Lesnar vs Overeem Announced for UFC 141 Main Event!

On September 6, the Ultimate Fighting Championship continued to make big news in the MMA world when they made one major announcement that answered multiple questions from the community. The announcement was met with jubilation over Twitter when UFC President Dana White announced via Twitter and in an exclusive with the LA Times that former Heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar was to return to action facing Strikeforce Heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem in what will be a non-title five-round main event that will headline the final PPVs of the year at UFC 141 on December 30 and what will surely be one of the most anticipated PPV of the year. This single announcement answered questions about both fighters. After being forced to withdraw from a #1 contendership bout against opposing TUF13 coach Junior dos Santos due to his recurring diverticulitis for the second time and needing to have 12" of his intestines surgically removed, many analysts questioned if Lesnar would ever be able to return at all, and even more critics chimed in saying "good riddance" to somebody they felt didn't even belong in the sport. After a lengthy recovery and nonstop rumors that he was contemplating retirement, the former king of the division is back in the gym preparing to face what could be his most dangerous opponent in Alistair Overeem. The announcement that Overeem was to fight the former champion and had finally signed to the UFC in an exclusive contract finally brought an end to the nonstop questions and rumors that dominated the MMA community. After his release from Strikeforce for multiple reasons ranging from his refusal to participate in the Strikeforce World Heavyweight Grand Prix semifinals citing multiple injuries were the cause, to the a business dispute between the UFC and his camp Golden Glory over their policy regarding how fighters from that camp are paid. After his camp agreed to adhere to the payment policies under the UFC and were willing to deal in an exclusive contract that would prohibit him from continuing to compete under outside promotions and kickboxing events, Overeem finally signed to the world's #1 MMA promotion, which many die hard MMA fans have felt was long overdue. Lesnar vs Overeem will serve as the main event for the newly announced UFC 141 event which will be the final PPV of the year and will take place in the promotion's home of Las Vegas, Nevada as  is their tradition for events to open up a new year; though this event will break with the usual Saturday scheduling and will instead take place on a Friday December 30 as to avoid complications of having it on that Saturday December 31 when many will look to celebrate the transition into a new year.

With Lesnar still considered one of the most dangerous Heavyweights to ever compete in the UFC, many critics and analysts will look at his long layoff leading up to this fight. After his first bout with diverticulitis, Lesnar faced a year long layoff between his first title defense against former champion Frank Mir in July of 2009, to his second title defense against the newly crowned Interim champion Shane Carwin in July 2010. Getting back in action following his successful title defense and an amazing come from behind win over Carwin, Lesnar took on another undefeated contender in Cain Velasquez just three months later in October. After rushing Velasquez immediately to catch him by surprise, Lesnar tried to implement his wrestling against the smaller opponent. After Velasquez returned to his feet he introduced Lesnar to his powerful precision striking that rocked him to the point that he could not find his balance properly. After enduring a beatdown Lesnar was saved by the referee and endured only the second loss of his career. Taking the rest of the year off to partake in hunting season, Lesnar remained the center of attention with nonstop rumors claiming that he was leaving MMA to return to pro-wrestling, was retiring feeling ashamed, and many more. After some time away and some convincing from Dana White, Lesnar returned refuting all rumors and even agreed to act as a head coach opposite to Junior dos Santos for TUF13 to lead up to a bout contested for #1 contendership where the winner was to take on champion Velasquez after he returned from his own lengthy layoff. After taping of the show ended and just a few weeks from the event, Lesnar was forced to withdraw from the title contention bout once again afflicted with diverticulitis and was replaced by Shane Carwin who coincidentally was already training for what was to be the co-main event for that evening. Deciding to opt for a surgery that required removing an entire 12" long piece of his intestines as the best chance of getting rid of the illness, Lesnar underwent the procedure in late May and had since been recovering and living a normal life back on his farm and hunting. Lesnar made news when he partook in a promotional video for one of his sponsors declaring that he was getting back in the gym and would return to action around the beginning of the new year. With this announcement, it is clear that being stricken with a life threatening disease twice, enduring a ego bruising beatdown, and willing to come back even after a major surgery such as this, Lesnar is not the push over that so many critics make him out to be. While critics look at his record and criticize the UFC for even giving him a title shot after going 2-1, many fail to realize that he has extensive credentials as a wrestler and what he has accomplished in MMA with just seven fights.


For Overeem, this bout will be the most important in his career to date making his long awaited UFC debut. While Overeem possesses an impressive record of 35-11-0(1), he has not made a big enough statement for many analysts to consider him even a top five Heavyweight. Comparing his wins to his losses, Overeem has few highly recognizable wins which include besting former UFC champion Vitor Belfort in a decision, defeating Paul Buentello to win the Strikeforce title, defeating current Strikeforce World Heavyweight Grand Prix semifinalist Sergei Kharitonov, and being awarded a decision over Fabricio Werdum in the tournament  quarterfinals. Looking at his losses, Overeem has lost to many notables like former UFC Light Heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell, losing to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira twice, being picked apart by former PrideFC Middleweight Grand Prix winner and former UFC Light Heavyweight champion Mauricio Rua, being submitted by Werdum, submitting to Ricardo Arona from strikes, and being knocked out by Kharitonov in a rematch. Since his last loss Overeem has gained immense size building up a lot of muscle, which has prompted many to suspect him of using performance enhancers, while he attributes his improved physique to a specific diet. With his improved physique and skill set, Overeem has gone on an impressive 10-0-0(1) since his last loss in 2007, which includes Winning the Strikeforce Heavyweight title, winning the Dream Interim Heavyweight title, and competing in professional kickboxing winning the K-1 2010 World Grand Prix. With an improved kickboxing game and an underrated grappling game, Overeem is considered to have been given the short end of the stick when fighting outside the UFC. Now taking on one of the strongest wrestlers in UFC history, Overeem will have plenty to prove when he meets one the the elite top five Heavyweights in the promotion. While there will be questions about Lesnar's health and his long layoff, questions about Overeem will involve his skill. In the exclusive announcement in the LA Times, White himself asked if Lesnar could take Overeem down, and others asked back if Overeem could defend the takedown attempts of Lesnar. If Overeem is taken down, will he be able to work off his back or get back to his feet? Will Overeem be like many other strikers who fear the takedown to the point that he simply waits for the shoot rather than let loose with his own strikes?