In the main event Frank Mir will battle Brock Lesnar to unify the heavyweight championship. This is a rematch of Lesnar’s first fight in the UFC where he looked dominating early but got caught in a submission giving him his only loss of his MMA career. Both guys are coming in hungry to prove that they are the legitimate champion.

The co-main event boasts another title match between pound for pound great and welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre v. Thiago Alves. St. Pierre has basically wiped out the welterweight division save for Alves. Alves doesn’t have the same grappling prowess St. Pierre has but his size and muay thai skills will make for a very interesting match up.

Last but certainly not least The Ultimate Fighter nine coaches, Dan Henderson and Michael Bisping, will square off for a title shot at Anderson Silva’s middleweight belt. The winner of this fight has been promised a title shot by UFC president Dana White. While these guys didn’t stir up too much of a rivalry on the show they obviously got on each other’s nerves so hopefully those emotions will bubble up in this bout.

Let’s break down the entire card:

Brock Lesnar v. Frank Mir:

Lesnar is 3-1, 2-1 in the UFC, with two wins by stoppage. He is a wrestler with heavy hands. Mir is 12-3, 10-3 in the UFC, with 10 wins by stoppage. He is a jiu-jitsu fighter with good muay thai.

In their last match Lesnar imposed his will on Mir by taking him down quickly and showing his power. However, he was still very raw and Mir used his slick submission game to catch Brock in a kneebar to get the win. This fight will be nothing like that fight.

Lesnar has a much improved game now and Mir is not the same fighter either. Both fighters will be prepared for what they saw last time. Mir should come out and try to pick Brock apart with his technically superior striking like he did with Nogueira and try to stay away from Brock’s power. He also needs to forget about kicks as he’ll be asking for takedowns by throwing those out there.

Lesnar cannot go to the ground with Mir. Brock will be able to dictate where the fight takes place due to his size advantage but taking the fight to the ground is a risky proposition. Lesnar needs to keep this fight on the feet and in the clinch. He needs to use his power advantage to wear down Mir in the clinch a la Randy Couture and then use his devastating power to finish Mir just like in the Couture fight.

Lesnar finished off a legend of the sport in Randy Couture proving that he is a legitimate fighter. However, Couture is an older and smaller version of Lesnar. Mir has a much more diversified game and showed surprising power against Nogueira. I think Mir will have the better game plan and can improvise better than Brock if things get out of hand. Mir has too many ways to win this fight. I’m picking Mir by submission in the third round.

Georges St. Pierre v. Thiago Alves:

St. Pierre is 20-2, 12-2 in the UFC, with 13 wins by stoppage. He has good muay thai, boxing, jiu-jitsu, and is probably the best effective wrestler in MMA. Alves is 16-3, 9-2 in the UFC, with 11 wins by stoppage. He is a brutal muay thai fighter with some jiu-jitsu skills.

This will be the first fighter St. Pierre has faced where has not had the size advantage. If St. Pierre is to retain his belt he needs to focus on staying inside of Alves to get the fight to ground while avoiding the clinch. If he can get the fight to the mat he should be use his ground game to earn the victory.

Alves on the other hand needs to negate St. Pierre’s wrestling above all else. He showed very effective sprawls against the former king of MMA wrestling Matt Hughes. St. Pierre proved his wrestling has surpassed Hughes’ back at UFC 79 so Alves will have to step his game up again. If he can stay off the mat and use his power advantage in the striking game, either from distance or in the clinch, he should be able to pull off the (T)KO victory.

Both of these fighters are top 10 pound for pound in my book. However, GSP is just in another stratosphere at this point in time. I like St. Pierre to win by submission in the second round.

Dan Henderson v. Michael Bisping:

Henderson is 24-7, 4-2 in the UFC, with 11 wins by stoppage. He is a wrestler with heavy hands. Bisping is 17-1, 7-1 in the UFC, with 15 wins by stoppage. He is a kickboxer with some muay thai and jiu-jitsu skills.

This is a classic striker v. grappler match up. Bisping wants to stand and trade while Henderson, if he’s smart, will take the fight to the ground and pound on Bisping. Unless Bisping catches Henderson in a wild flurry (which has never happened) I can’t see Bisping winning this fight.

Henderson has the better power and most importantly the better wrestling so he will decide where the fight takes place. My bet is that Henderson will stand and trade, which he likes to do, until he gets tired of Bisping’s pitter patter shots and takes him down. Neither man has been finished by (T)KO and I don’t see that trend ending here. I’m picking Henderson to earn the decision.

