talk about in his public life, and that’s plenty good enough. yahoosportsufcmma.com

121 UFC Heavyweight Championship BROCK LESNAR vs. CAIN VELASQUEZ

HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION BROCK LESNAR TO DEFEND HIS TITLE AGAINST UNDEFEATED CAIN VELASQUEZ ON Superfit: Royce Gracie's Ultimate Martial Arts Fitness and Nutrition Guide (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu series)THE NEWLY MINTED BROCKTOBER 23RD
UFC Heavyweight Championship
BROCK LESNAR vs. CAIN VELASQUEZ
Co-Main Event
JAKE SHIELDS vs. MARTIN KAMPMANN
Plus
DIEGO SANCHEZ vs. PAULO THIAGO
TITO ORTIZ vs. MATT HAMILL
BRENDAN SCHAUB vs. GABRIEL GONZAGA
DeathClutch Brock Lesnar "Champ" UFC MMA T-Shirt #2 (Mens X-Large, Black)
Live from the Honda Center – Tickets on Sale Saturday, August 21 at Noon PT
Official event page

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – The baddest man on the planet, UFC® heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar, is back in the main event for UFC 121, and unbeaten Cain Velasquez is looking to take his belt and become the first man to knock him out. Lesnar proved he had beaten the severe illness that kept him sidelined for a year by withstanding the onslaught by Shane Carwin at UFC 116 and defending his heavyweight title with a slick submission in the second round. His opponent at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, on October 23, 2010, Cain Velasquez, has already made short work out of the heavyweight division and he promises to make the most of his first shot at the title.

Also on this star-studded UFC 121 card, which is presented by Boost mobile, welterweight star Jake Shields makes his long-awaited UFC debut against perennial contender Martin “The Hitman” Kampmann. Also featured is an exciting welterweight matchup as Diego Sanchez battles Paulo Thiago, while it is teacher vs. student as Matt “The Hammer” Hamill takes on his coach from The Ultimate Fighter®, former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz. Rounding out the main card is a bout pitting rising heavyweight star Brendan Schaub against veteran contender Gabriel Gonzaga.

“Throughout fighting history, there has never been a Mexican heavyweight champion, but at UFC 121, Cain Velasquez will try to make history and become the first,” UFC President Dana White said. “To do that though, he must defeat the baddest man on the planet, UFC heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar. Also, fresh off his destruction of Dan Henderson, Jake Shields enters the UFC, and he’s got his sights set on the welterweight title, but he’s got to get by Martin “The Hitman” Kampmann first.”

“Having hosted the first-ever UFC event in the state of California, we’re thrilled to partner with Dana and the entire organization once again,” said Honda Center President/CEO Tim Ryan. “If the buzz already surrounding this fight card is any indication, October 23 should be one of the sport’s biggest spectacles of all time.”

Tickets for UFC 121 will go on sale Saturday, August 21 at noon PT and will be priced at $500, $400, $300, $200, $125 and $75. Tickets are available at HondaCenter.com, Ticketmaster.com, charge-by-phone (800.745.3000) and all Ticketmaster retail locations. In addition, any remaining tickets will be available at the Honda Center Box Office beginning Monday, August 23 at 10:00 AM.

UFC® Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Thursday, August 19 starting at 10am PT via UFCFightClub.com. A special internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers on Friday, August 20 starting at 10am PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.Lesnar UFC 116 Walkout T-shirt - Death Clutch, Medium

UFC 121 will be available live on Pay-Per-View on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN, BellTV, Shaw Communications, Sasktel, and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.99 US/$49.99 CAN for standard definition or high-definition broadcasts (where available). UFC 121 will also be available on Pay-Per-View in Spanish in the United States.

At UFC 121, Brock Lesnar (fighting out of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn./5-1) will be making his third title defense and, if successful, will tie Tim Sylvia for the most heavyweight title defenses. Lesnar will also set the record for most consecutive successful title defenses in the division. The four-time All-American wrestler at the University of Minnesota also won two Big Ten championships, as well as a National championship in the heavyweight division. The native of South Dakota showed his evolution as a fighter during UFC 116, as he was able to submit Shane Carwin with an arm triangle choke. A polarizing figure, Lesnar perhaps gained a stronger following from the courage and drive he displayed to overcome his bout with diverticulitis in 2009, and the best heavyweight on the planet has used his new lease on life to motivate him even further.

