WTF: Hating on Brock Lesnar

[Brother Brian]

So in my internet travails I keep reading people slamming Brock Lesnar.

Did I miss something.

Didn't he own Herring, and apart from a couple good shots, own Coture?

Don't get me wrong. Sure he still has holes in his game. His next fight will be tough against a BJJ black belt. I wouldn't favor him over Fedor.

But seriously, how do you not respect where he's at today.

Let's look at the top 10 Heavyweights in the world.

Fedor - Like I said, I think Fedor can exploit a few of Brock's weaknesses.

Antonio Rodrigo Noguira - I favor him over Brock. He's got good technical striking, and can pull subs out of nowhere. That said, he tends to start slow. He was almost knocked out by Herring, and Sylvia owned him for a couple rounds before falling into a choke. He can't take the bombs Lesnar throws.

Josh Barnett - He's a smaller version of Brock. He has a wrestling base. He gets manhandled, IMO.

Andrei Arlovski - OK, what has Arlovski done in the last few years that makes you think he could handle Brock? His bouts against Sylvia and Roy Nelson shows that he really needs to cut to LHW. Brock would eat him for breakfast.

Frank Mir - The last fight was half Brock walking into a sub, and half Mir setting up for it. Mir could find a sub again, but I wouldn't put the odds at worse than even for Brock.

Randy Coture - I saw nothing that indicated to me that every fight wouldn't go exactly like this one did.

Gabriel Gonzaga - Besides Fedor, Gonzaga may be the worst matchup for Brock of the bunch. He's got slick Jitz, but also is a very strong grappler. That said, if he couldn't push Randy around, how would he push Brock around.

Cheick Kongo - He's a kickboxer, and I guess that if he could work angles on Brock he could grind out a decision. But I can't imagine anyone wants to get hit by the anvils on the end of Brock's hands.

Shane Carwin - Again, a big strong wrester...but not as big, and not as strong.

Tim Sylvia - Hah!

Look, I'm the guy who complained about how much Brock made when he came into the UFC. I was wrong. The man is a training freak, and has already closed or at least reduced, most of the holes in his game, and makes up the difference with his physicality.

So why the hate?

[carmachu]

So in my internet travails I keep reading people slamming Brock Lesnar.

Did I miss something.

Look, I'm the guy who complained about how much Brock made when he came into the UFC. I was wrong. The man is a training freak, and has already closed or at least reduced, most of the holes in his game, and makes up the difference with his physicality.

So why the hate?

Partcially the money.....Like that first fight he had to tap.....he got a huge amount and lost, while the winner? Didnt get nearly that much.

Partially? He's not that likable. He wasnt likable, personality wise, in the WWE and that hasnt changed much.

The rest? And this is something from a MMA novice.....he comes off as more thana bit arrogant. And what I mean by that is alot of times, in and out of the octagon fighters seem to show respect to each other win or lose, like in alot of martial arts. But some things that Brock has said just rubs the wrong way in that light.

Having said that....Brock will go far I think, barring injury.


The rest? He comes off as more than a little arrogant. And what I mean is, alot of time in and out of the octagon fighter

[Brother Brian]

I'm not buying that personality is the big reason. Lot's of folks really hate Matt Hughes, because he's an arrogant jerk. But they don't dismiss what he has done, and his skills.

It's like TUF hate on crack. There are still people who don't want to give Forrest Griffen credit for being a top tier fighter, despite the fact that he beat the consensus #1 Light Heavyweight in the world in two consecutive fights, because he was on the reality show.

[carmachu]

I'm not buying that personality is the big reason. Lot's of folks really hate Matt Hughes, because he's an arrogant jerk. But they don't dismiss what he has done, and his skills.

It's like TUF hate on crack. There are still people who don't want to give Forrest Griffen credit for being a top tier fighter, despite the fact that he beat the consensus #1 Light Heavyweight in the world in two consecutive fights, because he was on the reality show.


Matt Hughs has had a longer run and more success. Its easier to dismiss Brock, at teh moment, as he's had less than 6 fights. And got caught twice and lost. His first match and Mir....

Brock is very talented, and I can see him going far barring injury. But its still early to give him huge accolades. Yet.

[carmachu]

Brock won his first fight. His only loss is to Mir. And even that is a bit dodgy, given Steve Mazzagatti's crappy reffing.
Then which was the fight he got caught in the arm bar? Its the one he made 800K from....

Was that the Mir one?

[carmachu]

He hasn't been caught in an arm-bar. He got caught in what could almost pass for knee-bar, given appropriately poor lighting conditions, and panicked. And yes, that was the Mir fight. He one his first fight (in Japan) via TKO due to ground n' pound, he lost to Mir via submission, he beat Herring via decision and he just took Randy by TKO.

Ok, never mind then. I was a bit confused.

[Brother Brian]

He hasn't been caught in an arm-bar. He got caught in what could almost pass for knee-bar, given appropriately poor lighting conditions, and panicked. And yes, that was the Mir fight. He one his first fight (in Japan) via TKO due to ground n' pound, he lost to Mir via submission, he beat Herring via decision and he just took Randy by TKO.

I'd have to go back, but I thought Mir had him in a heel hook rather than a knee bar. (If it was the latter, it was a really poor kneebar.)

I don't mind Mazagatti standing the fight back up. Lesnar did hit Mir in the back of the head a couple of times. I totally disagreed with the point deduction without warning, which I thought got into Brock's head a bit.

As to Hughes...I guess. I mean, Brock could have gone to the IFL or King of the Cage, or Cage Rage and gotten a half dozen fluff wins. But considering the response he got to fighting Kim at K1 USA, (shit on for a fluff opponent), I'm not buying it.

I read an article speculating that it's basically all the old school fans pissed off because the "TUF Noobs" were wise to Lesnar before they were.

Which is likely true. I know that I doubted Lesnar, but I'm not going to ignore the proof before my eyes.

[carmachu]

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I read an article speculating that it's basically all the old school fans pissed off because the "TUF Noobs" were wise to Lesnar before they were.

Which is likely true. I know that I doubted Lesnar, but I'm not going to ignore the proof before my eyes.


could be. ANyone thats seen anything of Lesnar prior to MMA knew he could go far.