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Sun Aug 10, 2008 12:26 am EDT

Brock Lesnar impressive, not so much or classless?

By Steve Cofield

Heath Herring got run over by a train from Minnesota at UFC 87. Brock Lesnar is far from a finished product but using just raw power and his wrestling takedown skills, he manhandled a high level heavyweight by winning 30-26 on all three scorecards in his third MMA fight.

Lesnar showed some decent striking especially his first punch of the fight. A straight right had Herring tumbling backwards and cut open his left eye less than 15 seconds into the fight. Lesnar also showed a decent jab later in the fight. It looked like he did the most damage with knees to Herring's body on the ground.

If you want to be critical, it was obvious that Lesnar is still uncomfortable with the submission game. He had opportunities throughout the fight to put the hooks in and try for a rear naked choke. He was impressive in mounting Herring several times but the big Texan readily gave his back in each case without Lesnar doing major damage.

Herring said the only way that he'd lose was if it was a long, boring fight. Was it?

Did Lesnar piss off MMA fans by trying to ride Herring in the final 10 seconds? He followed that by pointing and laughing at Herring. And he celebrated by making a lasso motion and acting like he was pulling in the beaten Herring.  

He showed off some WWE chops in the post-fight:

"Can you see me now," said Lesnar, stealing a line from the WWE's John Cena after he snatched the microphone away from UFC colorman Joe Rogan. "I fell off the horse against Frank Mir, and I got back on that stallion tonight and rode off on it."

I have no big issue with Lesnar's antics. Why not polarize mixed martial arts fans? There's nothing wrong with being a bad guy.  

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183 Comments

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  1. Kevin S
    1. Posted by Kevin S Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:54 pm EDT

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    It was pretty clear that Brock is going to be the new Tito when he was first matched against Lesnar. It's even more clear now. He's going to be the guy everybody loves to hate.
  2. whiterabbit
    2. Posted by whiterabbit Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:44 pm EDT

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    The only way you can hate Lesnar, is if you get caught up on his past in the WWE, otherwise he's no different than most MMA fighters
  3. michael m
    3. Posted by michael m Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:53 pm EDT

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    Brock lesnar showed no class in his antics with time still left on the clock. Did he beat Heath Herring ? ya he whooped his @#$ but show some class.. MMA fighters for the most part all have respect for each other during and after the fight . Brock shows he still is thinking of his fake wrestling days . He was impressive and overpowered Herring thats for sure , Brute force will only get you so far with a real Oppoonent hes got away to go even think stepping in the ring with a submissionist
  4. urwrecked
    4. Posted by urwrecked Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:45 pm EDT

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    Lesnar was impressive, he threw a nice right hand and even a few kicks, I wish he would of tried some submissions seeing as though he was riding that "horse" almost 15 minutes. He was doing some good wraslin though..
  5. Clint
    5. Posted by Clint Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:27 pm EDT

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    I think Lesnar really showed his hand now. As he said in the post fight interview "There is no tape of me". Brute strength and wrestling...and add speed and striking. The only problem is how can other fighters train for him.....He is off the charts with his size and speed.
    I think fighters need to just give up their back when taken down....His arms are too big to choke someone out! Ohhh wait, he might just squash their brain with a headlock! He is scary though. I see him as being the guy who kills someone and sends the sport back 15 years with negative publicity!
  6. Clint
    6. Posted by Clint Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:27 pm EDT

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    Urwrecked.....What did you think of the Kenflow fight? I was very suprised at the decision! The commentators never said Huerta was losing the fight and needed a knockout the last round.....Yet, with under a minute left, Kenflow score a good punch and Rogan proclaimed "Thats the nail in the coffin" I couldn't say who won, it seemed like a very close fight though. Kenflo would take Huerta down and he would escape pretty quickly. Huerta was the aggressor and controlled the ring.....Does anyone else have an opinion of this fight??
  7. Clint
    7. Posted by Clint Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:27 pm EDT

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    Urwrecked.....What did you think of the Kenflow fight? I was very suprised at the decision! The commentators never said Huerta was losing the fight and needed a knockout the last round.....Yet, with under a minute left, Kenflow score a good punch and Rogan proclaimed "Thats the nail in the coffin" I couldn't say who won, it seemed like a very close fight though. Kenflo would take Huerta down and he would escape pretty quickly. Huerta was the aggressor and controlled the ring.....Does anyone else have an opinion of this fight??
  8. urwrecked
    8. Posted by urwrecked Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:45 pm EDT

