UFC 87 Brock Lesnar vs. Heath Herring

Simultaneously pegged as the future of UFC’s heavyweight division and branded a pro wrestling pretender who foolishly believes he can jump from the squared-circle into the eight-sided cage, Brock Lesnar’s mighty shoulders endures the weight of both exorbitant expectations and questions of his legitimacy.

On August 9th, from the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, making his first return visit to the Octagon to face veteran fighter Heath Herring (30), the South Dakotan farm-boy (31) gets a second chance to prove his authenticity as a mixed-martial-artist before a live pay-per-view audience at UFC 87: Seek and Destroy.

Farmboy to Superstar

Lesnar’s story has become something of legend: bred as a freestyle wrestler in the rural town of Webster, SD, an unblemished high-school senior year record translated to a spot on the University of Minnesota’s standout mat-squad. Not the sharpest technician, by Lesnar’s own admission, the brawny grappler bested opponents with an unparalleled repository of strength, feral explosiveness, and conditioning uncommon for such a mammoth specimen.

The Golden Gopher capped his exceptional amateur career winning the 2000 NCAA heavyweight championship to go along with his two NCAA All-American and two Big Ten titles. Needing a way to make a living after college –no freestyle ‘pro circuit’ exists and the UFC’s popularity having yet boomed – Lesnar pursed a forgotten childhood dream signing with Vince McMahon’s World Wrestling Entertainment, interestingly, turning down offers to play NFL football from Tampa Bay and Washington.

Exhibiting a natural aptitude for sports-entertainment, owing to his steep learning-curve and extraordinary 6’2”, 290 lb frame, ‘The Next Big Thing’ (as dubbed by the WWE) quickly ascended from the promotions developmental territory to its main stage, capturing the WWE Championship three times and the industries highest honor, the main event spot at Wrestlemania, all in under four years.

New Challenges

Accruing injuries and exhausted from constant travel, Lesnar opted to cut his pro wrestling career – and $1 million a year contract – short, resigning from the McMahon’s promotion in March ’04, intending to take up pro football. The amateur champion had his detractors; correspondents repressing snickers on nationally broadcasted sport programs, journalists infusing their words with sarcasm, believing Brock ignorant to think he could make such a transition.

Without the education of college ball, there’s little chance for anyone to make the pros. Lesnar’s amazing physical prowess impressed Minnesota Vikings coaches enough to give him a place on the preseason lineup; however, his stint as a ballplayer was short lived, cut from the team after sustaining injuries in a motorcycle accident. It wasn’t until then Lesnar finally heard his calling – MMA.

Once a ‘superstar’ with the largest wrestling promotion, the grappler signed on as an instant celebrity with the largest MMA organization in the world – the UFC – in the fall of ’07. A cache of fans from his time spinning 400 lb giants through the air in the WWE, characteristic zealous, all-business demeanor, and the curiosity of a ‘fake’ pro wrestler journeying into the realm of real fights, Lesnar entered the UFC as a top-industry draw. That meant big matches out of the gate.

With only a 1:09 of fight experience – a quick ground and pound submission over Korean judo silver medalist Min-Soo Kim on a K-1 Hero’s card – Lesnar agreed to take on former heavyweight ruler Frank Mir for his debut in the promotion.

Read Part 2 of this article: Brock’s first UFC fight and a breakdown of his fight with Heath Herring.

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