Jon Fitch v. Paulo Thiago:

Fitch is 18-3, 9-1 in the UFC, with 9 wins by stoppage. He is a wrestler with good jiu-jitsu and kickboxing along with some muay thai. Thiago is 11-0, 1-0 in the UFC, with 8 wins by stoppage. He is a jiu-jitsu fighter with good muay thai and some judo.

Thiago gets this shot at the highly regarded Fitch after shocking the world with his first round TKO victory over Josh Koscheck back at UFC 95. Fitch badly wants to get back into title contention and a win here would be a big step toward that goal.

Thiago is a good grappler when it comes to jiu-jitsu but Fitch has the better wrestling. Fitch is the more technical striker but Thiago has the power advantage. Fitch has proven his toughness time and time again while Thiago is a bit of an unknown quantity.

This is a very tough fight to pick. However, I’d like to think that unless Fitch makes a major mistake and gets caught, on the feet or the ground, his technique, wrestling, and toughness should earn him the advantage in this fight. I see Fitch earning a very tough decision victory to give Thiago his first loss.

Yoshihiro Akiyama v. Alan Belcher:

Akiyama is 12-1, making his UFC debut, with all 12 wins by stoppage. He is a judo fighter with good kickboxing. Belcher is 14-5, 5-3 in the UFC, with 12 wins by stoppage. He is a muay thai fighter with solid jiu-jitsu.

Akiyama is the latest import to come to the UFC looking to challenge Anderson Silva for his middleweight title. Akiyama brings an exciting, well rounded game over from Japan and is looking to make an early impact. Alan Belcher is a bit of spoiler though. He ruined Denis Kang’s long awaited debut in the UFC back at UFC 93.

Akiyama is more of a grappler and Belcher is more of a striker however both have enough tools in their belt to be good wherever the fight goes. Both of these guys are exciting fighters who love to finish fights so this should be an exciting match that doesn’t go the distance.

I am always a little concerned about fighters coming to the UFC for the first time, even fighters like Akiyama who have been in front of huge crowds before. The crowds in America are different and fighting in a cage has nuances that must be learned through experience.

I think Akiyama is the better fighter but I think it will be a closer fight than people expect. I like Akiyama to be competitive standing but to use his judo to get the fight to the mat where he can end it by submission. I’m picking Akiyama by submission in the second round.

Mark Coleman v. Stephen Bonnar:

Coleman is 15-9, 6-4 in the UFC, with 12 wins by stoppage. He is a wrestler. Bonnar is 11-5, 5-4 in the UFC, with 9 wins by stoppage. He is a jiu jitsu fighter with solid boxing and muay thai.

Coleman is simply over the hill and shouldn’t be fighting anymore. However, the commissions keep clearing him and Dana White lets him fight simply because he’s a UFC hall of famer. Bonnar shouldn’t have any issues in this fight. He has the better striking and conditioning. And even if Coleman gets the fight to the ground Bonnar can submit Coleman. I’m picking Bonnar by submission in the first round.

Mac Danzig v. Jim Miller:

Danzig is 18-6-1, 2-2 in the UFC, with 14 wins by stoppage. He is a jiu-jitsu fighter with solid boxing. Jim Miller is 13-2, 2-1 in the UFC, with 10 wins by stoppage. He is a wrestler with good jiu-jitsu.

This should be a very good match up of grapplers. I like Miller because he can do a better job of where the fight takes place. I think he will take the fight to the mat but he should have top position most of the fight giving him more offensive opportunities and points in the judges’ eyes. I’m picking Miller to win by decision.

Jon Jones v. Jake O’Brien:

Jones is 8-0, 2-0 in the UFC, with six wins by stoppage. He is a wreslter with good muay thai. O’Brien is 11-2, 4-2 in the UFC, with eight wins by KO. He is a wrestler with good striking.

These are two similar fighters in terms of skill sets. However, I think Jones is more athletic and has the better technical skills in both the striking and grappling. I’m picking Jones to win by TKO in the first round.

Dong Hyun Kim v. TJ Grant:

Kim is 11-0-1, 2-0 in the UFC, with seven wins by stoppage. He is judo fighter with good kickboxing and some jiu-jitsu. Grant is 14-2, 1-0 in the UFC, with 13 wins by stoppage. He is jiu-jitsu fighter with some muay thai skills.

