Brock Lesnar Deserves the Shot ds
Published by Dave Sholler on November 13th, 2008 in Current Events

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When UFC boss Dana White made the call to pit inexperienced Brock Lesnar against returning heavyweight champion Randy Couture at UFC 91, many within the mixed martial arts industry questioned the decision.

Most argued that Lesnar should not be given a title shot in just his fourth professional bout. Others wondered if White was giving Lesnar the headliner fight based on his status as a fighter or draw at the box office. Either way, some considered Lesnar versus Couture a curious choice.

Here’s to thinking that the mega fight is just what the doctor ordered.

For starters, Lesnar does deserve the shot. Sure, he is just 1-1 inside the Octagon, but the South Dakota-born Lesnar has shown the sheer athleticism and prowess necessary to command a championship opportunity. Critics will point to Lesnar’s loss to Frank Mir at UFC 81 and argue that he committed a rookie mistake in getting submitted.

This writer, on the other hand, will point to the pure aggression and knockout power he showed in the Mir bout, not to mention his dominating, bounce-back win over Heath Herring at UFC 87. Simply put, Lesnar (2-1) showed the type of improvement in just one fight that other combatants take years to demonstrate. He showed that he is no ordinary mixed martial artist. He proved that he is special.

Secondly, the UFC needs a super fight like Lesnar vs. Couture right now. Given the bleak economy and frustrated consumer-base, White and company must give audiences a reason to shell out 50 bucks for the pay-per-view. Would the casual fan purchase Couture vs. Mir? How about Couture vs. Kongo? Didn’t think so.

Not to take anything away from those world-class fighters who equally warrant title shots, but the UFC needs to continue to grow its fan base. Considering the numbers that recent boxing pay-per-views have done (see Kelly Pavlik vs. Bernard Hopkins), the UFC is making the smart financial move by selecting Lesnar as Couture’s foe. After all, Lesnar, a former World Wrestling Entertainment sensation, is a proven draw. With the holiday season pinching consumers’ pockets, White made the right box office call by going with a homerun hitter like Brock.

Even if Lesnar gets smoked on Saturday, the choice to use him in the main event will still prove to be wise. As witnessed after his loss to Mir, no one is giving up on the Minnesotan any time soon. His freak-of-nature status is too hard to ignore and his surreal persona will always sell, even on an undercard.

Plus, if the promising monster should win on Saturday, his allure will only grow stronger and a lengthy championship reign will presumably follow. That means more money for the UFC and more chances for Lesnar to display his abilities. In the end, it just makes sense for both sides.

Regardless of the outcome of Saturday night’s bout, fans are in for a real treat. Pay-per-view purchasers get a storybook fight featuring an ageless, two-division champ and a one-of-a-kind athlete who combines mass and destruction. Consumers also get to bask in the drama of seeing whether Lesnar serves as Couture’s punishment for 15 months of inactivity due to contractual disputes. White, in essence, has given fans multiple reasons to spend their hard-earned money.

The MMA world will see on Saturday that Dana White made the right call both for the sport and the UFC bottom line. He may lack experience and overall development, but Brock Lesnar is the perfect package and deserves the chance to fight Randy Couture for the UFC heavyweight title.