Brock Lesnar will return to the Octagon in 2012. Lesnar if you remember, hasn't fought in the UFC since getting pasted and roughed up by Cain Velasquez for the Heavyweight title last October at UFC 121, and being diagnosed with diverticulitis during his stint on the 13th season of "The Ultimate Fighter" this past year, opposite Junior Dos Santos. Shane Carwin stepped in Lesnar's place and received a pounding from the Brazilian at UFC 131 in Vancouver this past June.
In recent reports, UFC president Dana White has said Lesnar's recovery has been "miraculous" and that "its a matter of time" when the University of Minnesota product returns. Early speculation has him returning at the year end UFC 140 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto in December.
So, Lesnar is to return, but whom will his opponent be?
In a recent interview with ESPN.uk, Frank Mir suggested he might be willing to step in there against the former jack of all trades athlete Lesnar, by saying that if a "Lesnar fight works out, it works out". He goes on to also mention former Strikeforce Champion Alistair Overeem, who as it turns out is under negotiations with the UFC regarding a contract.
I know that Mir is wanting a rubber match with Lesnar really, really badly. However, a trilogy at this point is simply not in the cards. Why? Well, from long ago Dana White has hyped up Lesnar, calling him "one of the best ever" even though in this sport, he's a relative novice. However, if he were to fight Mir at this point, it would be considered a joke, as it will be his 8th fight as a professional and he'd have already fought Mir 3 times! There has to some other fighter that's willing to step up in competition.
I would have considered Brandan Schaub or Matt Mitrione for Lesnar's comeback fight. Give him a up and comer, somebody who like him, is relatively raw. Carwin, whom at this point is also out due to the injuries suffered at the hands of Dos Santos, is another re-match that should happen one day, but not now. Lesnar came across in his last 2 fights as "gun shy" and afraid "to pull the trigger", waiting for Carwin to gas and for the ref to step in during Velasquez's pounding.
The bottom line is, Lesnar is still relatively raw with a shattered confidence. Why not throw him a prospect, say Brandan Schaub or Matt Mitrone in his comeback fight. Both are relative newcomers as well, with Schaub's career stock plummeting recently (following a KO loss to grizzled vet "Minotauro" Nogueira) and Mitrione looking beat up, but fresh in every one of his fights. Mitrione is probably somebody that is catered perfect for Lesnar : A straight stand up fighter who pushes forward and likes to punch, a lot.
Of course with Lesnar's takedown prowess, it can easily be assumed we'll just see him takedown whomever he fights, save his pretty face and get a decision. Anybody care to argue?
-In Other news, Sam Stout is out of his UFC 137 tilt with Denis Siver. MMAJunkie reported the news on Monday. No reason has been given for Stout's departure, but I speculate the recent passing of his head trainer, brother in law and mentor Shawn Tompkins would no doubt have something to do with it. WEC vet Donald Cerrone has been tagged to replace him.
-Bellator is going HD. For the first time ever, the promotion's 5th season will feature HD simulcasts on MTV2 affiliate EPIX, as MMAJunkie reported. I'm not sure how this effects me, as I get neither channel and it broadcasts HD as well as standard def. on The Score up here in Canada. Still hoping it will be a good season. Also, Brazilian Wilson Reis has replaced former featherweight champion Joe Soto in the season 5 featherweight tourney, due to an injury suffered by Soto. He'll meet Eduardo Dantas in the first round September 10th.
-Shogun has apparently set his sights on a rematch with Jon "Bones" Jones. An article with ESPN.uk says in a recent Fighters Only article that "Of the five losses in my career, I have won three rematches. Only one of them won't happen, which is the loss against [Renato Sobral] Babalu because today he's part of the team [at Kings MMA], so this fight won't happen." A trilogy with Lyoto Machida probably looks better at this point, because while the argument was that Rua wasn't 100% against Jones, if he was 100%, I think the result would have been the same. Probably not as dominant or definitive, but no doubt...still the same.
Questions? Comments? leave one at the bottom or email me mmarmaggeddon@gmail.com you can also follow me on Twitter, at twitter.com/mmarmaggedon
Until next time, fight fans!
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