How Does Brock Stack Up Against Sport’s Elite?
Published by Dave Sholler on November 18th, 2008 in Current Events

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Four fights. That’s all the time it took for former WWE star Brock Lesnar to earn the sport’s most prized possession: UFC gold. With a dominant win over Randy Couture at UFC 91, Lesnar (3-1) not only silenced critics, but also proved that his skills are legit. A rare blend of speed, power and mass, Lesnar may just be the new prototypical mixed martial artist.

As Lesnar recovers from the emotional win, it is only fair to look ahead. While the former NCAA Division I wrestling champion basks in the glow of a world title victory, MMAmemories.com takes a look at how Lesnar would fare against some of MMA’s top heavyweights. Many of these bouts could one day become a reality.

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Interim UFC heavyweight champion
31-4-1, 1 NC

Should “Minotauro” get by Frank Mir next month, he will become the likely challenger to Lesnar’s title. A Brazilian jiu jitsu ace, Nogueira is arguably one of the best grapplers ever. While his striking is equally potent, the 32-year-old relies on great stamina and ground proficiency to dictate the pace of a bout.

Our Prediction: Nogueira, third round submission (knee bar)

While Lesnar is clearly the stronger, more explosive fighter, Nogueira would catch the former collegiate wrestler in a submission. Jiu Jitsu was founded for many reasons, one of them being to give smaller or less powerful fighters a chance against bigger, more massive foes. The foundations of BJJ would be evident in Nogueira vs. Lesnar, as the matador would tame the wild bull.

Frank Mir
Former UFC heavyweight champion
11-3

Mir welcomed Lesnar to the Octagon at UFC 81 in February, submitting the monster with a leg lock at 1:30 of the first round. A former UFC champion, Mir is a phenomenal grappler who has committed to improving his standup.

Our Prediction: Lesnar TKO 1.

Brock almost got the job done in the first fight, but ended up showing his inexperience and was trapped in a leg lock. If the two meet again, Lesnar will not make the same mistake. Having tasted the 29-year-old’s blood at UFC 81, Lesnar will surely look to stop Mir.

Fedor Emelianenko
Former PRIDE champion
28-1, 1 NC

Say what you want about Brock’s lack of experience, but a fight against Fedor would be a box office hit.

From a strategy standpoint, Fedor would be a difficult match up for Lesnar. While three inches shorter and nearly thirty pounds lighter than Lesnar, Fedor is an extremely talented Sambo master. With the ability to ground even the most massive opponent, Fedor could easily put Lesnar in submissive positions. An underrated striker, Fedor also possesses the ability to test Lesnar’s sturdy chin.

Our Prediction: Fedor by decision.

If it were to happen tomorrow, the bout favors Emelianenko. Simply put, the former king of Pride seemingly has all the tools to defuse the bomb that is Brock Lesnar. He’s deceivingly quick, a master grappler, and no slouch in the strength department. He’s find a way to grind out a five-round decision.

Andrei Arlovski
Former UFC champion
14-5

“The Pitbull” has been flawless since losing back-to-back fights to Tim Sylvia in 2006, posting a five-fight win streak. A power puncher with fast hands, Arlovski would serve as the best boxer Lesnar has ever faced. No stranger to using angles and sharp movements, the Belarus native would undoubtedly test Lesnar on the feet. However, his grappling skills rarely instill fear in opponents unless he is in a dominant striking position. This could favor a fearless wrestler like Lesnar.

Our Prediction: Lesnar by TKO 2.

Although slightly taller than Lesnar, Arlovski would not be able to match the Minnesotan’s relentless approach. Of course, there’s always an outside chance that Arlovski could clip Lesnar, but the odds aren’t favorable.

Cheick Kongo
UFC heavyweight contender
22-4-1

The Paris, France native is 5-2 in the Octagon and has shown continual improvement. A chiseled striker, Kongo still struggles in the ground game but is opportunistic. At 6’4, 240, Kongo would need to use his long arms and savage kicks to fend off the linebacker-like approach of Lesnar.

Our Prediction: Lesnar by TKO 2.

Kongo has only been stopped once in his career – a 2004 loss to Gilbert Yvel – but his inefficiencies on the ground would be exposed by Lesnar. Although Kongo trains with the likes of Michael Bisping and Quinton Jackson, he would most likely end up on the receiving end of vicious ground and pound.

THE CONCLUSION

Despite being called a “flake” and “glorified pro wrestler,” Lesnar is the real deal. In five mock bouts, Lesnar goes 3-2, with the only losses coming to future Hall of Famers Emelianenko and Nogueira. Keep in mind, Lesnar has fought just four times professionally. If he stays humble and interested in the sport, he has the chance to be one of the most dominant fighters ever to compete in MMA.

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