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[Doggage]

- UFC 91: BROCK LESNAR READY TO GO TO WORK - MMA WEEKLY - Mixed Martial Arts & UFC News, Photos, Rankings & more

by Tom Hamlin - MMAWeekly.com

The whole scene is very Rocky IV, minus Russian Ivan Drago.

Former NCAA wrestling champion Brock Lesnar travels to chilly northern Minnesota, hours away from the outside world, to train for a fight anticipated to be the biggest pay-per-view event in UFC history. In place of Drago posters, Lesnar totes opponent Randy Couture’s biography, training books, and fight videos to immerse himself in the mind of his adversary.

“We got to know Randy pretty well,” Lesnar said of the two-month camp in preparation for UFC 91.

Knowing the “caveman” training drills popular at Minnesota Mixed Martial Arts, Lesnar’s trainer, Greg Nelson, probably found a few tractor trailers for the heavyweight to drag around as well.

“I’m excited to come out and enter the world again, because I’ve just been away for eight weeks,” Lesnar added. “I had big guys to train with and guys that have wrestled Randy before… we had a really good camp. I’m honored to get into the Octagon with Randy.”

By all appearances, Lesnar is well settled into the life of a mixed martial artist. In only three professional fights, he’s managed to cement a reputation as the future of the UFC’s heavyweight division. His pro wrestling past, now four years behind him, is no longer a lurking question. He can fight.

Lesnar said he and Nelson worked hard to plug the remaining holes in his game following his decision win over Heath Herring at UFC 87.

“We watched that fight over probably a hundred times and looking for other things that I can do to stay busy and stay more dominant,” Lesnar said.

In Couture, the former pro wrestler is taking on a man with a decided edge in championship-level competition. Even in amateur wrestling, where Lesnar developed his powerhouse style, Couture has more years and more medals on the mats. But at 31, Lesnar is younger, has fewer miles on his body, and carries a size advantage that can’t be overlooked.

Lesnar believes his youthful inexperience will be a positive come the 15th of November. He can’t be afraid of the demands of a 25-minute fight, because he’s never had one.

“There’s one thing of having experience, and there’s another of just not knowing any different,” he said. “I’ve never fought five rounds, but I don’t know any different either. It’s kind of a toss-up for me because I’ve got to just put my head down and go.”

Though most pundits have pegged the fight as a wrestling battle for top position, Lesnar says he has worked extensively to better his 4XL-sized hands.

“Speed plus mass equals destruction, so we’re just trying to… sharpen my hands and how I’m executing my punches,” he said. “Maybe I could be wrong, but… he’s going to want to stay away from my hands because I feel that he might be threatened by them.”

Still, Lesnar admits that much like his fight with Herring, the fight will be about controlling the bulk – or relative lack thereof – of his opponent. He knows Couture has struggled against bigger heavyweights, but also wants to be ready if he’s in a bad position.

“It’s just about staying calm and executing the right things and not worrying about anything if it doesn’t happen,” Lesnar said. “It’s a mental thing too. You get guys out of their comfort zone and boom, the heart rate goes up and they’re like a deer in the headlights, so obviously better try not to be that guy.”

Whatever happens this Saturday, Lesnar says he did the right things to prepare for Couture on those cold Minnesota days and nights.

“I’m prepared for just about anything Randy Couture has to offer,” he said. “And I hope that he brings everything, including the kitchen sink.”

If betting odds are any indication, the sports community has already warmed to him. One line has him at -125 to Couture’s -105, virtually erasing the vast experience gap between the two.

The chance to take the UFC heavyweight belt – his first in eight years where the outcome wasn’t pre-determined – doesn’t concern him at this point.

“I got a lot of plowing to get done before I get to see the end of the field on this one,” said Lesnar. “Hopefully at the end of the five rounds or before that, my hand gets raised – the only thing that’s in front of me right now is Randy Couture.”

That singular focus is Lesnar’s calm before the storm.

“I’m at peace with my life,” he said. “I’m at peace with my family and I’m at peace in the fight game right now. So whether I come across cocky or confident, take it either way.”

Lesnar seems respectful and ready to go, but I'm picking Randy.

[the_dark_angel_4ever]

I really can't wait for this fight.

I was a fan of Brock in his old wrestling days simply because of this intensity and desire to compete.

Everytime I try to think of how the fight is going to go down I always see Brock coming away with the win, but at the same time you can never count Randy out. We know Randy is going to test Brock's chin a few times through the course of the fight and I really want to see how he reacts. Can Brock take a punch???

This is one fight I wouldn't put any money on!

[evergleam]

We'll see about this one. Randy's got to catch him with a big punch or submit him. I don't see Lesnar having too hard of a time if Randy wants to wrestle for five rounds. Thats MO.

[mindwarp]

My biggest concern is Brock isn't Tim Sylvia. Randy is not a striker, and not a subber. He is a dirty boxer. Watching those last 2 fights with Chuck, well with Brocks strength if he even glances randy that could really hurt him.

The only way I see Brock losing this is by being too green / aggressive and getting caught.

[thumper]

See this was a hint of the Brock I actually like. The respectful one that doesn't just talk crazy.

“I’m excited to come out and enter the world again, because I’ve just been away for eight weeks,” Lesnar added. “I had big guys to train with and guys that have wrestled Randy before… we had a really good camp. I’m honored to get into the Octagon with Randy.”

[evergleam]

Originally Posted by thumper

See this was a hint of the Brock I actually like. The respectful one that doesn't just talk crazy.

This is what I have been waiting for for all the people who don't like Lesnar's antics. I agree he can act like a guy who isn't used to the fame or winning in the Octagon (wait... he isn't!!), but let's give him a little while to show his adjustment to his newly found interest in this sport. It seems to me that his experience as a high caliber fighter isn't there yet and it has to catch up to his raw natural ability. He'll get there as long as he keeps winning.

Good read.

[thefirm0]

it's going to be an excellent fight. you can guarantee one thing, if randy gets a take down, joe rogan will bust a testicle, hopefully on camera.

[jlruthven84]

Good to see Brock not talking out of his ass.

Whether or not Randy has real power in his punches, he's still going to test Brock on the feet, and regardless of the size difference, Brock's not going to have an easy time taking Randy down.

Should make for an interesting night.

[evergleam]

Originally Posted by thefirm0

it's going to be an excellent fight. you can guarantee one thing, if randy gets a take down, joe rogan will bust a testicle, hopefully on camera.

-PoP-

[Shax]

We have yet to see Brock get hit, that's the only thing that has me questioning whether Brock will win this fight easily. I really don't care how -good- people think Randy is. I think Randy was the UFC poster boy for a lot of years and basically hand picked his opponents and the UFC allowed him to do so because he was the only likeable, marketable heavyweight in the division.

I want to see if Brock has a chin. We know he has power, but we don't know if he can really strike. We know he's got unmatched strength and is a top tier wrestler/ground and pounder but we don't know whether he can do those things vs another wrestler.

In the end, this fight does nothing for me because if Brock wins, people wont give him any kind of credit because they'll say he beat a guy who's old, slow, and hasn't had a fight in over a year. Time finally caught up to Couture. If Randy wins, the UFC will be all over this and Rogan and the rest of the Zuffa crew will really push the opportunity to have Fedor fight Couture. This is a lose lose situation for Brock, the only positive that will come from this is he gets the belt, but wont get the respect. I think the UFC wants to see Randy lose this fight, because then all the Fedor talk can go away. Fedor would devastate both Brock and Couture so the quicker the UFC can get people's mind off of Fedor the better.

Brock will lose when he faces a real striker. Period.