UFC 141: Did the UFC Set out to Break Brock Lesnar from the Start?

Brock Lesnar has the best 5-3 record in MMA. 

In eight fights, Lesnar fought an Olympic medalist in Judo, four UFC heavyweight champions (if you count Shane Carwin's interim title) and a K-1 and StrikeForce champion. 

Few other men can boast such an impressive list of accomplished individuals faced in such a short time. 

When you take this into account, a question emerges: Did the UFC give him these tough opponents to break Lesnar from the start?

After all, Lesnar's first fight in the UFC, and second fight in MMA overall, was against former champion Frank Mir.

Was Lesnar given such a strong test to show that a pro wrestler couldn't succeed in the UFC, and that a fighter needed more than just brute strength to survive (almost how the original owners of the UFC brought in Tank Abbott to show that a brawler couldn't beat a true martial artist)?

The question is impossible to answer since only the brain trust at Zuffa know the answer, but it's nevertheless interesting to speculate on. 

After losing to Mir, Lesnar faced tough and crafty veteran Heath Herring.  Lesnar used his wrestling to perfection and got the decision win, but not before shattering Herring's orbital bone, sending him away from MMA forever. 

After beating Herring, each opponent Lesnar faced was a champion of some kind, but the former NCAA Division I champion fought the best. 

So were these fights all set up to break Lesnar?

Such a claim is dubious.  Lesnar was a great pay-per-view draw, bringing lots of attention to the sport.

Why would Dana White or the Fertitas not want a fighter with unbelievable star power?

They wouldn't.  It's just that Lesnar had no choice but to fight the best because of the hype that was placed around him, and the lack of depth at heavyweight.

Lesnar wasn't the victim of a conspiracy; he was the victim of circumstance. 

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