Frank Mir narrowly escaped with his life in the first minute of their bout. At this point every true MMA fan cringed. They knew in just this minute that they would have to eat their words. Although Lesnar eventually lost this fight to Mir, he gained millions of fans and earned respect from the MMA elite. The loss became unimportant and the legend of Brock Lesnar began.
The UFC executives immediately jumped on the Lesnar train and headed straight to the top. After easily disposing with Heath Herring, the UFC was ready to hand him the title. Randy Couture was the only thing that stood between Lesnar and the belt. Couture did everything he could and gave more than a valiant effort, but in the end the monster could not be destroyed.
The UFC now had everything it wanted; a marketable champion who would create controversy and stir up the MMA world. It didn’t take long for him fit right into the character that the UFC was selling.
The rematch of the century was set; Frank Mir against Brock Lesnar. Both of these men felt that they were the real champion, but Mir seemed to do more of the talking. He made several demeaning comments towards Lesnar leading up to the fight night. Once the two men got into the ring though, Mir showed he didn’t have what Lesnar did (size and strength).
After mercilessly beating Frank Mir’s head in for two rounds the ref step in and the real show started. Lesnar first taunted Mir as he lay beaten on the mat. Then during his in-ring interview he mocked one of the UFC biggest sponsors Bud Light. Finally he finished off his rant by making some off color comments about his wife.
Lesnar immediately apologized for his actions in the ring (after some persuading by UFC President Dana White), but nothing could change the bad boy image he had already built up for himself.
The UFC knew that Brock Lesnar would bring entertainment to the octagon; they just didn’t know how much damage his days in the WWE had done to him.
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