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[The Joker]

Didn't see this posted anywhere so if I missed it, mods please merge.

- WC FITNESS: WHY FANS HATE BROCK REASON #657 - MMA WEEKLY - Mixed Martial Arts & UFC News, Photos, Rankings & more


Well, UFC 100 has come and gone.

With his dominant victory over Frank Mir, Brock Lesnar not only avenged his only loss in his short MMA career, but further solidified himself as not only a genuine MMAist, but also rightful champion.

Yet, many MMA fans *still* look for (and find) ways to disrespect - or simply not like - Lesnar as an MMA fighter.

Some say that he hasn't beat worthy competition yet, claiming that Heath Herring is now nothing but a journeyman fighter, that Randy Couture was severely outweighed (and that he's too old), and that Mir wasn't even the 'true' champ, but only an interim champ. Personally, I think most of these arguments are stupid, but oh well.

Others don't like Lesnar because they say he's too brash, disrespectful, mean, etc. - that he's not just playing a "heel" type of character, but that he really is a jerk. (These aren't my feelings - I'm just passing on what others seem to feel.) If that's what you think of Brock, then you're more than likely a relatively new(er) fan of MMA. I say this because if you have been watching the UFC since the SEG era, then you'd know that Brock hasn't said or done anything any worse than Tank Abbot ever did, or that Tito Ortiz (back when he was a champ) ever put on a T-shirt.

Yet others dislike Lesnar because of his time spent in professional wrestling. Which I never really understood because many other MMAists have spent time in the wrestling ring/industry including Ken Shamrock, Mark Coleman, Don Frye, Dan Severn, Kazuyuki Fujita, Kazushi Sakuraba, Frank Trigg, Bobby Lashley, Tank Abbot, and many others.

Then there is the tattoo on Brock's chest. No discussion necessary.

While I might not agree with most of the above, I can understand where folks are coming from. I don't share the same view(s), but I "get" it.

However, there is one major criticism of Brock that I just don't get.

I can't tell you how many times I've seen it said (usually in a forum somewhere), that Brock is just - and I'm paraphrasing here - "big, strong, and in shape. He's not really a good martial artist - he's just naturally athletic, and a muscle-bound monster."

I'm sorry, but that is just plain stupid.

First of all, we like to say that professional MMAists are some of the best trained, hardest working athletes in the world. Yet, when a guy who is a natural athlete with a ton of God-given potential enters the sport and has some immediate success, we want to belittle him for it?

Second of all, it's not like getting "big and strong" is easy. If it were, everybody would be big and strong. In fact, if getting as big and strong as Lesnar wasn't out of the ordinary, then Brock would be just that - ordinary.

Let me digress for a second. Have you ever heard of Mark Robinson? Again, unless you're a long-time MMA fan, you likely haven't. Mark Robinson is a South African powerlifter who won several South African powerlifting and professional strongman contests in the late '80s. Robinson won the title of World Powerlifting Champion in 1990, and even had a good martial arts background, winning a South African Judo championship in 1982, several sumo titles, and even won ADCC in 2001. (All info courtesy of Mark Robinson)

Why do I bring up Robinson? Because Robinson had a very brief stint in the UFC. In fact, it was so brief that it lasted only one event, UFC 30, where he was beaten handily by Bobby Hoffman.

If being big and strong was such a vital part of succeeding in MMA, then Robinson should have had a long and storied career in the UFC. And he didn't.

Face it people - Brock is a real MMAist, and he's the UFC champion... whether you like it or not.

Is being big and strong a big part of Brock's arsenal? Sure it is. Only a fool would say it's not. Then again, only a fool would say it's the only (or at least the main) reason why he's been so successful right out of the gate.

(Funny - when you hear of guys like Tito Ortiz, Randy Couture, etc., that are known for their super-human conditioning, nobody ever puts these guys down saying that all they do is wear out their opponents and let their conditioning take over. Yet, when Brock uses superior strength to help subdue an opponent, it's almost as if he's cheating).

