Wait a minute- wasn't that Brock Lesnar guy in a similar boat?
Not compatible.
Lesnar was the NCAA SHW champ. Took the big money offer from WWE as a 22 year old.
TURNED DOWN a 40 million contract to try NFL and it wasn't a gimme spot he went through the tryouts and made the practice squad
He then waited until his non compete clause was up with WWE and that included MMA, took his skills and athleticism to MMA in K1 and destroyed and experienced all be it sub par fighter.
UFC signed him but under the stipulation he won't make a mockery of the sport and as such no favourable treatment in fact the exact opposite, fighting the former champ in his debut and destroying him but losing to a Hail Mary knee bar. His skills were undeniable as was his experience
Next up a guy with 50 pro fights a Pride, K1 and UFC vet who fought a who's who of the MMA world. Herring dismissed this pro wrestler to his own detriment finding himself dropped and bull rushed with aggression we haven't seen in the octagon since.
This is for a guy 1-1 in pro fights (a record less than Mickey Gall currently)
The HW title shot as a 2-1 fighter was certainly a business decision to strike while the irons hot. But revisionist history dismisses this title win against an 'old man' - no this is the reigning defending HW champ who left the UFC and had aspirations of unifying against the GOAT at this time in Fedor. Brock destroyed him.
Mir rematch - merked - now 4-1
Just think about that for a second
4-1 with 3 wins being 2 UFC champs abd a guy with 50 fights at the highest level (how these fights were even sanctioned is beyond me)
Next up a destroyer in Carwin 11 or 12 an 0 all first round KO's - he got his ass beat in the first but didn't look to Northcut his way out the fight came back in the second and won by submission now (5-1)
Lesnar has now won UFC fights at the highest level by decision, KO and submission showing he is a true mixed martial artist (all with a record less than Northcut at this stage)
His second bout of diverticulitis nearly killed him, litterally he was read last rights he was bad
He comes back about 30lbs lighter and gets destroyed by Velasquez and übereem (who didn't in those days)
Finishes his career at 5-3 as the highest grossing fighter ever, beating 2 former champs, undefeated KO artist and Pride vet and losing after returning from 2 near life ending illnesses
He came in, dominated and got out. The UFC threw him to the wolves so not to make a mockery of the sport but in doing so and how the results ended up they did exactly that completely undermining Lesnars achievements
But we wanna compare this run with CM PUNK who has no experience in combat, no athletic credentials, no pro MMA fights abs is getting a hand picked opponent with 2 fights not a former champion
The only comparison is the both at one stage got paid boatloads to pretend fight, the similarities end there as one was thrown in the deep end and came out swimming and the other is being taking to the learner a pool where he will likely drown in 3 inches of water.
I'm no Lesnar nuthugger and don't wanna see Punk fail miserably but it's become a bit too trendy over the years to downplay Lesnars achievements because if you apply Lesnar to Diaz statements then he his right, it is embarrassing and he did make them look like amateurs while getting paid more than everyone in the room
