Think Brock Lesnar Can't Take a Punch? He Begs to Differ

Quote :

As isolated as Brock Lesnar is in his Minnesota training camp, and as successfully as he manages to avoid the internet most of the time, some criticisms still find their way out of the petri dish of MMA and into the former UFC champ's world. But as he told me when I spoke to him for a Sports Illustrated story this week, the key is not so much in avoiding those criticisms entirely, but rather in knowing what to make of them once they get there.

For instance, take the oft-repeated claim that Lesnar can't take a punch.

"I think it's a bunch of bulls---," Lesnar said. "The fights that I've gotten hit, I've stood and banged with Heath Herring, Randy Couture, Frank Mir -- I've taken a lot of shots. I mean, Shane Carwin. And I've yet to be knocked out. I had refs stop a fight for a submission and a TKO, which is a referee stoppage. I've never been knocked out cold."
In fact, the 'it's a bunch of bulls---' response turns out to be Lesnar's go-to move when confronted with MMA fans and media criticisms. It's not that he doesn't hear them -- trust me, if you were around for the reception he got at the UFC on FOX event in Anaheim, you'd know there's no way around it sometimes -- it's that he dismisses it as just another instance of haters hating. Not in those words, of course.

"Any time you're on top, whatever it is, and I don't care if it's the business world or it's in farming or fighting -- and those are all things that I'm in -- there's people out to get you," he said. "There's criticism. I don't know if it's just that people don't like to see other people succeed, or just if they want to see them fail."

Which is, according to Lesnar, exactly what's happening with Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow right now.

"There's a stand-up guy who's doing a lot of good things, a stand-up role model for kids, and this guy is taking a lot of criticism," Lesnar said. "I guess it comes with the territory. When you're in the spotlight and you're one of the best people in your division, you better have some heavy armor."

People can say his chin was exposed in the Cain Velasquez fight, Lesnar said, but as he pointed out, "in the heavyweight division, if guys are putting leather in the right spots, it's hard to come back from that."

As for Alistair Overeem, who has vowed to take Lesnar apart "piece by piece" at UFC 141, there's no ill will there, according to the former WWE star.

"I don't hardly even know him," said Lesnar. "...He's an opponent. He's a guy I'm facing next Friday night, who I will have no remorse for, and who I will show no mercy to.

Source

I think it's more that he doesn't like getting hit, and he often pulls a Tito and drops and covers when punches get rained on him.
But, I agree. He can definitely take a punch. For him to survive the 7+ flush blows from Carwin is amazing, imo. It only took two of those to put Mir to sleep.

^^And one to dump Gonzaga.

I think Lesnar can handle getting hit, he just has to get used to it.

Yeah I agree. he can take it physically. It's just that phsychologically, he's still getting used to it.
But whatever. If that's the only thing people can find to knock the guy about as a fighter, then he's probably gonna be alright.

Slightly off topic here, but to adress the Tebow thing;

I don't know anybody who dislikes the guy. But I know a lot of people who know football, and what they say about him is the truth; he's a terrible QB. he's a great football player, but a terrible QB. Tim Tebow is one of those guys that if you critique him in any way, you're automatically labeled a "hater". I get a little tired of hearing idiots throwing the word "hater" at people for making educated and accurate asessments about the guy's skills. He does some things very well, but he does a lot of things awfully. Just because he's a good man with good moral standards doesn't mean he's above cirtisism.
It gets really annoying when some people can be critiqued and it's considered the norm, but others get critiqued and suddenly it's like we're unjustly victimizing them or something.

i dislike Tebow...or annoying to be more exact.
i guess he might be a good guy with good values, but even that is not for sure. i dont think he is very smart and he is way too preachy. he sings worship songs on the sideline ffs. but. if he was a good QB i'd wouldnt care as much. kirt warner was also quite annoying with the religion stuff , but he was a great QB and i generally liked him.

as for brock getting hit..i agree with the consensus, he just needs to toughen up and get through the pain of getting hit. i hope he beats ubereem (to my surprise), becaue i dislike ubereem more lol

FYI

<---------Raiders fan.


