General Fantasy Sports

View the Forum Registry

XML Get RSS Feed for this thread


Self-edit this thread


0 Subject: Brock Lesnar/MMA

Posted by: Mike D
- Leader [041831612] Sun, Feb 03, 2008, 11:00

Anyone see the fight last night? Sounds like Lesnar was tremendous early, and possibly the fight could have been stopped. If was briefly after they said Lesnar hit the guy in the back in the head a point was taken away. Eventually Lesnar tapped before his knee was ripped off.
1Mike D
      Leader
      ID: 041831612
      Sun, Feb 03, 2008, 11:03


Close....
2Mike D
      Leader
      ID: 041831612
      Sun, Feb 03, 2008, 11:05
From Fox Sports:

Former WWE champion Brock Lesnar was submitted by a kneebar in just over 90 seconds against Frank Mir. The massive import from World Wrestling Entertainment looked awesome at times, but his lack of experience killed him against Mir, a great jiu-jitsu tactician.

Lesnar couldn't put one over on UFC fans -- or one of its former greats, Mir. Lesnar got two early takedowns, with the second one coming with 4:20 left in the round. Lesnar then dropped 20-plus punches on Mir.

Mir twice went for an armbar and Lesnar simply powered out. On a third attempt, Lesnar tried to stand up but left his leg behind for too long. Mir got Lesnar's left leg in a knee bar, bending the leg forward. Lesnar was forced to tap.

"I went for a couple of armbar attempts," said Mir, laughing at how big Lesnar was. "I knew his legs were a little leaner. When he pulled the leg back, I drove into it."

The energy at Mandalay Bay was tremendous. The crowd booed Lesnar during his walk to the cage, as if to say, "You're not going to come into our world and beat one of our guys."

Early on, Lesnar was stuffing their boos right down Mir's throat. He overwhelmed Mir for the first 80 seconds. The 6-foot-4, 265 pounder put on a powerful show with two easy takedowns. The first one came seven seconds into the fight. Lesnar started to bomb Mir with punches and hammerfists. Mir was in big trouble, but Lesnar popped Mir in the back of the head with one of the punches. Referee Steve Mazzagatti stopped the fight, got the fighters to their feet and took a point away from Lesnar.

There were times on the ground it looked like the fight was close to being stopped. Mazzagatti, realizing the magnitude of the fight, allowed Mir to keep fighting.

3Mike D
      Leader
      ID: 041831612
      Sun, Feb 03, 2008, 11:08
From The Sweet Science:

LAS VEGAS-An interim heavyweight champion was crowned and a mixed martial arts star proved that size and athleticism alone cannot win a match at UFC 81 on Saturday.

With the several of his professional wrestling cohorts watching, former WWE star Brock Lesnar was forced to tap out by a bloodied Frank Mir in the first round at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.

But the big man had his moments.

Lesnar leaped to attack with the speed and fury he was known for as a pro wrestler and amateur wrestler. The audience of more than 10,000 seemed to feel the former UFC heavyweight champion Mir had bitten off more than he could withstand.

Then it happened.

After sustaining several blows and bludgeoned to the ground by the powerful Lesnar, the referee stopped the fight and for a second it looked like the fight was over. But instead, it was referee Steve Mazzagatti penalizing Lesnar for illegally pounding Mir behind the head. The fighters were separated and back they collided again.

“I had Brock Lesnar dropping elbows on my head,” said Mir (11-3), who had visible bleeding around his eyes and forehead.

Lesnar attacked Mir in the same fashion he attacked the little-known Korean fighter he faced in his first MMA foray last June, but this time he was facing a former champion and suffered the consequences for his over confidence. Suddenly, with the Undertaker, Stone Cold Austin and Kurt Angle watching with eyes glued to the Octagon, within seconds Mir had changed his plan of attack and suddenly was attempting an arm bar and a leg bar. The leg bar stuck.

At 1:30 of the first round Lesnar was stretched out and tapping out to the amazement of many in the crowd.

“He got me tonight,” said Lesnar (1-1) graciously. “He’s a better fighter.”

Mir had planned to attack Lesnar from a standing position but quickly learned he was overpowered and stepped into plan B which saw him take the fight to the ground for jujitsu 101. It worked.

“When he pulled out of an arm bar I switched to grabbing a leg,” said Mir.

The quick reversal of fortune from victim to victor had the crowd in a frenzy as Mir jumped to his feet with his hands spread out as if to say “I told you so.”

Even Lesnar was impressed.

“I came out fast to pressure him,” said Lesnar. “I heard in the past there was a question of his heart.”

Though the former pro wrestling star lost, his quickness and power definitely left a signal to other heavyweights that a reckoning is coming and his name is Lesnar.

“You win some and you lose some,” said Lesnar after the fight. “I’d like to win them all, but you can’t.”

