LAS VEGAS -- Brock Lesnar walked into the UFC less than 18 months ago with little more than a scant few months of training, a wicked tongue and an unshakable faith in his physical gifts. And even after losing his UFC debut to Frank Mir, he was the organization's heavyweight champion within nine months.
And now, after avenging that loss to Mir, the world will start to wonder just who can stop the goliath king. Lesnar dominated Mir from start to finish in scoring a second-round TKO at UFC 100.
Wild Night of Fights at UFC 100
Brock Lesnar, right, gets in Frank Mir's face after their heavyweight title bout at UFC 100 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas Saturday, July 11, 2009. Click through to see more exciting fight action from UFC 100.
Las Vegas Review-Journal / AP
Brock Lesnar celebrates after defeating Frank Mir in their heavyweight title bout at UFC 100 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas Saturday, July 11, 2009.
Las Vegas Review-Journal / AP
Brock Lesnar celebrates after retaining the UFC heavyweight title against Frank Mir at UFC 100 on July 11, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Lesnar beat Mir by second-round TKO.
UFC
Brock Lesnar screams to the crowd after retaining the UFC heavyweight title against Frank Mir at UFC 100 on July 11, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
UFC
Brock Lesnar pummels Frank Mir at UFC 100 on July 11, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Brock Lesnar tries to punch Frank Mir at UFC 100 on July 11, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Brock Lesnar grapples with Frank Mir at UFC 100 on July 11, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Brock Lesnar punches Frank Mir at UFC 100 on July 11, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Frank Mir tries to block a punch from Brock Lesnar at UFC 100 on July 11, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Brock Lesnar tries to choke Frank Mir at UFC 100 on July 11, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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"Frank Mir had a horseshoe up his ass, I told him that a year ago," Lesnar said shortly after winning. "I pulled that SOB out and beat him over the head with it."
The comments, like many others, didn't win the champ any favor with the crowd, who gave him a mixed reception upon his entrance, but showered him with boos after he continued his verbal barrage at Mir seconds after the fight was called, with Mir on the mat bloodied and hurt.
The behavior enraged Mir's corner, including his father, who screamed at Lesnar from behind the cage. The sold-out crowd at the Mandalay Bay Events Center also let their disdain be heard. Neither seemed to bother Lesnar, who flipped the crowd the double-bird before the final decision was announced.
"I love it," he said to the crowd. "Keep going. Keep going."
Lesnar might have won a few fans back after intentionally badmouthing one of UFC's major sponsors. "I'm going to go home and drink a Coors Light," he said, then repeated, "Coors Light, because Bud Light wont pay me nothing." It should be noted Lesnar came into the post-fight press conference with a Bud Light. He also apologized for his behavior, saying he let his emotions get the best of him, and that he had no problem with Mir other than that he held a grudge against Mir for beating him the first time.
Mir actually started off the second round strongly, landing a hard left, a knee to the body and a knee to the head. But on the last of the moves, he slipped, giving Lesnar an opening to take him down. From there, Lesnar controlled Mir and pounded him with punches from the side. Mir blocked the first few, but Lesnar kept firing and eventually penetrated the defense with bad intentions. After a long series of strikes, referee Herb Dean stepped in to stop the contest at 1:28 of the second round.
Mir, who came into the contest as the UFC interim heavyweight champ after beating Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, left bloodied and bruised.
"I'll be back," he said.
In the welterweight championship match, Georges St. Pierre overcame Thiago Alves' kickboxing prowess by keeping him in a position where he couldn't use it: on his back. GSP managed takedown after takedown in grinding out a five-round decision over the young but game Brazilian striker.
St. Pierre (19-2) easily received the largest ovation of the night during his pre-fight introduction and heard the fans chant his famous initials several times throughout the 25-minute systematic win.Afterward, St. Pierre said he suffered an injured adductor muscle during the contest, but was able to plow through. Now, the next question for the Montreal native is whether or not he will move up in weight class to challenge middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva. It didn't sound like he was in a rush to do so.
"It's a question of timing," he said. "I walk around at 185 pounds, that's not that big for a welterweight. Tonight, I'm 185-184. I don't fight to become champ anymore. I am champ. Now, I fight for a challenge. I would have to take the time to gain weight and take care of business."
While GSP decides which worlds to conquer, Alves will be left to pick up the pieces and restart the streak that got him to be a No. 1 contender in the first place. Alves came into the fight in fantastic shape and was still breathing well when the fight finished despite sustaining a series of cuts and bruises on his face throughout the duration of the bout.
For full event results, click here, and to follow Mike Chiappetta on Twitter, click here.
Comments (Page 1 of 23)
Brock rules, he knocked that smug look off of Mirs face. The fans should give him some love always booing him. I would have shot the bird too. lol.
It is all a farce, guy. Its entertainment. Nothing more.
I watched Brock when he wrestled. He was a very imposing figure. Sure, the matches are rigged with a pre determined outcome. But that doesn't take anything away from the power, coordination and overall athleticism these guys posses. In the WWE, Brock had very few interviews. He lacked the polish to give a decent interview and had trouble holding back the F--- bombs. I don't know if Brock playing the heel to better his career now. Or maybe he really is a heel. But in every great sports story, there's a hero you love to love and a heel you love to hate. I suspect Brock will prove to be very beneficial for this sport. As for him not being a real fighter because he lacks class... Well... if you can convine Mir of that this morning, you should be a trial lawyer or a rep on Capital Hill. He may not be a classy fighter but he is still one bad a$$ fighter!
