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Quote of the Day: Brock Lesnar’s Paid His Dues
By: Kris Karkoski | Jul 8, 2008
“Tough [expletive deleted], buddy. Get in line. That’s just the way it is. This is a business and it’s a sport, it’s entertainment and it’s all three of those words wrapped into one. [UFC president] Dana White and [co-owners] the Fertitta brothers didn’t buy this company to say, ‘Hey let’s see if we can run this thing into the ground and not make a dime.’ They bought it to make millions and make it what it is, and that’s what they are doing. I’m just trying to have fun and get a little piece of the pie. I really enjoy it. I’m proud and honored to be a part of it. And it’s not like I didn’t pay any dues either. I wrestled amateur when I was 5 years old and put more miles in airplanes and working out. I’m 31 this year and I’ve paid dues. If [other fighters] want to be mad I think they should focus on how they can become a big contributor. They are mad because they aren’t making any money.”
UFC heavyweight Brock Lesnar shares his thoughts with MMA Stomping Grounds on getting an immediate push in the UFC because of his popularity from professional wrestling.
Honesty at its most brutal
I don’t really see this guy making much of an impact in the HW division anyways, so his words carry no weight for me. I’d love to see him take on someone like Nog and lose…badly.
Brock looks massive on that picture man!
I think when people can put butts in the seats, they can get the big pay day.
the fact of the matter is, people will pay to see lesnar … so why shouldn’t he get paid more than others?
F all the haters…do your thing Brock. The UFC is a business & is in business to make $$$ so to hell with anyone who wants to cry about the purity of the sport & any other bs like that. The UFC is providing entertainment & is going to put the fighters out there that the fans are most interested in seeing even if they aren’t the “best”. I am willing to pay to watch Brock fight & hope that he does beat Herring because IMO Heath is a boring fighter who lacks the ability to finish fights…
I never understood the hatered, jealousy and bitterness towards Brock. The guy is an athlete and his college wrestling background is no joke. Elite XC tried convincing everyone Kimbo was an athlete based on his college football career……now that was a funny joke. In any case, Brock is badass dude and hopefully he can get his first win against Herring.
He’s not taking the easy route either. I’m looking forward to seeing him fight again.
Yeah +1 on the Brock love. His fight against Mir looked good too until he got caught in the sub. He’ll learn and with a bit of time he’ll be up there with the best.
Good lord could you imagine being punched in the face by that guy? His hand would likely shoot out the back of my skull and wave.
I think he might be learning how to control his weight better cause man he is ripped in that picture. I think with this fight he will be a lot stronger.
i dont like or dislike brock but i think he will be champion one day
He’s paid his dues because he was an amateur wrestler?!?!?! So that constitutes to what?!?!? Jack that’s what! He’s a natural - I agree. He puts people in the seats - sure. He may have a really good future in this sport - absolutely! But paid your dues?!?!?!? I read the Wall Street Journal, am on Bloomberg.com, MSNBC.com, CBSMarketwatch.com and yadda, yadda, yadda all day! Every day! For work and for my own benefit. Does that mean that I paid my dues and should be given the job of balancing this country’s budget?!?!?! Jeeeez….beat some people up. Become a contender AND then tell me you paid your dues….
Now I know that I’m going to get a lot of grief for this, but i’m gonna go out on a limb and say that if Lesnar continues to train in MMA in 2 years he will be the man to beat Fedor! Fedor will be 33 and still in his prime and Brock will be 32 and also still in his prime so there would be no excuses about age. The only obstacle I can see getting in the way is the fact that Dana doesn’t cross promote with other orgs. so Fedor would have to sign with the UFC for this to be a realistic scenario but I really believe that Lesnar will be that good in 2 years.
Bring on the hate mail!
All I will say….if these guys are mad because Brock is making more money and they think they are better…then fight him….if you beat Brock.. then great..you backed up your crap talk.. if they lose, they need to shut up and be happy they are still in the UFC making money….
And with Fedor….that fight will never happen… Dana wont let Brock go…unless he loses his next couple fights….and Fedor will never sign with the UFC…unless Dana is gone….but if they fought…Fedor would win…simply for the fact that Brock would slip up like he did vs Mir… but I like the idea of that fight……honestly.. would rather see a brock/kimbo fight….
phovos thank you for putting it that way.
i love brock and i think he will b champion some day, but you cant say youve paid your dues in the mma industry untill youve put 500 miles on ur car and the show is only payin you $450, or when your career is derailed and you put it back on track then youve paid your dues
If Lesnar was more saavy and experienced, he would have put Mir’s head through the mat. Instead, he was dropping tiny hammer fists thinking he had him, just tryin to tappa tappa tappa Mir away. He’s a freak which puts him into a different category for marketing for the UFC so for that, he deserves to get paid. Can you market Fabricio Werdum? Not here. Brandon Vera? No way! Randy Couture walked away with the heavyweight division on his shoulder and hopefully Lesnar and the resurrection of Mir will bring some love back to the big guys. I mean come on, his second MMA fight was against Frank Mir! Both these guys are phenomenal for the UFC. Who is crying anyways? All those great heavyweights the UFC has? zzzzzzzz
Not hating but Brock is the UFC’s version of Kimbo.
