UFC 141: Technical Breakdown of Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem

UFC 141 will feature arguably the most anticipated fight of this year when fans tune in to watch Brock Lesnar against Alistair Overeem. 

Both competitors will meet to determine the next challenger for the UFC heavyweight title and it couldn't have come on a bigger stage—the last fight in 2011.

Every fight starts on the feet and it's hard to not give the advantage to Overeem in the striking department. The Dutchman has shown to be one of the most technical, dynamic strikers in the heavyweight division. Since bulking up to 255 pounds, the Dutchman possesses a lot of power in his striking, especially when he utilizes his knees and elbows inside the clinch.

Lesnar hasn't shown to be an effective striker, and more-so, he isn't comfortable on his feet defending strikes either. Fortunately for Lesnar, Overeem doesn't accumulate a high volume of strikes like Shane Carwin or Cain Velasquez so it's quite possible that Overeem is much more patient in his approach. But if Lesnar is unable to initialize his wrestling with his size and strength, he will be forced to stand and trade—and be on the losing end of a knockout.

However, Lesnar is a physical specimen at 265 pounds and his biggest strength that has contributed to his success inside the UFC is his wrestling. Lesnar holds some of the best wrestling credentials in all of mixed martial arts and his size and explosiveness makes it hard for opponents to defend his shot.

Although Overeem has competed against some of the best fighters in the world, he has yet to face a wrestler with the size, strength and athleticism that Lesnar has.

Once he is in top position, Lesnar is very hard to defend, as he uses his size to completely overwhelm and control his opponent from gaining any offense. 

Both men have shown an ability to submit their opponents, but due to recording more victories on his resume, Overeem easily takes it. 

An important topic regarding this upcoming bout is Lesnar's health. 

The former UFC heavyweight champion is returning from a 14-month absence from battling diverticulitis, which kept him away from the Octagon for quite some time and it even had some critics questioning his longevity in MMA. It'll be interesting to see whether or not the long layoff has helped prepare and motivate the South Dakota native. 

For Overeem, his main concern is being able to defend Lesnar's takedown and competing with the caliber of Lesnar's skills.

"The Demolition Man" has competed all over the world in multiple organizations against different fighters, but his competition has always been criticized for its lack of credibility. Overeem is currently on an 11-fight winning streak, but the caliber of opponents do not compare to those competing in the UFC, and their wrestling skills pale in comparison to Lesnar's.

Ultimately, this is Lesnar's fight to lose. 

He is returning from a much longer layoff than Overeem and he has more pressure on him to perform, considering he is one of the company's top draws. 

Look for Overeem to be more patient than Lesnar, but expect Lesnar to come out and attempt to impose his will and look for a takedown or a clinch to wear down his opponent's cardio. However, Lesnar is known to run on adrenaline and wastes most of his energy, which could lead him to making a mistake and leaving himself open to a strike or a submission. 

Overeem will want to pick his shots wisely and try to land early in order to catch Lesnar in hopes of finishing him. If this fight does head to the ground, Overeem is renowned for his submission, particularly his guillotine choke, as 19 of his 35 career wins have come via submission. 

But with Lesnar's size and strong wrestling base, he'll be able to overwhelm his opponent and wear him down to get the stoppage.

Final Prediction: Brock Lesnar Defeats Alistair Overeem via second round TKO stoppage.