Both of these fighters are good grapplers and I think they will probably negate each other on the ground. That leaves it up to who has the better striking. I believe this to be Kim who has shown better finishing power and good technique. I’m picking Kim to win a tough fight by decision to keep the undefeated streak alive.

CB Dolloway v. Tom Lawlor:

Dolloway is 8-1, 2-1 in the UFC, with seven wins by stoppage. He is a wrestler with good muay thai and solid jiu-jitsu. Lawlor is 5-1, 1-0 in the UFC, with four wins by stoppage. He is a wrestler.

In this match up of Ultimate Fighter alumns the fight will come down to who can impose his will on the other. Whoever has the better wrestling will dictate where the fight takes place. If it takes place on the feet I like Dolloway’s chances but if the fight goes to the mat and Lawlor’s on top I think he could come out the victor. I think Dolloway has the more well rounded game so I’m picking him to win by TKO in the second round.

Matt Grice v. Shannon Gugerty:

Grice is 9-2, 1-2 in the UFC, with six wins by stoppage. He is a wrestler. Gugerty is 11-3, 1-1 in the UFC, with all 11 wins by stoppage. He is a jiu-jitsu fighter with decent striking.

Grice can control where this fight takes place and I like his chances better on the feet than on the mat. With that said both guys are susceptible on the feet so this fight becomes a real toss up. I’m going to pick out of a hat and go with Grice who seems to me to have better finishing power. I’m picking Grice by TKO in the second round.

The rumored card:

- Gina Carano (7-0) vs. Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos (7-1)
- Josh Thomson (16-2) vs. Gilbert Melendez (15-2)
- Alistair Overeem (29-11) vs. Fabricio Werdum (11-4-1)
- Nick Diaz (20-7) vs. Joe Riggs (30-10)
- Jake Shields (23-4-1) vs. Matt Lindland (21-6)
- Erin Toughill (10-2-1) vs. Marloes Coenen (16-3)
- Roger Gracie (2-0) vs. TBA
- Billy Evangelista (9-1) vs. TBA
- Poppies Martinez (16-5) vs. TBA

Affliction has been negotiating with Gomi for months, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the deal was completed.
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Rarely has my rightful place been in question.

Soon, very soon a fight will commence to finally put to rest the question of where I truly belong.

I was first fought for on February 12, 1997.

I was claimed by an undefeated fighter.

I have been contested 26 times.

Only a select few have tasted my glory.

Eight men have fought hard to win the chance and failed to gain my prestige never to try again.

12 men have won the honor to bare my weight.

Many of those men the most notorious names in the sport.

I have been the catalyst for war, the object of desire for battle hungry men, men who would do anything to feel the pride of my presence around their waist.

I have traveled the world.

I have watched an empire be built around my existence.

I have seen champions forged, born, tried, tested, and destroyed all in my name.

I glimmer like the sun over the ocean horizon.

I hold true to my owners waist like an anaconda to its prey yet I am always on the hunt .

I am offered as a trophy representing skill, power, force, honor, and discipline.

I have been offered in battle and stolen in defeat.

I have been demanded by challengers only to elude their expectations.

Only a select few have earned my weight more than once.

I have witnessed a sport born, suffer, evolve, explode, and earn its place in the world.

I have watched a fan base transform from spectators to connoisseurs of the sport I represent.

I have been worn by the Natural, the Pit Bull, a Giant, a legendary Jiu Jitsu Master, The Hammer and many more.

I am the pinnacle of the sport, there is no higher honor in the world of mixed martial arts.

I am divided today, split between a man who once owned but never lost me to another vs a newcomer and quite possibly the foreseeable future of my existence.

I was there in the beginning, I will be here long after the champions of today have gone.

I have touched the greatness of this sport, I have known the elite, their possession of me a representation of their glory.

While many men have tasted my glory, my true master offers me to only the best, and he does not offer me lightly.

My road has weaved a complicated path across the division for over a decade.  Another change is on my horizon. 

My next move is not quite a turn so much as a fork in the road.  I am held today by two men. Soon I will not be divided any longer. 

Soon my path will be set without question one way or the other. 

During the biggest event in the history of the sport my current ownership will be sorted out.  I will have a new master, one master.  But for how long?

I am the UFC Heavyweight Belt.

The show, which will count down the top 100 fights in company history (as voted by fans), will debut tonight by counting down fights #100-76.