They are using his previous fame to sell tickets. Counting on the wrestling crowds to spill over into the MMA world.
He hasn’t proved that he is a top tiered fighter. Sure he almost beat Frank Mir, but Tito almost beat Machida, and Rampage almost beat Forrest, and Lutter almost beat Silva… Almost just don’t count.
He has to prove to me that he has a solid standup game, has the stamina and heart to go 3 or 5 rounds, and has the intelliegence to fight a good solid fight.
I did this article a while back it is relevant somewhat…entitled Brock lesnar: Future Chump or future champ.
http://www.mmaopinion.com/2008/04/01/brock-lesnar-future-chump-or-champ/
Jason N.,
I agree with you. Right now I would rather see a Lesnar/kimbo fight. But that is only because they are both early in there careers and I think Lesnar would be way to powerful for a guy like Kimbo. No way would kimbo be able to stop Lesnar from taking him down and his ground game isn’t anything like Mirs so he would be in a world of trouble.
Now if he fought Fedor right now, Yes, he would slip up like he did with Mir. That is why I said in 2 years. I think Lesnar is a very hard worker and will learn so much in the next 2 years that with his power he will just be to much for pretty much anyone to handle. Just my opinion.
Mark,
I agree with that. Everyone wants Brock to be Mr. right here and now, but he just isn’t.
Look at Koscheck. Lesnar isn’t anywhere near the type of wrestler and it has taken Kos how many years and still isn’t completely well rounded…
He just needs time.
possibly in 2 yrs with him getting better with striking…submission defense, etc…but not bc Fedor is getting older….and to beat a dead horse….but look at Courture….he is fact that old age doesnt mean your game is bad…or gets worse….
So in 2 yrs…could Brock win vs Fedor?? Of course….if they fought tomorrow could he beat Fedor?? Of course…..anyone can beat anyone in MMA….Serra GSP….Jardine Liddell … they have proven it…
I would give it to Brock over Kimbo just bc Kimbo is a banger…and is tired after 5 swings…. he makes Travis Lutter look in shape….Brock is stronger…and he is a stud wrestler….he would ground and pound Kimbo…and frankly ANY heavyweight who isnt a stud in submissions like Mir…so this fight vs Hearring is a perfect fight for Brock right now…
hes totally full of him self he a crap mma fighter and he is way over paid!!!!!!
Brocks got talent and he’s right and that is two tough things for his detractors to overcome.
Curtis,
That’s what I’m trying to say bro. He just needs time. But were we differ in opinion is that Brock is just as good as Kos at wrestling. They are both NCAA division 1 Champions, 2x finalists, and 4x All Americans. Pretty impressive if you ask me. The only difference in my opinion is that Koscheck is a very boring fighter. I really wanted to root for Kos when he first started out but I just can’t root for a boring fighter. Granted we have only scene Lesnar once (unless you we’re fortune enough to see his first fight in japan?), but it was a very exciting fight while it lasted.
Jason N.,
Yeah I agree. The Hearring fight is a perfect match up for Brock. I think they should feed him a few more fights like this. Maybe Congo next if he beats Hearring. Although maybe that’s not the best approach. I did like that they threw Lesnar to the wolves with his first fight and didn’t take the EliteXcrap approach and baby him like Kimbo.
Brock can talk all he wants if sells tickets and makes money for the UFC he deserves a piece…He also isn’t getting any gimmes his first two fights in the UFC are HIGH CALIBER opponents. On a side note BROCK WOULD OWN KIMBO NO PROBLEM!
Lord Mark,
Brock’s first fight was in L.A. @ the colliseum against min soo kim…Brock was supposed to fight Hong Man Choi but Choi didn’t get a visa or something. Look it up on youtube you should be able to find it, he totally kicks Kim’s A$$.
I would watch Brock Kimbo and I would give Kimbo at least a 20% chance because Bas is in his corner and Brock hasn’t seen a psychological opponent like Kimbo in a fight yet. Mir is the Budo ideal and the other guy was a grappling dummy.
Thanks Rydawg. I’ve scene it before but I didn’t know who he fought or where it was. He definately owned him though. Haha!
Doesn’t Choi have a bad ticker?
