Fighter Profile: Brock Lesnar

Overall Record: 5-1

Hometown: Webster, SD

Height: 6’2” Weight: 265

Age: 31

Brock Lesnar is a former amateur and professional wrestler turned mixed martial artist. His background as a wrestler began with success in high school and as a student/athlete at the University of Minnesota. In college, Lesnar was the NCAA runner up at the 1999 wrestling championships. One year later, Lesnar progressed and won the 2000 NCAA wrestling championships as a senior at Minnesota.

He developed strong ties while at the University of Minnesota as he now trains at the Minnesota Mixed Martial Arts Academy with head trainer Greg Nelson and Minnesota assistant wrestling coach Marty Morgan. Some of his training partners there include Sean Sherk, Nick “The Goat” Thompson, and Brock Larson, all of which have UFC experience.

After his collegiate wrestling career, Lesnar began a career in professional wrestling with Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Entertainment. He quickly rose up the ranks with the WWE and became a three-time WWE champion between the years of 2002-2004. Lesnar was becoming very wealthy as a professional wrestler but he missed the competitive nature, with the predetermined results in the WWE. Lesnar abruptly left the WWE in 2004 after only two full years.

Shortly after leaving the WWE in 2004, Lesnar looked for competition in a different direction. Lesnar signed a free-agent contract to try out for the Minnesota Vikings of the NFL. Lesnar, not playing football since his high school days, adjusted quickly to the life of a NFL player. He played in a couple of preseason games with the Vikings, as a defensive lineman, before being released during the last week of preseason training camp.

It was now, after a successful professional wrestling career and a stint as a football player that Lesnar chose to use his strength as a wrestler in another capacity. Beginning in 2007, Lesnar began training as a mixed martial artist.

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Lesnar hooked back up with some contacts from Minnesota and began training at Minnesota Mixed Martial Arts Academy. Lesnar already had a good base as a wrestler but needed work with his striking and submission skills in order to compete.

After several months of training with Greg Nelson and Marty Morgan, Lesnar made his professional debut at a K-1 Hero’s event in June of 2007. It took Lesnar less than a minute and a half to pound his opponent, Min Soo Kim, into submission. He looked very dominant in a short period of time as a MMA athlete.

The next logical step for Brock Lesnar was to progress to the major leagues of MMA. After his dominant win over Kim, Lesnar signed with the UFC late in 2007. It was time for him to show his skills on the largest stage of MMA promotions.

His first task was against former heavyweight champion, Frank Mir at UFC 81 in February of 2008. The fight started well for Lesnar, as he dropped Mir and delivered a series of hammer fists to Frank Mir’s face. The tide quickly turned, as Lesnar let up briefly, Mir took the opportunity and grabbed Lesnar’s knee as he tried to get to his feet. At this point, Lesnar’s inexperience showed and he was forced to submit at 1:30 of the first round via kneebar.

The UFC liked what they saw and quickly had Lesnar back in the cage against journeyman and former Pride FC heavyweight, Heath Herring. Herring and Lesnar squared off at UFC 87 in August of 2008. This fight was different than his UFC debut. Lesnar dominated from the opening bell with strikes and overpowering ground and pound. The judges awarded Lesnar the unanimous decision victory after three complete rounds.

It was now, after 1 win and 1 loss, that the UFC set Brock Lesnar up against one of the most recognizable figures in UFC history, Randy Couture. It wasn’t enough that it was Randy Couture but it was also for the UFC heavyweight championship. UFC 91 in November of 2008 was a memorable event for Brock Lesnar. He quickly overwhelmed Couture and shook off an early flurry of punches from the champ to take control. The fight was going Lesnar’s way in every area. He used precise striking to earn the TKO victory at 3:07 of the second round to become the new UFC heavyweight champion.

Less than a year later Lesnar will look to defend his new title against his new found rival, Frank Mir. Originally scheduled for a spring fight, an injury to Frank Mir has pushed the heavyweight championship fight back to July at UFC 100. This historic event will feature one of the best heavyweight fights in UFC and MMA history.

With less than three full years of training and fighting under his belt, Lesnar has found much success in MMA. After changing sports three times in a span of three years, finally Lesnar has found a home with MMA. He has instantly added credibility to a lackluster heavyweight division. He also has given hope to other talented wrestlers who look to continue with their athletic careers. At only 31 years of age the ceiling is the limit for an athlete as talented as Brock Lesnar. It will be exciting to watch and see where he takes his career next.

Recent Brock Lesnar MMA News:

• Defeated Frank Mir by TKO at UFC 100 on July 21, 2010 in Las Vegas, NV - UFC 100 results

• Defeated Shane Carwin via Submission at UFC 116 for the Undisputed UFC Heavyweight Championship on July 3, 2010 in Las Vegas, NV - UFC 116 results

By Nick Russell
ProFighting-fans.com Staff Writer
Published April 2009

Photo courtesy of UFC