Why Brock Lesnar is Good for the MMA

Okay, first off, I'd just like to state that this is my first article on B/R. I've been reading the posts here with some regularity over the last few weeks and decided it was time I added some of my own input.

Now, I know there are a lot of old-school, hardcore MMA fans who are tired of hearing (or reading) about Brock Lesnar, and I know that everyone's likely heard almost every defense of his having a title-shot imaginable. From “Brock's a beast who's gonna dethrone the champ,” to “it makes good business sense,” but I'm almost as new to the MMA game as I am to B/R, so bear with me.

My main concern, as evidenced by the title, is not Brock's eligibility for the heavyweight title, but rather his value to the sport.

Why do I think Brock Lesnar is good for the sport of MMA? Well, let's take a good look at the facts, as I, from my limited experience, know them to be. First fact, MMA is only starting to get it's taste of real mainstream acceptance, largely due to the UFC and Dana White.

The mainstream is fickle; it needs to have good reason, flashy effects, and big names to keep it's attention long enough for it to maintain an interest in anything. Hence the reason the WWE is so big (yes, I know any comparisons between WWE and MMA are anathema to the hardcore fans, but deal with it). Lesnar is a big name, the freakish, hulk-like build, and WWE-honed charisma brings an element of Hollywood action hero/villain into the mix. The man has everything, including (unlike the recently trumped Kimbo) talent. He possesses the perfect mix of qualities to be relevant to both the hardcore and the casual fan.

Next fact: The UFC's heavyweight division has, until it's recent revival, been floundering in quagmires of less-than-stellar talent.

“How can Brock's arrival on the scene do anything to remedy this?” you might ask. The man has yet to develop astounding MMA skills and does little more than charge in and pummel his opponent by using his incredible strength, massive fists, and near indomitable presence. Thus, he doesn't really raise the bar when it comes to the level of skill amongst UFC's heavyweights.

Brock's athleticism is beyond anything the UFC (or even MMA as a whole) has seen before. He may not be able to capture and hold the title right now, but in time he will be a near unstoppable force in the world of MMA. The simple fact is that, due to it's fringe nature, MMA has never attracted the best in the world.

I know that'll upset a lot of fans...

Yes, there are gifted athletes in MMA, such as Randy Couture. As far as I can recall, he was an Olympic wrestler, but the point is that due to it's limited exposure, the skill MMA has attracted, likewise, has been limited.

A commodity like Brock will allow the UFC and Dana White to expand MMA's exposure to the world, growing it's influence, and putting it in front of a far larger audience than ever before. The end result of this? Fewer little kids saying, “I wanna be a fireman(or boxer),” and more saying, “I wanna be a real fighter.”

More potential athletes knowing about the sport that is MMA means more potential fighters which, in turn, means a higher level of skill entering the cage.

This brings us, in a roundabout kinda way, to Brock's controversial title shot against Randy Couture.

Why is Brock getting a title shot? Well, in order to get the most out of the man, he has to be the headliner fight. Technically speaking, Couture is a far more legitimate headliner. By putting him in the ring with Brock, it makes the fight an instant headline bout in the eyes of the hardcore fans and the mainstream. If Brock takes the title, he will be a legitimate headliner all by himself and can more effectively be put to work for the sport of MMA as a whole.