4Mike D
      Leader
      ID: 041831612
      Sun, Feb 03, 2008, 11:09

I wouldn't want to be under those shots
5Tree
      ID: 912339
      Sun, Feb 03, 2008, 11:38
yea. one thing about MMA is that while wins and losses do matter, what you bring to the fight is nearly as important.

look at when Gonzaga knocked out Cro-Cop. Everyone had Cro-Cap winning and fighting for the title next time out. instead, we had the kick heard 'round the world.

Lesner will be back, and as he gains experience, he's got the potential to be VERY dangerous.
6Tree
      ID: 912339
      Sun, Feb 03, 2008, 12:24
this will probably be down in about 5 minutes, but just in case, here's the fight..
7Khahan
      ID: 486552412
      Sun, Feb 03, 2008, 12:48
That fight was amazing. I give Lesner a lot of credit. Anybody would have tapped to that leg lock. Though I think it was just plain inexperience that let him step into it. If Lesner develops any kind of a ground game, he's going to be just absolutely brutal in the ring. Both times he took down Mir he made it look so easy. To do that to a grappler of Mir's ability twice with such ease speaks volumes to Lesners power and strength.
9Species
      Dude
      ID: 07724916
      Sun, Feb 03, 2008, 12:50
NICE Tree.......thanks.

I'm not an MMA follower but this was cool. I'm sure Lesnar will prove successful with more experience.
10Tree
      ID: 912339
      Sun, Feb 03, 2008, 13:05
Khahan - no question.

and i think a lot of guys would have tapped instantly. Lesner actually gave it a moment's thought of how he might get out of it, then realized tapping was the best option - live to fight another day, as they say....

Lesner is an NCAA wrestling champion multiple times over. granted, he's several years removed from that, but i think the basis for a very strong ground game is there.

and give him credit - he didn't take on a scrub in his UFC debut. he took on one of their best, albeit one making a comeback.
11Mike D
      Leader
      ID: 041831612
      Sun, Feb 03, 2008, 15:39
No doubt about it. Fighting a former champ in his first real bout. Tough. And only 1 warmup bout before it.

Here's Lesnar's brief, first MMA bout:

Lesnar v Min Soo Kim
12 bobo
      ID: 13944256
      Mon, Feb 04, 2008, 08:33
I ordered the PPV and this is from someone who is a die-hard pro wrestling fan who has come to really enjoy MMA.

Lesnar's debut was (other than the loss) one of the best things to happen to UFC. Dude is just a freaking monster and when he expands his skill set to defend/avoid submissions, he'll be a champion.

The blows he was reigning down on Mir were just vicious! Had the ref not stopped the fight and deducted 1 point from Lesnar (for a hit to back of the head, which was really caused only by Mir moving defensively), it could've been completely different as Lesnar might've been too much for Mir to deal with.

Whoever UFC puts Lesnar with next, best have a strong striking defense, or they won't have a punchers chance...
13Khahan
      ID: 561119313
      Mon, Feb 04, 2008, 13:31
Bobo

There is no doubt in my mind that Lesner would have won if the ref had not stopped that fight. I think it was a given and a nice break for Mir.

Lesner's strikes were the definition of brutality and if Mir had let up his defenses for 1 second to try and grapple he would have had his face split open. Brock was simply relentless once he got the upper hand.

The funny thing is: If Lesner had won then and there, everybody would be amazed by his pure power but most everybody would be questioning his ability anyway. They would just say, "He's a striker who got lucky. What's he gonna do when he gets locked up?"

Even if he won they'd be doubting him. Honestly, I think this was the best outcome for him. He displayed what he is best at and his big weakness got exposed. We all know what he can do now. The only question remains: What will he do in the future? If he tries to stay as a striker, he's got a long road and a bad record ahead of him.

If he adds some grappling (even just a 75/25 split of striking vs grappling) he's got a UFC championship fight in his future.
14Tree
      ID: 3533298
      Mon, Feb 04, 2008, 13:50
If he adds some grappling (even just a 75/25 split of striking vs grappling) he's got a UFC championship fight in his future.

considering his a former NCAA champion in wrestling, i think he'll be able to get some grappling in there... ;o)
15Great One
      Sustainer
      ID: 053272014
      Mon, Feb 04, 2008, 14:21
I believe by grappling Khahan is specifically saying the submissions stuff (which is what grappling is defined as) and I agree he needs to learn some more submission stuff and even more important - ways to block other's submissions attempts.

Things such as his balance, leverage and footwork should be pretty solid based on his very successful amateur wrestling background.
General Fantasy Sports

View the Forum Registry

XML Get RSS Feed for this thread


Self-edit this thread




Post a reply to this message: (But first, how about checking out this sponsor?)

Name:
Email:
Message:
Click here to create and insert a link
Ignore line feeds? no (typical)   yes (for HTML table input)


Viewing statistics for this thread
Period# Views# Users
Last hour22
Last 24 hours22
Last 7 days33
Last 30 days88
Since Mar 1, 20072081746