There is plenty of controversy surrounding the show, mostly behind the scenes. For example, you’ll be able to see Tito Ortiz losing fights as part of the 100 greatest list, but you’ll never see Tito winning a fight.

Why? For the same reason that you won’t see a single Frank Shamrock fight on the show, despite Shamrock’s status as a legend in the company and in mixed martial arts in general. Both guys are on the outs with Dana White and Zuffa, and thus you won’t see either guy winning a fight as part of the list. Since Shamrock never lost a fight in the company, you won’t see him on the show.

You’ll see Tito lose fights, but you won’t see him win. Frank Shamrock has been erased from Zuffa history altogether.

It’s petty, to be sure. But it is what it is.

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The mad rush of rabid fans clamoring for a piece of UFC history indicates that mixed martial arts is a major sport that likely will not see any sign of slowdown – and that the UFC brand is the reigning king.

Currently, MMA is legal in 36 out of 44 states with athletic commissions. With ever increasing momentum, MMA continues its battle toward legalization in the remaining states such as New York and Massachusetts and the Canadian province of Ontario.

Despite the near-mainstream status it has attained, MMA has not completely exorcised the specter of its “dark days.” Some in the general public and even the media cling to the outdated image of savagery from the early days of the UFC. Major industry players such as Zuffa (parent company behind UFC) continue its ongoing effort to educate the public and key decision makers on MMA’s legitimacy as a professional sport.

While MMA still has a legion of political opponents, such as the New York state senator, Bob Reilly, an increasing number of enlightened public officials see the benefits of legalizing and regulating MMA in their states.

As the largest MMA organization in the world, UFC looks to continue its reign for the foreseeable future. Impressive PPV numbers and live event attendance figure, the stunning brand presence and following on Spike TV – these offer mere glimpses of the UFC’s status as the 800-pound gorilla.

To bolster its number one status, UFC will continue to attract a cadre of top level talent from across the globe.

UFC President, Dana White has declared his ambition to make MMA the biggest sport in the world – even bigger than soccer – and elevate the UFC brand to a new height in the process.

White’s plan for world domination is grandiose, but given MMA’s bright prospect in the US and abroad, one cannot blame White for his ambition.

Outside the USA and Canada, MMA thrives in the traditional strongholds of Japan and Brazil. As UFC’s recent success in UK attests, British MMA market looks to continue its red hot streak. Elsewhere, the sport sees a dormant albeit slowly growing market in mainland Europe, Australia, and parts of Asia.

UFC’s nascent overseas expansion will continue into the future. Well-aware that each new market presents a unique set of challenges, UFC has expressed its willingness to march on steadily, one market at a time.

On the domestic front, Strikeforce and Affliction will remain potent rivals of UFC. Currently, neither promotion comes close to dethroning UFC; also, Affliction’s financial viability has been called into question. Nonetheless, a glance at the two promotions’ track record indicates that UFC has good competition on hand that will provide the incentive to strive for quality in its endeavor.

As the dominant force in the current balance of power in the MMA world, UFC wields considerable influence. The coming years will see how the manner in which UFC exercises its power impacts its sustenance and the sport as a whole.

Notably, considering that UFC has had a track record of insisting on running things as it sees fit, its headstrongness may result in detriment to the sport of MMA.

World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts (WAMMA), a sanctioning organization for professional MMA founded in 2007, has sought to unify rulesets and rankings across different organizations. While WAMMA has earned the cooperation of a number of major MMA promotions around the world, UFC has never recognized WAMMA’s legitimacy or expressed interest in cross-promotion of any sort.

If the discord between UFC and WAMMA is any indication, it hints at the possibility of inter-promotional rifts that will threaten the sport.

While UFC’s is the premier destination for fighters from across the globe, the organization’s ability to attract top talent in future will hinge to an extent on the palatability of the fighter contract. With regards to its contractual stipulations, UFC has met more than a few critics.

The contractual disputes between UFC Hall-of-famer Randy Couture and UFC, as well as the on-and-off negotiation between UFC and the number one heavyweight in the world, Fedor Emelianenko, have been well-publicized. Certain stipulations, such as the exclusivity clause that forbids fighters from competing for other organizations during their UFC tenure, and restrictions on sponsorship will no doubt alienate some fighters.

Leaning too heavily toward a “take it or leave it” approach to contractual negotiation can leave UFC with missed opportunities to sign coveted fighters. After all, fighters are the cornerstones of the sport – they captivate the fans with their dedication and fighting spirit.

