Brock Lesnar: 10 Bold Predictions for the Heavyweight in 2011

Brock Lesnar is fresh off a pounding against Cain Velazquez at UFC 121 in Anaheim, California in October. Lesnar fell victim to a TKO at 4:12 in the first round.

There are many questions surrounding the former WWE and UFC Champion, and he has his work cut out for him if he wants to rebound.

What's in store for Brock Lesnar in 2011?

Lesnar Will Not...

Following his loss to Cain Velasquez, there was an exchange of words between Brock Lesnar and his former wrestling rival, The Undertaker.

Speculation started to run wild that Lesnar would make a return to the WWE for a bout with his rival.

However, Dana White surely would not allow his prized heavyweight fighter to risk injury in a fake wrestling match.

Lesnar Will Expand...

Brock Lesnar will expand his training camp. This way, he will be prepared for whatever different fighting styles he may see and be better equipped to defend against them.

Lesnar will also have a better crop of training partners to prepare him for his next bout.

Lesnar Will Be...

Brock Lesnar will be better at striking and defending against it.

If he wants to compete against Cain Velasquez or Junior dos Santos, this is the one area that he will need to improve upon.

Lesnar is no pushover on his feet, but with a background in wrestling, it's clear his strength is on the ground.

Lesnar Will Approach...

Brock Lesnar was humbled by his humiliating defeat to Cain Velasquez.

With a long layoff, he'll have time to adjust his game and approach his next bout with a different gameplan.

Expect Lesnar to be more patient and smarter when attacking his opponent instead of charging head-first at the start.

Lesnar Will Spend a Lot of Time...

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 13: MMA fighter Brock Lesnar walks in the garage area during practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 13, 2010 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Sparring will be a No. 1 priority for Brock Lesnar in his training regimen.

Lesnar is already a physical freak with a strong ground game, but he needs more experience going toe-to-toe with other fighters.

Getting more experience will help him get a better feel for strikers and help him improve his chin.

Lesnar Will Fight In...

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 13: MMA fighter Brock Lesnar walks in the garage area during the NASCAR Nationwide Series Drive4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 13, 2010 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Brock Lesnar was put under 180-day medical suspension following his brutal loss to Cain Velasquez.

Lesnar last fought in October, so unless he gets cleared medically, he will be looking at a spring matchup in April.

Dana White is sure to be anxious to get Lesnar back into a fight card in order to recover his broken image.

Lesnar Will Not Fight...

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LAS VEGAS - JULY 11: Brock Lesnar holds down Frank Mir during their heavyweight title bout during UFC 100 on July 11, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Lesnar defeated Mir by a second round knockout. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)

The general consensus seems to be that a rubber match with Frank Mir is in the works.

The stage is already set with plenty of drama surrounding the two fighters. After all, Mir publicly wished death upon Lesnar.

Mir took out Lesnar in their first meeting at UFC 81, but was actually losing the fight before he managed to get an inexperienced Lesnar into a kneebar.

Lesnar came back and demolished Mir at UFC 100.

Mir doesn't really have much drawing power at this point in his career, and if the UFC wants to ride one of their cash cows, they'll give their fans a more entertaining fight.

Lesnar Will Fight...

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DAVENPORT, IA - APRIL 06: Roy Nelson (R) of the Lions and Ben Rothwell of the Silverbacks face off during the IFL weigh-in on April 6, 2007 at Hooters in Davenport, Iowa. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

Shane Carwin would have probably been the top candidate, but with Carwin's recent spinal surgery, a timetable for his recovery will have him shelved for an indefinite amount of time.

This is where Roy Nelson can get a shot. Nelson may have lost a unanimous decision to Junior dos Santos in his last bout, but he makes for an interesting matchup with Lesnar.

Both are hulking brutes. Nelson has a respectable striking game and he can battle on the ground with his jiu-jitsu.

Lesnar Will Get...

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LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 24: UFC fighter Cain Velasquez poses after his victory over UFC fighter Ben Rothwell (not pictured) in their Heavyweight bout at UFC 104: Machida vs. Shogun at Staples Center on October 24, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Vela

If Brock Lesnar gets a spring matchup and wins the bout, a title shot for the winner of Velasquez-dos Santos should be in the works.

Lesnar is the most worthy heavyweight contender of the group and it would be a huge draw if Velasquez is his opponent.

Lesnar Will...

Whether Brock Lesnar ends up fighting Cain Velasquez or Junior dos Santos, he will be a changed man.

Lesnar will have his head straight and his fight game in peak condition to take on whomever holds the belt.

He will return to prominence and hold the heavyweight belt at year's end.