Brock's Lack of Respect

UFC President Dana White has moved to quash rumors about former UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar's supposedly impending retirement in recent days, but some of the chatter on internet forums and social media websites which came about as a result of said rumors highlighted the lack of respect and resentment many fans still harbor towards Lesnar. 

Over the past few days the numerous keyboard warriors took pleasure in highlighting Lesnar's apparent lack of skills in the striking department. The way in which Lesnar turned away after being hit by Shane Carwin and Cain Valasquez respectively was discussed in great detail, as the former WWE superstar was bashed over and over by many fans. 

Lesnar's last two fights have undoubtedly raised some large question marks, but many fans too readily use Lesnar's past in professional wrestling as a stick to beat him with, conveniently forgetting that the man is a former National Junior Colleges Wrestling Champion, a Big Ten Heavyweight Champion, and a former NCAA Heavyweight Champion to boot. Add to this the fact that Lesnar was the WWE's marquee name for a period, was one step away from making it onto the Minnesota Vikings NFL squad having tried out for the team at 27 years old, and became UFC World Heayweight Champion within four fights, and it is clear that Lesnar is a man worthy of the utmost respect. 

Keyboard warriors will undoubtedly point to the fact that Lesnar was placed in high profile big money fights very early in his career. They will almost definitely say he received a premature title shot against Randy Couture, and that the Shane Carwin fight should have been stopped when Carwin was beating Lesnar to a bloody pulp in the first round. They may have a point, but Lesnar defeated Couture in devastating fashion to become Champion. And while there would have been little complaint had the Carwin fight been stopped, I don't believe it should have been, and Lesnar regrouped, got up and strangled his opponent to claim victory (and all this after a bout with diverticulitis which almost killed him might I add). 

Having read Deathclutch, in which Lesnar allows us a rare glimpse into his personal life, it is hard not to admire the man. For all his achievements as a professional athlete, his struggles while in college and absolute determination to procure that elusive NCAA championship evoke feelings of appreciation and awe in the reader. 

In short, MMA is one of those rare professional sports that you can watch and still come away feeling like you owe the competitors something for giving their all. Where Lesnar is concerned, MMA fans, including keyboard warriors, should know a great athlete when they see it, and not be so dismissive and downright disrespectful to a guy whose only sin was losing the World Heavyweight Title to Cain Valasquez. 

Pádraig Martin