If Brock Lesnar started training in MMA at a young age, do you think he would be one of the GOATs?

[Poatan Power]

Kevin Randleman had all the same gifts, except even more so, and yet he never came close to the GOAT discussion. Brock would have definitely been a better fighter if he started training for MMA earlier, but it's ridiculous to think he'd be a GOAT contender based on physical gifts alone.

It isn't that far fetched.

A stretch, of course, but given his accomplishments when he spent far more time professional wrestling than real wrestling training as an adult? Live a little.

 

[brownsmith76]

Young Brock that has +10 years of jiu jitsu and boxing?

How does Arlovski stop the takedowns?

 

[vandymeer13]

Take away the steroids he's a 205 who doesn't like getting hit like pat cummins

 

[Aberlour]

He doesn’t like getting hit. Nothing can be done for that.

 

[Area809]

Also a different camp would’ve made all the difference

 

[dittohead84]

He would have learned to deal with getting hit a lot better with regular sparring. He didn't do this. It's not just about conditioning his ability to take impact, but also positioning and head movement. He was a sitting duck for big punches and wasn't used to taking many at all in training. Pat Barry more or less confirmed that when asked with his reaction

 

[cheesus]

Without a doubt

 

[TerryBogard]

He would easily be the best HW of all time, the guy came in with no experience and won the UFC belt under a year, then he comes back after 5 years break and dominated the #8 HW fighter. If he werent sick he would have never lost. Against cain he gassed himself out early and against overeem he took a dive for some reason.

 

[HHJ]

Came in to say this.

Brock's problem was he can't seem to handle getting hit, in the head or the body.

Sure he'd have fights where he mows someone down and wins via gnp, but there would still be just as many (if not more) fights where he gets tuned up by a hw with better kickboxing who can defend a takedown.

I dont agree. If he came up the normal way,he wouldnt have been trained the same way as he was here. If he came up normal,they would have got him ready.

Brock's trainers KNEW they didnt have TIME to get Brock battle tested like that. They couldnt have HW boxers come in there and box him up and make him want to quit. All they could do is keep him confident. Same with the way Rousey was trained. These are not normal career circumstances.

Brock was a tough guy,he just didnt know how to keep his composure when he was hurt. That takes time to learn,and he was already in his thirties here.

 

[TerryBogard]

He would have learned to deal with getting hit a lot better with regular sparring. He didn't do this. It's not just about conditioning his ability to take impact, but also positioning and head movement. He was a sitting duck for big punches and wasn't used to taking many at all in training. Pat Barry more or less confirmed that when asked with his reaction

Nonsense, the only fight he reacted that way was carwin, no other fight, also he looked great against hunt standing.

 

[Wariowokecancel]

Inspired by this thread.

https://forums.sherdog.com/threads/20-year-old-brock-lesnar-all-men-are-not-created-equal.4220242/

It seems like he hit the lottery with his genes. The guy is a freak physical specimen. A lot of power, a lot of explosiveness.

What's your thoughts on him being on one of the greatest MMA fighters if he only started a lot younger than he did.

Do you think he would have beaten Velasquez and Overeem if he trained in MMA a lot younger and was more well rounded/complete fighter?

Discuss.

He was a fucking wrestling star at a young age,NCAA champ. That’s basically MMA - as if anybody his age was training ‘UFC’ at a young age.

 

[Wariowokecancel]

I dont agree. If he came up the normal way,he wouldnt have been trained the same way as he was here. If he came up normal,they would have got him ready.

Brock's trainers KNEW they didnt have TIME to get Brock battle tested like that. They couldnt have HW boxers come in there and box him up and make him want to quit. All they could do is keep him confident. Same with the way Rousey was trained. These are not normal career circumstances.

Brock was a tough guy,he just didnt know how to keep his composure when he was hurt. That takes time to learn,and he was already in his thirties here.