I’d like to b-slap anyone who says an mma fighter is overpaid. These guys don’t make enough. Brock is opening doors for every fighter to start getting paid. They just have take the ball and run with it, and quit crying.
I wish people would stop saying KOS is boring… I know this thread is mainly about Brock…but I have to vent….seriously people…take away the Diego fight….and tell me when KOS has bored you?! He is ALWAYS working…doesnt stall…you can call me a homer since he is my fav fighter… thats fine…but I was bored during the Diego fight….but thats it…his last 2 were GREAT… knocking out hazlett….splitting Lytle open… I was entertained…even the 3 rounds vs GSP….I cant wait for a rematch!!!
Back to Brock…I think he will beat Hearring then Im sure Dana will throw another beatable guy at him…like a Kongo…Maybe a Tim Boetch… or someone who likes to bang and is beatable…then, assuming Brock wins both fights…he will challenge for the belt…
How do you figure Brock is opening doors? What about Tito or Randy? I thought they were the ones that started the money issue well before Brock came over.
who says they are underpaid? As long as military, teachers, and police make 50 grand a year or less then all pro athletes will be overpaid! Including MMA fighters.
When you say they don’t make enough, how much would you say they should make?
KOS WAS LAYING ON LYTLE AT THE END OF EVERY ROUND JUST LAYING THERE. THATS BORING. WHEN HES ON THE FLOOR HE RARLY DOES ANYTHING
so what, it’s ****in Josh Koscheck
how does a topic about lesner even bring up koscheck…….yzfoxracing are you dumb koscheck did not just lay on lytle every round he put on a ground and pound clinic……koscheck is getting alot better and im mad that people still dont like him he is a cool guy and does his best to keep people happy…he actually fights now he has improved so much ……its just like jorge gurgel he trys to keep people happy and i still see tons of people bashing him………and also at least brock has the balls to actually try and fight…..and might i add he came with in a few seconds of beating frank mir a former heavyweight champ…..he has earned his spot in the ufc with that fight!
brocks the man and he will make a greak champ some day i mean look at the fights he is takeing
lytle=bloodbath trust me i hate kos big time but he def won that one
dont bring up gurgel…he needs to be out of the UFC!! Regardless of how hard he works and tries… he is terrible…and never wins…has what? 2 UFC wins? maybe more…but I know this…ohwell..maybe its just me…
But you are right…he is an idiot if he thinks KOS didnt do anything while on top of Lytle… I guess that HUGE GASH over his eye just happened while KOS boringly layed on him….good call…
Koscheck is boring to watch but I do appreciate the fact that he is trying to do more than just G’n'P…and I do think people need to stop hating him so much he’s not that bad! who knows maybe it’s the hair.
Jason I agree. Gurgel never seems to get up for fights. He may be one of those guys that is a better teacher than fighter…
The submission was sick! Nice work Cole.
those who cant do…teach
another vote for brock vs kimbo. i think herring will be overwhelmed by lesnar, however lesnar needs to improve before he can mix it up with the top notch heavyweights.
ya jorge may not have many wins but there alot more people who are worse that should be gone first like houston alexander he has what two wins …the reason he is in there is because after his first two wins everyone was saying ooo he is the next champ…give jardine a rematch and i would bet he would destroy him!
If a dwarf or midget was 220lbs, would they be allowed to fight Brock?
its true the basis of the company is to further the company. brock lesner brings a huge crowd from another sport(iguess wwe is a sport) so he is this to dana $$$ so if he gets paid more from it so be it this isnt the union there is no senority its all about the vrowd you draw if you are exiting then you will fight alot even if you lose every fight you are in
yea he’s a great wrestler and yea he’s big.. that doesn’t mean he has punching power.. he was hitting Mir with everything but the kitchen sink and couldn’t put him away.. Big and strong doesn’t always equal good. College wrestler doesn’t always equal good… Time in the sports helps people be good not dwelling on past success in other sports.
Jason N.,
I have to admit that Kos is def getting better. He did look decent in his last fight, But at the end of the 2nd round the punches he was throwing were all show. None of them landed and those were the only punches that he threw with any real force in my opinion. He did cut Lytle really badly and I’m suprised the fight wasn’t stopped, but it really wasn’t that impressive. I hope he continues to improve because his raw talent is really awesome.
Brock is such a good wreslter and i think he will dominate heath herring. I thought heath should have been kicked out of the ufc before his fight with kongo. But thats my opinion. BTW i don’t care how many fans you bring in. It’s not fair that he gets paid that much money, while other fighters who dont have all the luxeries of brock get so little compared to him. Brock should get paid as an ufc fighter climbing up the ranks. Come on dana white if your trying to find ways to save money, cut back a little on brock
lol