On Wednesday we presented Alistair Overeem and today is the turn of his great rival in the biggest fight of UFC 141: Brock Lesnar. We found that they have things in common that neither idolize peers. The careers of Overeem and Lesnar are as different as are the concept of sport in the U.S. and Europe. Want to learn more about the former NCAA wrestling and WWE champion? Here's their data:
NAME: Brock Lesnar
NICKNAME: None
WEIGHT CLASS: Heavyweight
AGE: 34 years old - 7/12/77
HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6-3½, 265
REACH: 81”
STANCE: Orthodox
BIRTHPLACE: Webster, South Dakota
FIGHTING OUT OF: Alexandria, Minnesota
LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English
STYLE: Wrestling
TRAINER: It's the usual suspects: Marty Morgan, Comprido (Rodrigo Medieros), Cole Konrad, Pat Barry, Jon Madsen, Jesse Wallace ... Team DeathClutch.
STRENGTHS: Size, wrestling ability, athleticism
TRAINING: Oh, for this camp we're doing everything different: I start my day off with two hours of transcendental meditation outside in the cold, then I lock myself in my new hyperbaric chamber and ... No, it's the same as every other camp: Get up. Eat. Train. Eat. Rest. Eat. Sleep. Repeat. It's not rocket science.
PROFESSIONAL MMA RECORD: 5-2
UFC HISTORY:
UFC 121 (10/23/10) Lesnar was stopped by Cain Velasquez via strikes at 4:12 of the first round
UFC 116 (7/3/10) Lesnar submitted Shane Carwin via arm triangle choke at 2:19 of the second round.
UFC 100 (7/11/09) Lesnar stopped interim champion Frank Mir via strikes at 1:48 of the second round to retain his UFC heavyweight title.
UFC 91 (11/15/08) Lesnar won the UFC heavyweight title with a second round (3:07) TKO via strikes of Randy Couture.
UFC 87 (8/9/08) Lesnar scored a three round unanimous decision win over Heath Herring.
UFC 81 (2/2/08) Lesnar was submitted via kneebar at 1:30 of the first round by former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir.
Q&A
Thoughts on opponent, Alistair Overeem?
Obviously, he's spent a fair amount of time in the weight room and he's a solid kickboxer with a good highlight reel of knockouts fighting for other companies. Everybody looks at him and then sees these crazy knockouts and goes "he's invincible!" But, two things are just as obvious: he's never been in the Octagon and he's never faced a true 265 pound heavyweight wrestler. He's in for a rude awakening on December 30.
When and why did you start training for fighting?
I started training full-time specifically for MMA in 2006. I trained briefly in MMA during my college days. I always thought I would enjoy fighting, but, due to NCAA rules, I couldn’t try it while I was in college. When I finished wrestling in college (in 2001), there just wasn’t enough money or opportunity in fighting and WWE made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.
What ranks and titles have you held?
Former UFC Heavyweight Champion
Do you have any heroes?
None.
What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC?
It means I have the chance prove that I can compete with the best fighters in the world. It’s an honor.
Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn?
I went to college, but did not complete my degree.
What was your job before you started fighting?
I grew up on a dairy farm and there was always plenty of work to do. After finishing my final year of college wrestling, I went right into professional wrestling with WWE. After WWE, I took a shot at the NFL.
Specific accomplishments in amateur competition?
As an amateur wrestler, I was a four-time All-American, two-time Big Ten Champion and NCAA heavyweight wrestling champion.
Specific accomplishments in pro competition?
WWE Champion.
OTHER
- Win over Carwin was UFC 116’s Submission of the Night
- Won pro MMA debut over Min Soo Kim in 69 seconds (TKO due to strikes)
- 106-5 career record in college wrestling.
- Tried out for the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings.
- Only second fighter in UFC history to win title in his fourth pro fight (ironically, Randy Couture was the first.)