Lesnar submits himself to the direction of a group of trainers who push him relentlessly in disciplines designed to enhance his endurance, build his explosive strength, and train his prodigious physique in the sport specific demands made by the disparate elements of mixed martial arts. His regimen impressed me as cutting edge and old school at the same time, touching on hard core wrestling, boxing/stand up striking, weight lifting, pure cardiovascular training like running and exercise biking, and submission work and take down defense within the context of round robin sparring against rotating fresh partners. No denying such a huge muscular guy requires a vast metabolic capacity to process oxygen in service to his fighting effort, but as far as I can see, no one works harder at it than Brock Lesnar.

I see this match as more than just a meeting of two opponents; for me, it’s an illustration of clashing philosophies within the development of modern MMA, and more specifically, within the heavyweight division. Mir represents a similar ideal in my mind to the tenets espoused by Lyoto Machida, even though Mir is not as strongly associated with classical martial arts.

Mir is the fighter as thinking man, working within a technical framework to express the potential of Brazilian ju-jutsu, which allowed him in his first encounter with Lesnar to overcome obvious physical disadvantages and find victory.

Lesnar is the pure athlete, the physical specimen, naturally gifted with power, speed, size, and reflexes, commited to relentless training based in his wrestling orientation. Mir has experience, Lesnar limitless potential. Mir expemplifies the BJJ ideal of overcoming size and strength through technique and patient discipline, while Brock overwhelms his opponents with the physics of the bull rush, crushing physical power, and the advantages inherent in superior size and strength.

As a fan, I favor the Mir side of the equation, and seriously hope Frank will emerge victorious. As an observer of the sport, and witnessing the rise of Shane Carwin, maybe an emerging Bobby Lashley, and without doubt potentially the most dominant heavyweight athlete to enter the fray in MMA in Brock Lesnar, we’re seeing a shift in the paradigm, which I’m also prepared to appreciate, and to applaud. Hope this fight plays out in amazing fashion, and gives us all more to write and conjecture about…

I got Lesnar in this one tough.

I don’t know where the shakespearian style is supposed to come in.

as for the content, Mir is disillusioned if he thinks his cardio will be better than Lesnars come fight day. He may have looked springy and “rejuvenated” against Nog, but its one thing to bounce around and do pure stand up for 7 minutes, which tank abbott at this present moment is probably capable of, and its another to have a gigantic athlete shooting at you and pressing you against the cage for 25. Mir’s never had outstanding cardio, and stand up cardio and grappling cardio are two very different things – just ask chuck liddell – so his last fight proved nothing. “I don’t think he’s physically capable of going 5 rounds of hard fighting just because of his stature” He may not be capable of going 5 hard rounds but he can go 3 hard and 2 sloppy; which is still more than you Frank. Mir’s not going to outwork Lesnar, he’ll have to tap him or catch him on the feet in the first 2 rounds. And, although untested, i would hypothesize that Lesnars chin is made of granite so the former is more probable

plagueangel, how in the world do you think brocks bjj is going to be anywhere near mir’s?

lesnars only shot is to keep it standing and bang him out.

What has happened?

secondly, i also don’t see Mir being physically capable of going 5 rounds with a 265 pound wrestler. Lesser fighters have made Mir gas.

i don’t know who will win, but i can’t help but think it will end in round 1 or 2. i would actually be quite pleasantly surprised if it did go more(unless it’s boring)