Lesnar vs. Coleman: Coleman Comes Full Circle
Posted by Jonathan Snowden on March 3rd, 2008
They say what goes around comes around. And it’s come full circle for former UFC and Pride Heavyweight Champion Mark Coleman. In 1996 the young and hungry Coleman was face to face with a washed up old wrestler named Dan Severn. In August, when Coleman sees a washed up old wrestler staring back at him, it will be because he’s looking in a mirror. Now, he’s Dan Severn and Brock Lesnar is Mark Coleman. He’s the stepping stone for the young and hungry rising star. What goes around comes around.
Brock Lesnar is the UFC’s top rising star in the heavyweight division. As I told you last week, the comparisons between Lesnar and Coleman are spooky. Both were scary physical specimens, both came from the finest amateur wrestling pedigree, and both went after their opponents like they were hunters after prey. The connection between the two men just got a lot spookier as their careers continue on parallel paths, even as they merge for a moment to have a contest of wills, before travelling on side by side.
The UFC has stars in their eyes, impressed by Lesnar’s raw physical tools. And impressed by something even more important-the 600,000 buys he drew on PPV against Frank Mir. They’ve been searching desperately for an opponent and names have been flying around, names like Tim Sylvia and Justin McCully. It’s a tricky situation. Lesnar started his UFC career against Frank Mir, a former world champion. So feeding him cans would seem like a let down to the fans. At the same time, it’s important for his long term development, as a fighter and a draw, to be given some fights he can win. You can’t take the risk of having him lose to a tough opponent like Tim Sylvia. But you also can’t have the box office killing response of “He’s fighting who? Who’s Justin McCully?” Mark Coleman is the perfect middle ground.
If you saw Coleman being inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame Saturday night, you know he’s not just 43, he’s an old 43. Rocking the Kangol made him look less like LL Cool J and more like somebody’s doddering old grandfather. His last fights with elite heavyweights didn’t go well, losing three times to armbar and once to ass whipping. He’s got a skillset limited essentially to wrestling. And he won the NCAA Wrestling Championship 20 years ago. Twenty years ago! He’s the perfect opponent for Lesnar. They have the same skills, only Lesnar is younger, in better shape, and undoubtedly better trained.
After Coleman destroyed Severn, “The Beast” went on to fight a whopping 89 more times. Let’s all hope that after Coleman takes his beating, he collects his paycheck and goes home to those adorable daughters. He’s earned it.
March 4th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
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