I was happy to see the smile off of Mir's face as well. He got what he deserved (after stating Brock's ground & pound is more annoying than anything else, like a little girl pulling your hair) As far as his comments after the fight? He comes from a wrestling background, people. Give the guy a break. He was boo'd constantly from the moment he started walking in, so why shouldn't he give it back to the crowd a little? I sure as hell would LOL ** Go Brock! You made my night! **
This man NEVER should have been allowed to compete in the UFC. This is all about Dana White making incredible amounts of money by degrading the UFC and MMA. He (Brock) has no martial arts background and has, as far as I am concerned turned the mixed martial arts competitions into little more than a new variation on WWF, all show, no honor. This is NOT an honorable man and part of MMA has ALWAYS until now, been Honor. A sad sad day for MMA
Just my opinion. I think that Brock Lesner kind of grew up learning to speak publicly in the bombastic world of pro wrestling (keep in mind how young he still is). Hey, we collegiate wrestlers, regardless of how accomplished we may be are not required to speak publicly. Is it meor does he act just like a pro wrestler doing the intertainment thing? I really hope that it's all just a very poorly conceived act. Either way, I find it more than offensive. I have watched every televised UFC event since 1993. I have often defended my love for this wonderful sport to friends and family by pointing out the often almost heroic sportmanship displayed by these fighters. I invited several friends to watch last nights event with me. None had ever seen an MMA event prior. I convinced these friends that they were to be entertained by true gentlemen glatiators who are generally intelligent and respectful. Needless to say, I was/am very disapointed by Mr. Lesners' total lack of humanity and overt crudeness. None of my friends plan to EVER watch another MMA event period. They claimed that weather Mr. Lessners action were genuine or not, it reminded them of nothing more than a cheesy and disturbing pro wrestling event.
I have been an ultimate fan of MMA and UFC in particular long before the current owners and management took over. If Mr. Lesner's dispay is a sign of the future and condoned or encouraged, then I will likely view UFC the way I view pro wrestling, not at all.
Neat what steroids will do to your brain. Can't wait for brain cancer to knock this loser down. What a waste of the planet's oxygen.
say what you want about brock, but if you look at the pic of him talking to mir after the fight, you see fear in mirs face, brock beat him bad and i bet mir doesnt want a rematch ever again, theres a lot of thugs in the mma etc. jujst finaly one of the thugs is a white guy with some power... hell yeah...brock be brock...like him or hate him he is still one bad dude and your not gonna see alot of people wanting to fight him...
The UFC is lucky to have Brock. Mir got what he had coming for talking all that trash. Bud light should pay up - they'd be lucky to have anyone peddling their crap beer. And Dana White is starting to sell out a little too much.
I'm glad Lesner won, Mirs was the one running his mouth, his last fight with Lesner was a give away, Lesner had him beat till the ref jumped in. The thing is Lesner is bigger and stronger, and you should respect someone who is champ, with only 4 fights now 5 under his belt. UFC is a tough sport and Lesner proved not only that he belonged but if you want to fight him be prepared to battle.
Lesnar is unstoppable in the cage but he really needs to show a little more respect to the fans and his opponents. His actions after the fight were really out of line.
I agree! Lesnar is a very skilled monster but he needs to learn how to display some humility in victory.
Brock is the man and will continue to be for a while, that being said I think he is playing the villain role to get more publicity for the ufc. The masses have to be interested by the fighters and match storylines for ufc to excell, what better way than an ex-wwf athlete who posess' both physical and entertainment skills. I bet you budweiser paid brock to promote coors and then show up drinking bud...reverse psychology cause he is a villain and bud light has higher moral standards than to sponsor even a champion with bad character blah blah blah,
Brock doesn't need to show any respect to the MMA marks and some of the disrespectful fighters. The fans and a few fighters have always looked at Brock Lesnar as a joke because he was a pro wrestler, I have read and heard nothing but disrespect towards Lesnar from fans. I think he needs to keep doing what he's doing. So what? Become the big bad heel that everyone loves to boo, that's what the sport really needs to make that jump to the next level.
Well said, Ted.
Consider me glad he flipped Vegas off. Those are some of the most biased, unclassy fans in the whole world. There was nothing Lesnar could have done to win them over.
I guarantee you he'll act much differently if he fights elsewhere, such as back in Minnesota.
I think that Brock is the way he is....period.
It doesn't matter where he fights, he is going to disgrace the sport AND the fans. He thinks he is still an entertainment wrestler and as long as he keeps that attitude he will never have the fan base that the UFC is looking for.
He is a classless fool and a mediocre fighter at best
So much for "Minnesota Nice", eh?
So much for "Minnesota Nice", eh?
Lesnar said that "Mir fought a Wrestler a year ago, tonight he fights a fighter".
No, Brock you aren't a fighter yet. Real fighters tend to show respect for their opponents. Lesnar needs to grow up. If he is seriously injured in a fight someday its going to be hard to not enjoy it.
I'm hoping Shane Carwin beats Cain so he gets the first shot at Brock. I wonder how Lesnar would do against someone he wouldn't have 40+ lbs on.