Brock Lesnar and the UFC Heavyweight Picture as It Stands
With Brock Lesnar (5-2) having pulled out of his planned June 11 bout with Junior dos Santos (12-1), some interesting divisional shifts await us. We’ve obviously learned that a replacement is already on tap in the form of Shane Carwin: Good enough, for the time being.
However, with one of the division’s elite out of the picture indefinitely, what becomes of the overall heavyweight landscape?
Diverticulitis is no joke, and it’s already nearly ended the former champion’s career once. Can Lesnar overcome such an obstacle yet again? Only time will tell.
However, with Lesnar on the sidelines, it’s time to reevaluate things; what better way than to highlight the five most dangerous big men under UFC contract (behind champion Cain Velasquez, of course).
5. Roy Nelson
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Smothering jiu-jitsu, a head made of concrete and a heart large enough to wage war with his belly; “Big Country” is a serious force in the heavyweight division. His knockout victory over Brendan Schaub was impressive to say the least.
His ability to absorb the punishment dished out by dos Santos was admirable, the fact that he never contemplated surrendering to defeat, and even managed to make a few exchanges entertaining is downright amazing, and leads me to believe this man is still improving.
That’s a scary thought. Even more frightening however, is Nelson's extremely potent grappling pedigree, which, amazingly, we haven't seen much of during his current UFC run.
4. Brendan Schaub
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Schaub may have had his ticket punched by Nelson back at "The Ultimate Fighter" season 10 finale, but he’s been on an absolute tear as of late.
With decisive victories over Gabriel Gonzaga and Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic, Schaub is looking to make a name for himself and completely erase any memories of the Nelson fight.
If he can continue to topple accomplished opposition, we may truly be looking at a great prospect.
3. Stefan Struve
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We all know Struve has been obliterated a time or two during his current UFC stint.
That said, this kid continues to improve each time he enters the cage, showing tremendous heart, and more importantly, winning.
With his declaration to put on more muscle mass to match his 6’11” frame, we’re bound to be looking at a potential monster.
As it is, we’ve got a competitive youngster, hungry to climb the ladder. Keep an eye on this “Skyscraper” in the next year.
2. Frank Mir
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Frank Mir simply cannot be counted out of the major picture, whether you’re a fan or not.
In recent years Frank has improved his striking, his cardio, and really taken a firm grasp of his wits inside the cage; if he sees an opening, he’s going to jump all over it.
Though he’s suffered a few rocky patches recently, expect Mir to return to form and continue adding quality names to his victim list.
1. Shane Carwin
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Shane is a fighter who brings a few questions to the table. Yes, we know he’s got some fair boxing skills; yes, we know he’s got unbelievable power in both hands.
However, how is his cardio going to hold up against the division's elite, and will his mental fortitude hold firm in the face of adversity?
Only time will tell, but I’ve got a feeling this man has quite the resolve; he certainly appears to have the tools to reach the heavyweight summit.
Top Contender: Junior Dos Santos
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There isn't a man in the UFC's heavyweight division with the promise possessed by Junior dos Santos (save for the aforementioned champion Cain Velasquez). Junior's iron chin, precision striking and overall agility easily place him at the top of this list.
With six wins inside the octagon (five by way of definitive stoppage), dos Santos looks to be the greatest threat to Velasquez's title.
Should "Cigano" get past Shane Carwin at UFC 131, his title shot is inevitable, and well-earned. Expect more furious pugilism from this talented Brazilian come June 11.
From there, it's only a matter of time before Junior and Cain meet to determine the greatest heavyweight under the UFC banner.
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