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    Clinton.. I thought it was close.. I dont understand why Huerta didn't press him even harder and let his hands go. It seemed he was doing well striking and being aggressive. Florian kind of hit and ran as he said himself. I guess you could give it to Huerta for pushing the fight.. Kenflo was flowing backwards all night..
  9. BearDown
    9. Posted by BearDown Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:23 pm EDT

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    Unwrecked...Change your mind about Lesnar's straight right that made Herring tuck and roll? It is the same straight right that put Mir down. Don't get me wrong; Lesnar needs a ton of work with learning how to sink in leg hooks and also learning some chokes(they were there all day). You have to admit that he is a strong dude that hits like a mule kick. Told you. Randy vs Fedor aside.... I think the biggest draw would be Slice vs Lesnar!! Not a fight for true die hard MMA fans but nonetheless it would be entertaining?
  10. BearDown
    10. Posted by BearDown Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:23 pm EDT

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    Stylewise the Kenflo fight was a lose lose situation for Huerta. He made Huerta look like a completely different fighter then what he is. He frustrated Huerta and fought an "intelligent" fight due to experience. Huerta needed 2-3 more fights under his belt before he should have fought Kenflo. I would have liked to see Kenflo not RUN (I mean circle) as much and use his straight left jab more to set up the front kick. Why on earth was Huerta trying the superman punch so much? Just not like him. I wouldn't be surprised if something happened to his right hand before of durring the fight.
  11. Clint
    11. Posted by Clint Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:27 pm EDT

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    J! - Lesnar will learn how to put the "Pound" in ground and pound soon enough! He is really no different than most wrestlers who start in MMA. They usually need work on striking and doing something once they get a guy down. I remember Josh Kozchec when he was in TUF. He would take a guy down and lay on him, it was ridicuolous. Now he has trained MMA with top competition and is a top fighter and pretty well rounded. Lesnar will get better!
  12. Clint
    12. Posted by Clint Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:27 pm EDT

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    Urwrecked - FYI....Cofield posted on a couple of the other blogs. He wants a video of the press conference with the Psycho girl....I guess I pissed him off.
  13. gj
    13. Posted by gj Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:05 pm EDT

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    He won because of his wresteling skills and his strength, what did heath said during interviews, that he has fought bigger guys then lesnar?? Did you forget he said that j?? Looks like someone needs thier bottle of milk...lmoa..
  14. komin
    14. Posted by komin Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:53 pm EDT

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    You don't have to respect Lesnar... The action will speak for himself... As far as all he did was take him down and did not finish him.. well why won't all you hater's try and take him down. He did what he had to do to get a win. He stayed with his gameplan. Just wait till he get more expirence and feels comfortable with submissionist. So if you think he is scary now. just wait for all you doubters.. Ya, his after the fight actions was his decision but he did have alot of weight riding on this fight.. now the monkey is off his back for a little while. He can settle down and this win is now in the history books. Fighting bigger guys is irrelevent. All heath did was pray do for a decision. The same guy they have said he is a top contender. hmmm...
  15. Tony C
    15. Posted by Tony C Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:16 pm EDT

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    Also, GSP vs Fitch is almost a FOY candidate to me just based on the heart of Fitch alone! Granted, I don't really think it is FOY as it was just so one sided, but I haven't seen a guy take that much of a beating keep fighting back in a heck of a long time. VERY impressed. BTW, Lesner should take a lesson from GPS in showing respect to a game fighter who takes that kind of beating and doesn't give up. He really lessened himself in my eyes by his post fight stuff. Your not in the WWE anymore Brock! Hopefully he learns to treat his opponents with more respect.
  16. BOSS
    16. Posted by BOSS Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:32 pm EDT

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    people just look for reasons not to like lesnar because their jealous of how fast hes got into the position hes in. he showed no class because he acted like he threw a lasso at herring? who cares. fighters do dumb stuff after the fight has ended pretty often. anderson silva does his little dance, GSP does a back flip, florian does some dumb little dance and then theres good ol tito ortiz. big deal, how about that guy is dominant.
  17. mathiasmorciglio
    17. Posted by mathiasmorciglio Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:11 pm EDT

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    Brock definately showed some impressive skills although it is obvious that he really needs to work on his G & P and submissions, he's gotta learn how to finish. I really don't like his disrespectful attitude, but he's hardly the only fighter out there who's done something obnoxious like that. As far as the Kenflo Huerta fight is concerned I think Florian won all 3 rounds. They were close but in the first two rounds Florian got huerta's back and mounted, and he was getting a little better of the stand up, he was landing more clean powerful shots. Huerta didn't have the advantage in any single round. I'm a huge Huerta fan though and I think he'll be back and better than ever, he's a future champ for sure.
  18. Tony C
    18. Posted by Tony C Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:16 pm EDT