With that said, I think I was rather tame when speakng about Tebow......all things considered as of late.

I agree with you guys, Ive never thought Brock couldnt "take" a punch. If that was the case he would have been sleeping against Carwin and Cain. He took big punches from both guys.

Its a matter of absorbing the punches correctly and learning how to defend without running backwards. Hes also going to see things from Overeem that he has not seen yet, world class kicks and knees. Its a very interesting fight.

Brock was outa sorts with the prefight interview.
He just didn't seem like his old cocky self.
He's scared

He's going to take a punch Tito style, and turtle up.

Not being able to take a punch is a huge setback as you try to climb the ladder to the championship.... but I agree with what seems to be the consensis which is "Brock can take a punch as well as the next guy but he doesnt like it when guys hit him."

Although I am a Brock fan I believe I know what he is ... that is a BULLY... pure and simple. The mindset of a Bully is invulnerability or the belief that they are the biggest Gorilla in the room and no one can hurt them. This leads to a mindset of arrogance, a big mouth and distain for others... (all Brockisms). This has been Brock his whole life. ... Then came the UFC...

When a Bully breaks for the first time and realizes that someone can hurt him... that someone will hurt him... and someone did hurt him.... they have no life experience to understand what is happening ... being punched in the face by someone who is not scared of you is a Bully's worst nightmare and this is the result we get when Brock gets punched in the face.

Having said that.... seeing Brock survive and fight on after getting pounded by Carwin shows some growth on Brocks part. Just the look on his face that he survived a beating and won was pretty funny to see. Conversly the look on his face when he bullied and beat Mir was the same arrogant, distainful look of the Bully.

We all know that Brocks growth as a fighter and contender is not learning how to take a punch, rather it is how to deal with the fact that in the fight game there are people who are not scared of you. People who will punch you in the face and would really like to punch you so hard you wet yourself. Fans that want to see the same.

Brock will never be a Leben, who has been so hurt his whole life that getting punched in the face is no big deal. To Brock getting punched in the face is a big deal .... thats what he will have to get over... thats what he has to train for ... thats the person he has to become... The question is can he?

Even Bully's can grow.

Triggerman99 wrote:

Yeah I agree. he can take it physically. It's just that phsychologically, he's still getting used to it.
But whatever. If that's the only thing people can find to knock the guy about as a fighter, then he's probably gonna be alright.

Slightly off topic here, but to adress the Tebow thing;

I don't know anybody who dislikes the guy. But I know a lot of people who know football, and what they say about him is the truth; he's a terrible QB. he's a great football player, but a terrible QB. Tim Tebow is one of those guys that if you critique him in any way, you're automatically labeled a "hater". I get a little tired of hearing idiots throwing the word "hater" at people for making educated and accurate asessments about the guy's skills. He does some things very well, but he does a lot of things awfully. Just because he's a good man with good moral standards doesn't mean he's above cirtisism.
It gets really annoying when some people can be critiqued and it's considered the norm, but others get critiqued and suddenly it's like we're unjustly victimizing them or something.

I never disliked Tebow until the media started dry humping him every time he takes a shit.
He is a horrible quarterback. Not just below average, but horrible. In fact, Denver has one of the worse offenses in the NFL.
What drives me nuts is that they have an outstanding kicker and an even better defense, yet Tebow gets all the credit from the media.
Against the bears, Tebow goes like 3-16 with an interception and down 10-0 until about 4 minutes left in the game. Tebow then finally gets a TD pass to a wide open (coverage blown) receiver. Then their kicker hits a 59 yarder to tie it and then kicks a 51 yarder to win it in overtime (after the defense forced a turnover). But somehow Tebow is the story. Fuck that guy. Give credit where it is due.

His chin seems to be just fine. His mental state when getting hit may need some work.