Speaking of the fighters, the growth of MMA will spur continued evolution of its fighters. The future generation of fighters looks to be more well-rounded and athletic than ever before.

As fighters become more technically sound in all aspects of fighting, advantages in physical strength, size, conditioning, and overall athleticism will factor into a fighter’s victory.

Also, given the heightened level of skills of an average fighter, it will become increasingly difficult for fighters to simply pinpoint and exploit gaping holes in their opponents’ game. It is already clear that overwhelming ones opponent in any aspect of the fight will require skills on par with those of someone like Demian Maia: Maia, a world class Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner and probably among the very best submission specialists in UFC, has amassed submission victories in all his UFC bouts against opponents who succumbed to his superlative Jiu Jitsu skills.

In the coming years, carefully developed strategies will assume increased importance: Formulation of strategies that carefully consider the stylistic match-up of a fighter and his opponent to flesh out a formula for victory will be the key.

An intriguing development in the wake of MMA’s newfound popularity is the proliferation of MMA gyms across the nation. In the coming years, a new generation of aspiring fighters will step into these gyms and start training as a mixed martial artist from day one – this is a marked contrast to the older generations of fighters that transitioned to MMA with a background in another combat sport, such as wrestling.

Immersion in the different aspects of MMA from the beginning, along with the young age at which one commences straining, bode well for the development of well-rounded fighters. By the same token, the singular focus on MMA may hinder a fighter from evolving beyond the “jack of all trades, master of none” plateau. Only future will tell how these fighters bred on MMA from day one will fare.

UFC 100 serves as an affirmation of UFC’s reign over the ever-growing kingdom of mixed martial arts. Like any king, UFC must exercise its power with caution and help foster the growth of the very sport that gives it an exalted status. At the very least, if the frenzy surrounding the ticket sale for UFC 100 is any indication, the future of MMA and UFC looks brighter than ever.

Now that the Floyd Mayweather Jr vs Juan Manuel Marquez bout has been postponed, what is the best fight to watch in July?

Inside Fights Pound-for-Pound Rankings

1. Manny Pacquiao
Last Month: 1
Pacquiao is second to Mayweather on my list only because he had a life-and-death battle with Marquez a year ago. Regardless, Pacquiao and Mayweather are clearly the top two spots, and as soon as they fight, we’ll know for sure who #1 is in the sport. Until then, call them 1A and 1B if you like. – Corey Willinger

2. Floyd Mayweather Jr
Last Month: 2
Injured ribs have pushed back Floyd’s return to the ring to September. A fight with the current #3 lb-for-lb boxer will hopefully lead to a fight to crown the true #1 pound-for-pound champ. – Trent Pusey

3. Juan Manuel Marquez
Last Month: 3
Marquez believes he is the best lb-for-lb boxer in the world. He still gets his chance to prove it, just a few months later than we were hoping for. – TP

4. Bernard Hopkins
Last Month: 4
If Hopkins doesn’t schedule anything soon, he may as well be retired. It’s a shame because he’s coming off one of the best performances of his career against Kelly Pavlik. The problem is that was in October. – CW

5. Paul Williams
Last Month: 5
Williams is without a dance partner for the summer as fans begin to forget that he just beat Winky Wright. Williams may very well be a mainstay in the top 5 for years to come. – TP

6. Israel Vazquez
Last Month: 6
Unlike Hopkins, Vazquez has been sitting out with an injury, but he’s coming back soon, and boxing could really use his energy and excitement. – CW

7. Shane Mosley
Last Month: 7
Try as he might, Shane couldn’t convince Pacquiao to step in the ring with him. Mosley deserves a rematch with Cotto, but it looks like that won’t happen, leaving Mosley in no man’s land. – CW

8. Miguel Cotto
Last Month: 9
Cotto moves up a spot with his win over Joshua Clottey. Talks for a fight with Pacquiao in the fall have already begun. – TP

9. Chad Dawson
Last Month: 8
Dawson drops a spot this month. His performance against Tarver in May didn’t warrant Dawson holding onto the 8th spot in the wake of Cotto’s win. – TP

10. Arthur Abraham
Last Month: 10
Abraham looked terrific in beating up on Mahir Oral this past weekend, taking his time the first four rounds before absolutely pummeling his foe. Pavlik needs to make the fight with Abraham before the IBF Champ moves up to super middleweight and the dream fight is lost. – CW

July Fight to Watch

Staff Pick: Vic Darchinyan vs. Joseph Agbeko
July 11th on Showtime

The postponement of Mayweather/Marquez really put a damper on boxing in July. Fortunately, Showtime will be televising the always-entertaining Vic Darchinyan this month. Darchinyan is chasing a world title in a third weight class as he moves up to challenge IBF Bantamweight champion Joseph Agbeko. Both fighters carry power in their hands so it should make for an early night.