“I’m looking forward to getting right back in the Octagon,” Lesnar said. “After the long layoff, my last fight was just an appetizer, I’m still hungry. I’m in great condition and the timing couldn’t be better. Cain Velasquez is undefeated and he’s the legitimate No. 1 contender, but he’s not the guy that is going to take my UFC heavyweight title. It’s not his time; it’s my time. I’m coming to California to defend my crown, and on October 23rd, I’ll be walking out of the Octagon with my hand raised and the belt around my waist. Cain will be leaving with his first loss. It’s as simple as that.”

At 8-0 as a pro, Cain Velasquez (fighting out of San Jose, Calif./8-0) is the 20th fighter to fight for a UFC title with less than 10 professional fights. Of the 19 previous fighters, only four were successful in winning the title and interestingly, all were heavyweight fighters. Much like Lesnar, Velasquez was an outstanding collegiate wrestler, as he was a two-time All-American at Arizona State University. His speed and power may be the keys to a victory over Lesnar, as Velasquez has been very successful in using his athleticism to beat bigger foes throughout his career.

“I feel honored to be fighting for the heavyweight title against Brock,” Velasquez said. “He is a great fighter with a lot of size and is super athletic. This will be a great fight with a lot of action and it means a lot to me to be fighting for the title in L.A., close to my hometown. I will have a lot of people behind me cheering me on."

After establishing an impressive international reputation, Jake Shields (fighting out of San Francisco, Calif./25-4-1) has made the transition to the Octagon to test his skills against the best fighters in the world. Shields’ resume is an impressive one, as he has been successful in defeating Carlos Condit, Mike Pyle, Robbie Lawler and former PRIDE champion and UFC veteran Dan Henderson. Shields’ signing has been highly anticipated by the MMA community and his first fight will be a true test to where he stands in the welterweight division.

An established fighter with the UFC, Martin Kampmann (fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev./17-3) is riding a two fight win streak, and has also won four of his last five. Overall in the UFC, “The Hitman” has compiled a record of 8-2, dating back to August of 2006. The Denmark native has tremendous knockout power and an underrated ground game, which could prove to be a tough combination for Shields.

Diego Sanchez (fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M./23-4) made his UFC debut on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter, defeating Kenny Florian to win a contract with the organization. The “Nightmare” was successful in the welterweight division, but chose to move to lightweight where he fought for the championship against BJ Penn. Sanchez has since moved back to the welterweight division, as well as back to Greg Jackson’s camp, where he hasn’t trained since he fought Josh Koscheck in 2007.

Special ops police officer Paulo Thiago (fighting out of Brasilia, Brazil/13-2) made a splash in the welterweight division in 2009 when he defeated Josh Koscheck via first round knockout. Thiago has only five UFC fights in his career, however he has proved to be a tough opponent with an iron chin. The submission specialist will be a formidable opponent for Sanchez, in a matchup that will help two fighters realize their position within the welterweight division.
2010 Topps UFC Trading Card # 92 Cain Velasquez (Ultimate Fighting Championship) Shipped in Screwdown Case!
One of the most recognizable figures in the MMA community, Tito Ortiz (fighting out of Huntington Beach, Calif./16-7-1) is at an interesting place in his storied career. The “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” will be taking on his pupil from the third season of The Ultimate Fighter, Matt Hamill, and while Ortiz has dealt with some recent adversity due to injuries, the former world champion is healthy and firing on all cylinders in his quest to beat “The Hammer” and get his title back.

Matt Hamill (fighting out of Utica, N.Y. by way of Loveland, Ohio/10-2) has been flying under the radar recently, quietly putting together a four fight win streak. Impressive victories over Mark Munoz and Keith Jardine, coupled with a DQ victory over Jon Jones, have elevated Hamill to the upper echelon of the light heavyweight division. His status as a three-time Division III NCAA wrestling champion, as well as a two time world champion in freestyle wrestling, has helped “The Hammer” avoid 90% of total takedowns, as he continues to develop his standup technique.

Making his debut at The Ultimate Fighter 10 finale, Brendan Schaub (fighting out of Denver, Colo./7-1) has been victorious in his last two fights, most recently at UFC 116 when he defeated Chris Tuchscherer via first round knockout. A former Golden Gloves champion, “The Hybrid” has obtained a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which will help elevate his status in the heavyweight division.

Another fighter who is at a crossroads in his career is Gabriel Gonzaga (fighting out of Ludlow, Mass./11-5). Coming off tough battles with two of the division’s best in Junior Dos Santos and Shane Carwin, Gonzaga has seven wins in the UFC and has not been shy to fight top competition, as he has also fought Mirko Cro Cop, Fabricio Werdum and Randy Couture.

In Lesnar’s next fight, he will hook it up with a very different type of contender, undefeated Cain Velasquez (8-0).

