With the UFC’s current state of pay-per-view sales seeming to lose steam, Brock Lesnar could be the boost the UFC needs. And there’s growing cause to believe he might be coming back. UFC President Dana White said on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio that the odds that Lesnar makes a UFC return are “very, very, very, good.”
There’s no question the UFC is full of superstars and top athletes. Some lack personalities. There’s a few factors that affect that department. Most fighters are simply so focused on training and perfecting their style, that their true personalities are often overlooked.
A lot of fighters come from humble beginnings and the practice of martial arts itself teaches respect. Sure there are trash talkers like Conor McGregor, Nick and Nate Diaz, and Chael Sonnen, but once they get the big check, or take a couple losses, they tend to fade away or disappear. It’s hard to create and keep the longevity of a fighter.
The WWE definitely has the upper-hand there. They’ve had wrestlers like the Undertaker, The Rock, and Triple H, who have all been superstars for ten-plus years. Easy to keep them at the top of fan favorites lists. With weekly shows and the ability to control the outcome of matches, the WWE can control who it “pushes”. It’s a crap shoot for UFC.
We’ve all seen hype trains derailed in the MMA world. We’ve counted down the days until a huge event only to see our favorite get caught and take a loss at least once. Lesnar was no exception. It’s a bad feeling, no doubt, but it happens. Shortly after taking the L, no matter if it’s “Super” Sage Northcutt, Yair Rodriguez, or even Ronda Rousey, they slip a little, and lose a few fans.
“This seems to be a last run at MMA for Lesnar.”
Lesnar has the charisma, attitude and the size to be a draw and sell seats. What he needs is wins. With nine trips to the arena, he has five wins, three losses and one no-contest. Lesnar has everything needed to be a fan favorite except the record. His last stay in the UFC was called lackluster by some. Maybe he was overconfident, maybe he was one foot in, one foot out? Maybe he simply lacked commitment to the sport? No matter what the case, at 40 years old, this seems to be a last run at MMA for Lesnar.
Due to a failed post fight drug test after UFC 200, Lesnar will have to serve a six-month stay in the USADA testing program before he could make his UFC return.
The possibility of a Brock Lesnar vs. Derrick Lewis would surely get the attention of MMA and wrestling fans. I definitely think the potential and likely return of Lesnar will help bolster the UFC’s pay-per-view numbers. Love him or hate him, you know the 6’3″, 286 pound mountain, Brock Lesnar.
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