This has been one hell of a soap opera, but it looks like it’s about to reach a conclusion. Fertitta only gets involved in matters that are important to the company or in situations where Dana White is too close to the situation.

You were well aware of this, of course. But standing next to Brock Lesnar gives a true sense of just how big her really is. His 280 pounds are filled to the brim with hard-earned muscle, the kind that typically only starts to develop on farms in the Midwest where he grew up.

Lesnar’s strength is certainly his most visible asset. He’s far and away the most powerful man in mixed martial arts.

Heavyweight champions have never looked like him.

They looked like Randy Couture and Fedor Emelianenko, who’s widely considered the best fighter in the world: Men who are bigger than your average civilian, but not overwhelmingly so. Couture is 6-foot-2, 220 pounds; Emelianenko 6-foot, 230.

Lesnar, on the other hand, is so massive that it nearly borders on comical. But, it’s not just his size and strength that’s overwhelming. Lesnar, an NCAA wrestling champion in 2000, is as quick as some of MMA’s top light heavyweights. He can pummel an opponent or just dominate him on the canvas.

Heading into next Saturday’s title unification bout at UFC 100 versus Frank Mir, Lesnar is considered the prototype for the new heavyweight, just as Georges St. Pierre is thought to be the new mold for lighter fighters. Lesnar’s the reason some pundits are clamoring for a cruiserweight division, a place for people who would typically be considered a heavyweight but don’t even come close Lesnar’s size.

He may weigh in at the UFC heavyweight limit of 265 pounds, but on fight night, he’s 280 again and dominant.

They don’t want to see a repeat of the night when Lesnar, 31, faced aging heavyweight champ Randy Couture last fall. Lesnar stopped him in the second round. This was a little more than a year after his first MMA match.

Lesnar’s physical gifts are off the charts, but they’re rivaled by his ability to learn new skills.

He chose World Wrestling Entertainment after college because there was little money in mixed martial arts. Fighters were bruised and battered for a pittance, and that didn’t sound appealing in the least. He quickly became known as the best big-man performer in pro wrestling and in 2003 even main evented the biggest show in the business — WrestleMania.

The pro wrestling lifestyle eventually became too much, and Lesnar chose to leave. He’s a family man at heart, raised in the kind of throwback-farm atmosphere where family is the most important thing in the world.

Working for the WWE meant spending 300 days a year away from his wife, and that wasn’t going to work out very well for an overgrown kid who loves home more than anything in the world.

Lesnar attempted to play pro football next. He hadn’t played organized team sports since high school, but that didn’t stop him. He nearly made the Minnesota Vikings as a backup, being one of the last players cut before training camp ended.

Scott Sudwell, director of college scouting for the Vikings, came away impressed by Lesnar’s work ethic.

“He is talented,” Studwell said. “He is a good athlete. He has a history of achievement. And you know he has a work ethic.”

That work ethic enabled Lesnar to quickly grasp and excel in MMA.

He made a crucial mistake against Mir in his first UFC bout last year. Lesnar got anxious and recklessly went for the finish. Mir made him pay for that mistake, forcing him to tap out.

But Lesnar learned a great deal from that bout.

He was reserved, calm and controlling against both Heath Herring and Couture, later that same year.

The most recent word out of Lesnar’s camp is that he’s nearly impossible to submit, and he’s “basically a brown belt in jiujitsu defense.” He’s spent countless hours training submission defense.

Mir will weigh 255 pounds come fight night, but could be outweighed by 30 pounds when they enter the octagon.

And there are plenty of guys like Lesnar coming up the ranks; guys who are strong, fast, agile and skilled.

There may very well come a day where all heavyweights are guys like Brock Lesnar, and smaller fighters like Randy Couture are nothing more than a memory in the division
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From what I’ve heard, the footage they’ve captured for this show is some of the best they’ve ever done. The show airs Tuesday night at 10pm ET.