Ronda was trained shit by a shit trainer who ruined her natural abilities (arm at and judo) by training to make her a boxer - and he’s also a shit one. Don’t defend the worst coach to have ever had a gem like Ronda walk in randomly to a shit gym. Every day at his shit gym was a day of ruining Honda.

Brock also got fucked by not getting punched a little more by sparring partners, that’s on him and his trainers.

 

[moreorless87]

He would easily be the best HW of all time, the guy came in with no experience and won the UFC belt under a year, then he comes back after 5 years break and dominated the #8 HW fighter. If he werent sick he would have never lost. Against cain he gassed himself out early and against overeem he took a dive for some reason.

Tha Lesnar "won the belt in under a year" is actually quite questionable, Lesnar signed a devolpment deal with FEG in 2006 and I believe he was actually testing the waters with MMA training for a few months before that as well so really when he won the belt he'd been training for close to 3 years. The difference compared to a lot of previous big name HW's is that Lesnar was already sitting on a lot of cash from the WWE and was already a well established name thanks to it so he didnt need to take fights in that build up period.

I think Lesnar really had plenty long enough to devolp to his potential and his issues with not liking hard sparing I don't see changing much if he's younger, look at the WWE were he was never happy with the punishment their shedual inflicted on him. Really in a lot of ways he's actually a very inteligent career minded man, I don't think he really "loves" either pro wrestling or MMA to the degree he'll trade more of his future health for them than he has to, maybe with PED abuse being a blind spot.

 

[Vayn Sword]

Imagine if this guy took roids and started mma early.

 

[HHJ]

Ronda was trained shit by a shit trainer who ruined her natural abilities (arm at and judo) by training to make her a boxer - and he’s also a shit one. Don’t defend the worst coach to have ever had a gem like Ronda walk in randomly to a shit gym. Every day at his shit gym was a day of ruining Honda.

Brock also got fucked by not getting punched a little more by sparring partners, that’s on him and his trainers.

Yeah well you try to make someone into a champion when they have like 0:15 ring time,and see how well you cover up the flaws,bud. This not a natural road for most fighters. Admit it.

 

[HHJ]

Imagine if this guy took roids and started mma early.
View attachment 899735

People of that size are not really built for extended combat with skilled opponents.I imagine he'd be injured alot in the training alone. Also he is too big to fight anyone in MMA worth fighting,and if you imply that Hafthor has not taken roids already,well...

 

[Vayn Sword]

People of that size are not really built for extended combat with skilled opponents.I imagine he'd be injured alot in the training alone. Also he is too big to fight anyone in MMA worth fighting,and if you imply that Hafthor has not taken roids already,well...

He could take EPO. Lets forget about the silly 265 lb limit too.

 

[HHJ]

He could take EPO. Lets forget about the silly 265 lb limit too.

Sure,if you wanna forget about Reality. lol

I am just not really that interested in potential circus freak fights tbh. Yes,the guy is really big. Hooray.

Im a big fan of the guy's work in movies and moving metal like a savage,but seeing him hit pads,he is slow,he;s uncoordinated,he's basically what a 6 foot 9 400 lb guy looks like throwing punches.

Its not a pretty sight,and its not really what he's meant to be doing.

 

[TerryBogard]

He pisses hot all the time.

How the hell could he make a career out of fighting if he’s constantly on suspension?

You call one time all the time? his first ufc run he wasnt on roids which can be seen by his bodyfat level.

 

[Vayn Sword]

Sure,if you wanna forget about Reality. lol

I am just not really that interested in potential circus freak fights tbh. Yes,the guy is really big. Hooray.

Im a big fan of the guy's work in movies and moving metal like a savage,but seeing him hit pads,he is slow,he;s uncoordinated,he's basically what a 6 foot 9 400 lb guy looks like throwing punches.

Its not a pretty sight,and its not really what he's meant to be doing.

It's just a shame that we'll never see true specimens like that in mma. His fights would probably look like this