What worked for Lesnar on Saturday was surviving Carwin’s first-round onslaught. As Lesnar withstood Carwin’s attack, he knew that as long as the fight wasn’t stopped, he had four rounds left against a tired opponent.




Velasquez doesn’t have Carwin’s punching power, or his ability to finish as brutally fast. But what he does have is amazing cardiovascular conditioning. NFL legend Herschel Walker, who has trained with Velasquez over the past year, has called Velasquez the best conditioned athlete he’s ever seen.



Velasquez and his trainer, Javier Mendez, were very interested spectators at the arena on Saturday night. Mendez said he felt Lesnar proved he was the real champion, and that he answered any questions about his chin and resilience.



“But I think Cain’s better in every category,” Mendez said. “He’s got better stand-up. He’s got better conditioning. He’s got more skill on the ground.”


Death Clutch Brock Lesner UFC Heavyweight Champion Black T-shirt Tee
And Lesnar’s size advantage may not be all it is cracked up to be when he meets Velasquez, at a date and time yet to be determined.



“What people don’t realize about the size difference is that Cain is used to facing guys the size of Lesnar [Velasquez, who fights at 235-240 pounds, was usually the smaller man as a college heavyweight wrestler]. I think he even has the slight edge in wrestling because he’s younger [Velasquez turns 28 this month; Lesnar 33 next week] and he’s never stopped competing.”



Mendez notes that Lesnar is more explosive, and he’ll probably have a 25-30 pound size advantage and an edge in physical power.



Dana White said he’d have to sit down with Lesnar to plan when the match would take place.



An interesting aspect of a Lesnar vs. Velasquez match is its potential effect on the UFC growth in a new market: Mexico.



White spoke of wanting to do a show in Mexico City, but he doesn’t know if the timing would work out for a Lesnar-Carwin fight. The UFC has exploded in popularity on Mexican television over the past year, but it remains well behind the boxing and pro wrestling that have long been staples in the culture for decades.



Lesnar is already a star in Mexico from his tenure with World Wrestling Entertainment, not to mention the phenomenal ratings his match with Frank Mir did on national television last summer.



The UFC has attempted to market Velasquez as a Latino hero. Velasquez was born in the U.S., the son of an undocumented immigrant.



Even before Velasquez had his first UFC fight, Mendez raved about Velasquez as the best prospect who ever walked through the doors of the American Kickboxing Academy, one of the premier MMA gyms in the country.



He would note that not only did Velasquez have the physical skills to be a champion, but that there was huge marketing potential because there has never been a world champion heavyweight of Mexican ancestry in a major combat sport.



“You’re going to see Cain improving with every fight,” Mendez said. “He is still two or three years from his peak.”



Lesnar, though nearly 33, also hasn’t hit his peak. On Saturday, he showed submission skills that he had never shown in the past, and while he said he was embarrassed a little about his boxing in the fight, he noted how hard he’s worked and how much he’s improved on it since the last fight.



“Each win, you’ve got to move forward,” Lesnar said. “We’ll train and keep doing the right things. Let’s face it, I’m a wrestler. I’m trying to evolve. It’s pretty remarkable that I have only six fights and I’m UFC heavyweight champion. I’ve got a lot of room to grow. I’ll be the first one to tell you.”



When things looked bad for Lesnar on Saturday night, he said the beating he took was nothing worse than he’s endured in camp. But he was scared referee Josh Rosenthal would stop it.



“There was a time I was worried, but he [Rosenthal] came to me [before the fight] and said if the fight gets ugly and somebody is in a bad situation, you have to show me you’re still staying alive,” said Lesnar. “It kept going through my mind. Every punch felt less and less.”



“I’m a human being,” said Lesnar. “My training partners get me down and they beat on me. They get me down, they get me really tired. I’ve been in those spots. The hardest part is the training. This stuff tonight is what we live for. This is the most awesome stuff. I don’t know if it’s better than sex, but it’s right up there. It’s great. I enjoy it.”
Brock Lesnar’s journey back from a life-threatening illness was capped with his stirring comeback victory over Shane Carwin on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.




“Honest to god, from what I’ve been though since Nov. 6 [when he was diagnosed with diverticulitis], it feels like it’s been 10 years,” said Lesnar. “It’s been a grueling, grueling road.”





In Brock Lesnar's next fight, his opponent's cardio won't be a problem.


by
yahoomaa.com / Meltzer

But his journey as the UFC heavyweight champion is far from over. In Lesnar’s next fight, he will hook it up with a very different type of contender, undefeated Cain Velasquez (8-0).

Watch UFC 116 Results: Brock Lesnar Submits Shane Carwin, Leben Outlasts Akiyama Highlights ...

UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar successfully returned to action for the first time in a year, surviving an opening round onslaught to submit interim title-holder Shane Carwin in the second round of the UFC 116 main event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.




Carwin tagged Lesnar as he shot for a takedown early in the first, then worked for a finish for the duration of the frame, pummeling Lesnar with ground and pound but coming up just short of a stoppage



Lesnar scored a takedown early in the second, then passed to mount, where he quickly locked on an arm triangle. Carwin managed to survive the choke momentarily, but Lesnar adjusted and forced Carwin to tap 2:19 into the round.



With the win, Lesnar becomes the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion and improves to 5-1 with his fourth-straight victory, while Carwin falls to 12-1 with the first first loss of his career.



In the UFC 116 co-main event, middleweight slugger Chris Leben outlasted Yoshihiro Akiyama to score a third-round submission for his second victory in just 14 days.



After being outgrappled in the opening round, Leben rocked Akiyama with powerful punches in the second then went on the offensive again in the third, eventually forcing a gassed Akiyama to tap to a triangle with just 20-seconds remaining in the fight.



Also on the UFC 116 main card, Chris Lytle submitted Matt Brown with a second-round armbar, Stephan Bonnar stopped Krzysztof Soszynski with punches in the second, and George Sotiropoulos earned a unanimous decision over Kurt Pellegrino.



On the Spike-televised UFC 116 prelims, Brendan Schaub stopped Chris Tuchscherer in just 67-second and Ricardo Romero survived a back-and-forth battle to submit Seth Petruzelli in the second.



The UFC 116 preliminary card also included wins by Kendall Grove, Gerald Harris, Daniel Roberts, and Jon Madsen.



The official UFC 116 results were:



MAIN CARD



Brock Lesnar def. Shane Carwin via submission (arm triangle) – Round 2, 2:19

UFC Heavyweight Championship Unification

Chris Leben def. Yoshihiro Akiyama via submission (triangle choke) – Round 3, 4:40

Chris Lytle def. Matt Brown via submission (armbar) – Round 2, 2:02

Stephan Bonnar def. Krzysztof Soszynski via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 3:08

George Sotiropoulos def. Kurt Pellegrino via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

PRELIMINARY CARD



Brendan Schaub def. Chris Tuchscherer via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:07

Ricardo Romero def. Seth Petruzelli via submission (armbar) – Round 2, 3:05

Kendall Grove def. Goran Reljic via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)

Gerald Harris def. Dave Branch via knockout (slam) – Round 3, 2:35

Daniel Roberts def. Forrest Petz via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Jon Madsen def. Karlos Vemola via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)Chris Lytle defeats Matt Brown by armbar at 2:02 of round two.




George Sotiropoulos defeats Kurt Pellegrino by unanimous decision.



Brendan Schaub defeats Chris Tuchscherer by first round TKO.



Ricardo Romero defeats Seth Petruzelli via second round armbar.



Kendall Grove defeats Goran Reljic by split decision.



Gerald Harris defeats Dave Branch by third round TKO.



Daniel Roberts defeats Forrest Petz by split decision.



Jon Madsen defeats Karlos Vemola by unanimous decision

In the end Bonnar once again dug deep and showed the remarkable toughness that first helped make him a star in the UFC to emerge bloody, but victorious.




Bonnar admitted in the post-fight press conference that at one stage he feared the fight was going to go in a similar direction to their previous encounter when he had lost due to a cut.



“I was just worried, in Australia I had one cut on my head and they stopped the fight on it. This time I had about five or six, I didn’t want the fight to get stopped, I didn’t want anyone taking that fight from me so I just kept going for it.”



“The first cut I was like, ‘probably no big deal,’ and then the second cut was like, ‘oh damn, looks like I’m bleeding out of another hole,’ then they kept adding up and yeah, it got me worried. The plan was to really make it a dogfight and push the pace and you know me, when I bleed it tends to bring the best out of me. Typical Bonnar.”



That ‘typical Bonnar’ approach has served him well over the years, and on this occasion he walked away with an extra $75,000 after his fight with Soszynski won ‘Fight Of The Night’ honors.



So with two wars with ‘The Polish Experiment’ under his belt, is the UFC veteran looking for a third encounter to settle the score once and for all?



Not so much.



“Personally, I spent the last eight months thinking about Krzysztof so I’m pretty sick of him,” the fighter joked.



Bonnar will next be seen in his role as color-commentator at WEC 50 next month
What was the best submission at UFC 116?


Brock Lesnar's arm triangle of Shane CarwinChris Leben's triangle of Yoshihiro Akiyama

Chris Lytle's armbar of Matt Brown

Thoughts ??