The Brock Upon Which a Division Can Be Built

I begin in apology for the semi-blasphemous and extremely corny pun of the title, but I found it the more appropriate of many Brock/Rock based headings considered, such as the awful 'Brock and Roll' or 'Brock the boat'...Truly awful!

Over the past few months, reams of mega-pixled conjecture have surrounded Brock Lesnar's hastened ascent to the pinnacle of the UFC Heavyweight division. Arguments are made against his worth as champion, his merits as a legitimate MMA fighter, and the capitalist motives leading to his opportunity.

All of these are valid concerns and each worthy of much debate, but I intend to argue that Brock Lesnar is as good for the Heavyweight division as he is for Dana White's pocket.

The UFC heavyweight division died July 8, 2006 when Tim Sylvia defeated Andrei Arlovski in the conclusive fight of their trilogy. The fight signalled the eventual defection of the charismatic and thoroughly entertaining Belarusian and left the UFC seeking challengers amongst a pool of Jeff Monson and Anthony Peresh. (I wasn't sure either!)

This article is in no way an attempt to criticise Tim Sylvia as a fighter or man. He holds an impressive 24-5 record, is a two-time champion and has fought the best of his generation throughout his career. Unfortunately though, he lacks the personability, marketability, or style to lead a division.

It's a flaw the UFC was well aware of, and after just one defence, legendary, dual weight, hall of fame, fan-favourite, retiree Randy Couture was called upon to save the day in a manner befitting his 'Captain American' moniker.

Now, I possess an almost sycophantic affection for Randy Couture, but his position as champion weakened rather than strengthen the validity of the UFC Heavyweight title. He retired a year previously, after two devastating knockouts by Chuck Liddell, had ended his quest to reign at Light-Heavyweight.

That a forty-three year old man (albeit Randy Couture) could return after a year of inactivity, and claim the title at a weight higher than the one he failed to win in his previous fight, spoke volumes. Couture's position as champion exposed the weakness of the division.

Couture was inevitably a popular champion, and his return to action revived interest in a division dangerously devoid of both talent and glamour.  The UFC was aware, however, that due to age, size and a burgeoning film career, Couture was a temporary solution and set about bolstering the calibre of Heavyweight competitors by signing the much vaunted and much marketed pair of Mirko Filipovic and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.

Filipovic was all set  to be Couture's first challenger until he decided that an octagon was far too odd a shape in which to fight, suffering an ironic head kick and an immediate demystifying in the eyes of the casual UFC fan, whilst the octagon version of Nogueira has never convinced.

He was seriously troubled by both Heath Herring and Tim Sylvia, and the signs of his decline were evident long before his demolition at the hands of Frank Mir. The situation was further exasperated by the second year-long hiatus Couture decided upon following the Gonzaga fight. In his absence, the division continued to flounder. 

The UFC Heavyweight division was reborn February 2, 2008 as Brock Lesnar made his unsuccessful debut against Frank Mir at the Mandalay Bay Events Centre. In less than a year, both combatants would simultaneously hold the title.

The fight itself was as spectacular as it was short. Lesnar's inexperience was clear for all to see as he attempted to escape from a leg lock in the frenzied way a panicked schoolchild might adopt if their shoe became stuck in mud, but a precedent had been set and the potential dominating power of the man was unveiled.

 Mir received enough exposure and popularity from his victory to propel him to a shot at the Interim champion, a scenerio that seemed highly unlikely following his first round knockout by Brandon Vera, and this led to cries of derision among the UFC fan base similar to those Lesnar would face. The fight was set for December and the Heavyweight title was put on hold until then.

Confusion began when Couture decided that he would return in the intervening months and a problem arose for the matchmakers of the UFC. Without Lesnar, what other viable opponent was available to mark the third coming of a legend?

Mir and Nogueira were locked into the increasingly tiresome Ultimate Fighter series. A rematch with Gonzaga, a year after the original, made little sense. Novice fighters such as Shaun Carwin and Cain Velasquez, whilst extremely impressive, had yet to come close to headlining an event, and would prove insufficient to the grandiose event planned to welcome back the champion. Aside from turning the Liddell-Couture trilogy into a quadrology, the answer was simple.

With Lesnar at the pinnacle, the heavyweight title has again become relevant. The UFC has created a polarising focal point, capable of headlining an event on his own, around which a whole career of explosive fights can be built.  A career which will ease the loss of the old guard of Couture and Lesnar, whilst allowing time for the impressive newcomers to develop into superstars. 

Even if, as I suspect, Mir is to repeat his victory of the first fight, it is Lesnar that will prove the defining factor in the rebirth of the Heavyweight division. Both he and Mir endorsed the validity of their title shots through victory, and thankfully, for the first time in a long time, the UFC shall have a definitive champion in a competitive heavyweight division come July 12, 2009.