Methinks that everybody could learn a lesson or two from Brock, and work on getting big and strong. That doesn't mean that you have to be a 265-pound monster like he is, but there's nothing wrong with putting on a few pounds of muscle (replacing a few pounds of fat), and getting as strong as you can for your size, is there? As long as you keep your skills, conditioning, endurance, etc., in check, won't that mean you just have another tool with which you can use to win? Sounds like it to me.

What kind of program should you use to get big and strong? For an MMAist, a simple program is best. Two to three times a week is good - compound exercises, varying intensity. You have to make sure that you leave enough in your gas tank for skills work, drilling, sparring, conditioning, and endurance work (though the last two can be incorporated in with your strength work if you know what you're doing).

A good and simple workout might look like this: Day 1 - OH Press - 3x5, Chins x 50 total reps, Deadlift 3x5. Day 2 - Bench Press - 3x5, Rows - 4x6, Squat - 3x5. Figure out how much weight you could use for 5 reps in each exercise, and subtract 20-30%. Start with that, and add weight each workout. Every fourth week, drop the weights by 50% as a backoff/deload week.

That simple workout could keep you getting as strong as you'd need for quite a while. There are various things you could change/add to the workout, but it would have to be done in conjunction with designing your overall program, to make sure that you're developing a good and complete overall program.

Train Hard, Rest Hard, Play Hard.

Matt "Wiggy" Wiggins is a strength coach and author living in Cameron, N.C. Having trained and designed Workout Plans for 16+ years, Wiggy is a strength moderator at mma.tv, columnist for MMAWeekly.com, and an avid fan of Mixed Martial Arts Training. His site, Working Class Fitness.com, is dedicated to designing low-tech, high-result Workout Programs; earning praise from the likes of UFC commentator and martial artist Joe Rogan, Ultimate Fighter alumnus Jules Bruchez, world famous strength and conditioning coach Charles Staley, UFC veteran Leigh Remedios, and others.

ATTENTION: Physical exercise can sometimes lead to injury. The information contained at WorkingClassFitness.com and MMAWeekly.com is NOT intended to constitute an explanation of any exercise, material, or product (or how to use/perform them). WorkingClassFitness.com and MMAWeekly.com are not responsible in any way, shape, or form for any injury that may result from any person's attempt at exercise as a result of the information contained herein. Please consult a physician before starting any exercise program, and never substitute the information on this site for any professional medical advice or treatment you may receive.

[rivethead]

I can't think of any other fighter who has generated so much interest in why people don't like him. This must be the 10th thinly-veiled agenda I've read dissecting the motivation behind not liking lesnar and attempting discredit anyone's feelings who just don't like the guy.

People are going to have a visceral response. Writing slanted/regurgitated op-ed piece isn't going to change that, it's just going to make the self-righteous hack who penned it feel better about himself for writing it, and convince the fans who already like lesnar that they're cooler than being cool.

It's basically 1500 words of preaching to the choir about how much another, different choir sucks.

Oh, and he utterly lost me at "Methinks..." I just couldn't read any more.
Shakespeare, he ain't.

rh

[roaddawg]

To paraphrase what Rivet just said basically your post was in vain and not likely to change or sway anyone's opinion (especially those whom are already close minded).

Joker:
I do agree with you that there is an obvious bias against Brock. The funny part is from a guy thats been a heel most of his career this is home sweet home for him. He could careless and fans will continue paying to see him fight (win/lose or draw).

rd

[stevequalude]

I love lesnar .. i wonder if he is into guys not that i am or anything

[kingrick]

One of the biggest reasons that people dislike brock was neglected in this article that is that after brock won just 2 fights in mma and had a 1-1 record in the ufc he was given a title shot. although he is an incredible athlete amazing wrestler and overall extremely powerful man he did not do enough in his short career to warant a title shot in many fans eyes. due to this many people do not like him he is the champion and he has beat some top fighters. but the question still remains why did he get a title shot when plenty of other fighters had put in the time and had better performances and better records but still did not get the same treatment?