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UFC 81

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ChadTower:
If Lesnar wins it will at least prove he has the tools to hang with a top submission artist.  Even when Lazy Mir shows up he can submit all but the top guys at any moment.

I just don't see a whole ton of guys in Lesnar's size range that have any name value right now that would be reasonable matchups for him.  The UFC isn't exactly stacked with high quality 260lb guys.  They don't have much of a heavyweight ladder.  Other than Mir, they'd have to start him with an actual contender, and that just isn't realistic if they want to keep Lesnar as a valuable property.

odysseyroc:
They didn't need to have him fight a name fighter. This is set up to be a showcase fight for Lesnar. They are hoping the same Mir that was TKO'ed by Pe De Pano shows up. Also, other than Sylvia, Mir hasn't really submitted anybody worth mentioning. I think that Mir's reputation was enhanced by fighting in one of the weakest HW divisions ever.

Lesnar really shouldn't be headlining an MMA event yet. He should be fighting somebody like Heath Herring or Eddie Sanchez on the undercard and getting some experience/wins. If he's headlining cards now, who does he fight if he beats Mir? They are risking having to push him without letting him develop.

The whole card looks pretty good for UFC 81, so I can't wait till saturday.

ChadTower:

--- Quote from: odysseyroc on January 29, 2008, 01:31:28 pm ---They didn't need to have him fight a name fighter.
--- End quote ---

They did if they want to use him to get PPV buys.  They need buzz in the heavyweight division ASAP - Couture's departure hurts them badly.  This is what they had up their sleeve.  It may not be best for Lesnar's development but it is what the UFC had to do short term.  Lesnar really can't lose - if he gets submitted, he's just not ready yet.  No one will call him a flop for getting submitted by Frank Mir.



--- Quote ---Lesnar really shouldn't be headlining an MMA event yet.

--- End quote ---

I can't see him headlining a card that has Sylvia-Nogueira and Jeremy Horn on it.  They're pushing Lesnar hard on Spike to attract the pro wrestling audience but I haven't see a ton of Lesnar in the other usual media the UFC uses.  No more than the other fighters, anyway.

FWIW, I mostly agree with you - they're trying to walk the line between using his name value and not headlining him.  It seems more confusing than anything else.

Chemixtry:

--- Quote ---I can't see him headlining a card that has Sylvia-Nogueira and Jeremy Horn on it.
--- End quote ---
Jeremy Horn - that dude used to be so good but he has been lackluster lately. I saw him fight live at Art of War 3 in Dallas he put on a disappointing show. If Brock wins I would like to see him go up against a quality striker like Cheik Kongo or Arlovski.

ChadTower:

Kongo has gone to decision his last 3 fights - and lost one of them.  He would probably get destroyed by a grappler with the size and accomplishments of Lesnar.

That said, he may just be a good next opponent whether Lesnar wins or loses, if they are determined to build Lesnar as the top name property he has the potential to be.

Lesnar isn't anywhere near ready for Arlovski.  Arlovski has some losses now but look who they're to... Sylvia, Rizzo, Rico Rodriguez...

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