UFC 141 Results: 4 Things Brock Lesnar Needs to Improve on If He Returns

Brock Lesnar suffered a humiliating first-round pasting courtesy of Alistair Overeem at UFC 141, and with that loss, his second consecutive defeat, he subsequently announced his retirement.

Whether the NCAA Division I standout will ever set foot in the Octagon again is anyone’s guess.

Still, if after sober reflecting on his decision, and if he then decides to make a return to the Zuffa-based promotion, Lesnar seriously needs to improve on his all-around skill set.

Here’s a look at what Lesnar needs to improve on.

4. Striking

With all his wrestling attributes, Lesnar still lacks the requisite striking technique to hang with the heavy hitters in the heavyweight division.

Prior to his loss to Alistair Overeem, his training partner, Pat Barry, had been putting him through his paces with regards to boxing.

At UFC 141, even though he was able to inflict minor damage to the eye of Overeem, it still wasn’t enough to stop the Dutchman in his tracks.

Having average punching power is one thing, to execute said power with devastating effect is another.

Lesnar needs to learn the rudimentaries of boxing and how to apply his punches with precision and efficacy.

To do that, he requires an elite boxing coach and not someone who lost a striking match with Cheick Kongo.

3. Defense

Lesnar’s defense is another area that is also in dire need of shoring up.

En route to supplanting Randy Couture as the heavyweight champion, Lesnar's defense was sometimes non-existent, as he was occasionally stunned and rocked by the latter.

His defensive frailties were also apparently obvious in his fights with Shane Carwin, Cain Velasquez and most recently, Alistair Overeem.

As with his striking, a boxing trainer is a prerequisite for Lesnar’s defense, or lack thereof.

2. Chin

With Lesnar’s poor defensive qualities, a good chin would’ve have done him the world of good in the Octagon.

That, however, has not been the case.

He was on the wrong end of a one-sided beatdown and close to losing his heavyweight title to Shane Carwin at UFC 116 before he was able to lock in a submission due to Carwin’s lack of cardio.

Also, his chin didn't do him justice at UFC 121, when Cain Velasquez relieved him of the title.

Lesnar needs to spar with guys who should be allowed to hit on the chin every once in a while to test his punch resistance.

It will help Lesnar’s cause in the long run, as he’ll be accustomed to taking a shot as well as weathering the storm if he finds himself in those precarious moments.

1. Wrestling

Wrestling, you might say?

Lesnar is a decorated NCAA Division-I wrestler and is most probably the best wrestler in the heavyweight division.

Nevertheless, his last two defeats have mostly been as a result of his inability to take each fight to his domain.

Against Cain Velasquez, he was able to take him to the mat, but failed to keep him there.

His wrestling didn’t work against Alistair Overeem, either.

Lesnar needs to go back to the basics of wrestling and improve on his already-existing grappling skills.

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