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    Hey, I actually came into the fight rooting for Brock (and still look forward to seeing his growth), but after the fight it was a bit low class. I understand others also do it and the emotion of the moment can certainly get to you. But to do that after only your first UFC win.... we'll I was hoping for better. GSP after the fight, is what I love about MMA. I don't care for the trash talk. Give me Griffin and GSP any day over the Tito's of the world. Great fighters with class who show great respect for their opponents and the sport. Celebration is great, taunting is not. Everyone will perhaps have lapses in judgment about where the line is between the two, but I hope for better in the future from Brock.
  19. Mr. Dan
    19. Posted by Mr. Dan Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:34 pm EDT

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    Brock didn't do bad last night, you can tell he doesn't quite know what to do with good ground position-- but he is new to mma. for someone who has no actual fighting background-- he redeemed himself. he beat a named fighter, not joe blow. as far as the teasing stuff at the end, he is kind of a big kid-- class will come with further training. the guy can punch. those knees to the spine could not have felt good. put him up against kimbo slice?how about good ol' tank abbott-?tim silvia?
  20. Mr. Dan
    20. Posted by Mr. Dan Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:34 pm EDT

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    that is why its Mixed Martial Arts-- he doesnt necessarily have to be a submissionist to succeed in the UFC. Tank wasnt big on tapouts-- just knockouts. i really thought Brock would bomb again. but strong and fast? that's enough to succeed in the cage.
  21. urwrecked
    21. Posted by urwrecked Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:45 pm EDT

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    Amanda.. How do you figure Huerta got stomped?? I think Florian won by hitting and running.. He himself admitted that was the game plan. Huerta was in the fight, but I think Florians movement gave him trouble. But he definitely didn't get stopmped.. Herring got stomped.. He was beat standing and on the ground and Lesnar made his night uncomfortable.. That is stomped!!! His face looked like meatloaf afterwards.. I look forward to a HW that can move laterally and give Lesnar angles. Also I am assuming he can take a punch, but we dont really know yet do we.. I wish he would of tried to flatten out Herring and choke him, or rip and arm off.
  22. Steven W
    22. Posted by Steven W Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:47 pm EDT

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    Do you guys really think a guy as inexperienced as Brock Lesnar should have been attempting submissions on Heath Herring? Heath has only lost by submission once, and that was to Minotauro Nogueria......who by the way is one of, if not the best HW BJJ pracitioners in the sport. I'm sure Brock knows what a rear naked choke is, I'm sure he knows about armbars, he was just sticking with what he knows and what he's comfortable with. As long as he was dominating the positions he was in, leave him be. If the BB gun is working, save the shotgun for later.
  23. Steven W
    23. Posted by Steven W Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:47 pm EDT

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    Who's next for Brock...Cheick Kongo? I don't like that matchup, I foresee the same result, Brock holding him down and pounding on him until the end...same thing Heath did to Cheick.
    How about this one...Heath's first UFC fight was a similar wrestling beat-down loss to Jake O'brien, he has since beaten Cheick Kongo. Cain Velasquez came in and smashed Jake O'brien in the first round with his wrestling and GnP, and I'm sure he'd do the same to Kongo. I'd like to see Brock vs. Velasquez. Two reasons why it won't happen yet is because nobody knows Velasquez and in the public eye it'd be a step back in competition (even though it's a HUGE step up in my opinion), and the other reason is that Dana probably knows Brock would lose at this point in his career, and he's not done grooming Brock yet...but he's running out of time before all the chump heavyweights are beaten down by that corn fed monster.
  24. Dubya b
    24. Posted by Dubya b Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:12 pm EDT

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    So Lesnar is not going to have to fight the elite in the UFC, like everyone is wanting Kimbo to do eh? Now there's a double standard.
    At least Kimbo doesn't act like an idiot and wave his fingers in the air, while the fight is still in process, to brag that he is winning.
  25. urwrecked
    25. Posted by urwrecked Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:45 pm EDT

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    BearDown.. I knew you would be 'bearing down' on me after this fight. I will give you this. Lesnar threw a nice right hand. I wish Herring would of shown some lateral movement and not just stood in front of Lesnar. I think Lesnar can impose his will on people due to his size and wrestling/athletic ability. It will be fun to see him as he keeps going. It would also be nice to see him get hit at least once so we can see if he indeed does have a head like "ball pin" hammer. Someone mentioned him fighting cheick Kongo. I think that would be a good test for him next. Kongo is mobile and can strike hands or feet.. I would pay for that one..

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