Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem: Counting Down the Hours Until UFC 141

We are just a few hours away until Zuffa Entertainment presents UFC 141, a monumental event featuring former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar vs. former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem in the main event of the evening.

Lesnar—who was once the undisputed world heavyweight champion for Vince McMahon's WWE pro wrestling promotion—has been out of the Octagon since October 2010, when he was vanquished by Cain Velasquez after tearing out his own shoulder en route to a title victory over the wrestler from Webster, South Dakota.

Velasquez, who required surgery, was promptly knocked out by Junior Dos Santos as Fox previewed its multi-year deal with UFC last month.

Lesnar has been his old self this week, trying hard to hide his annoyance at reporters who keep asking him about his bout with diverticulitis, his career in pro wrestling, his thoughts on Overeem, his desire to win back the UFC title and everything else he's answered a hundred times over.

At least, that's his perception of the situation.

Lesnar learned media manipulation from the absolute best in the business, the ingenious Paul Heyman, former WWE creative powerhouse and the man who took pro wrestling "to the extreme" in the 1990s.

Heyman was assigned by McMahon the task of being Lesnar's on-air "agent," in a new spin on the old role of being a loudmouthed ringside pro wrestling "manager".

This was a role brought into vogue by such legends as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, "Captain" Lou Albano, "Classy" Freddie Blassie and "The Mouth of the South" Jimmy Hart.

However, behind the scenes, Heyman worked the same magic with Lesnar as he did with Stone Cold Steve Austin, writing for him and producing him and showing him the little tricks that turn a great pro wrestler into a serious box office attraction.

That's why, when Lesnar promoted the THQ video game WWE '12 this year—in videos not-so-surprisingly produced by Heyman and his Looking 4 Larry agency—the monstrous UFC heavyweight contender stated that, if he ever went back to WWE for a WrestleMania match, he'd like his opponent to be none other than Stone Cold Steve Austin.

A return to pro wrestling, however, will be worth a lot more money if Lesnar regains the UFC championship. To get back into the title picture, he has to get through Overeem.

Indeed, a lot of money is on the line for Brock Lesnar and for Alistair Overeem tonight.

UFC 141's main event may be decided by which man wants it more!