Quote:
Originally Posted by OneSickPsycho
Again, it's not that his ground game is weak in particular, it's just that he has no jujitsu skills. Every time I've seen Lesnar on the ground, he's in control. Does he look like he's going to submit anyone? No. Does he look like he's a ground game phenom? No. He's still in control.
I was a terrible wrestler... wish I would have gotten into boxing or something instead. I'm much better on my feet than on my ass.
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Agreed. Lesnar doesn't have a complete ground game, but he has the size and the wrestling background to control someone on the ground. If his previous fights show anything though, it's that he's making amazing progression in adding in more pieces to make himself a more complete fighter. His fight with Mir was a perfect example of making a rookie mistake and leaving himself completely exposed to submission in spite of appearing to have the upperhand. In his fight against Herring, you could see a far more cautious and calculating fight, with a strategy that seemed to include not putting himself in the same situation again. If anything, the Couture fight showed he could stand and fight. There were so many people who were damn sure the guy couldn't take a punch and that he would fold if even a glancing blow connected. It also showed him continuing to be cautious and find a balance that allows him to exploit his strengths and carefully guard his weaknesses. How he handles Mir in a rematch will go a long way towards showing if he's made actual gains in experience and training, or if he'll be stuck as a gateway fighter.
It was early to give the guy a title shot, but at this point, in that division particularly, who fucking cares? The heavyweight division in UFC was a little thin on name recognition. Past Couture and Lesnar, what do you have? Heath Herring? Big fuckin deal. Cheik Congo? Until this last fight (and even including this last fight really) he's been hit and miss. Half his cards seem to have been on the undercard and not televised. Gabriel Gonzaga? Same thing, hit and miss. He's got a hell of a highlight reel knock out of Mirko Cro Cop, but he's got some ugly losses also. Even Mir has been questionable since his motorcycle accident fucked him all up. It's only now that he's starting to show his old form. Could you honestly put together a fight card that will draw numbers with any of the fighters who is not Couture as the headline? Hell, even Lesnar vs Herring was a co-headliner. So I no longer mind Lesnar having a title shot if it drums up more interest in their weakest division.