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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Much of the discussion about this Saturday's UFC 116 main event between Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin has surrounded the massive size of the two fighters and the physical attributes and abilities each fighter brings in against one another. But there's another aspect to this fight that may come into play when the two step into the cage at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas: the spotlight.
This is Shane Carwin's first main event appearance, and it's coming in what could potentially be the most watched UFC pay-per-view ever. With admitted nerves for his co-main event bout at UFC 111 against Frank Mir, how Carwin handles the pressure in the main event for the first time, on the biggest stage in the biggest fight city in the world, could play a huge factor in how this fight goes down.
But in the other corner sits Lesnar, no stranger to the lights and the pressure that comes with being the sport's top draw, and he credits his time in professional wrestling for preparing him for this stage.
"The main thing I can bring from WWE, it's the same thing. We're promoting a big fight. I was involved in sports entertainment and this is sports and entertainment," Lesnar said during last week's UFC 116 conference call.
"I've done a gazillion interviews. This is probably somewhere in the 30s of pay-per-views that I've participated in. I've headlined and main-evented probably 25. This isn't my first rodeo. I enjoy it. I'm not saying that to be a pompous prick about it, these are just the facts. I've got no nerves, no jitters. If it wasn't for the WWE, I wouldn't be prepared as I am now."
It's that big stage experience that could be a huge edge for the UFC Heavyweight Champion in Saturday's fight. He's been here before, many times, and he'll be looking to make a triumphant return after his year long layoff.
Penick's Analysis: It may not seem like it should affect the fight at all, but I really do think this part of the equation could play a factor in the fight's outcome. Lesnar knows what to expect with the distractions of fight week, the hype leading into the fight, being on the big stage, getting all of the attention. I'm fully behind Lesnar as the pick for Saturday, and this is only a part of the reason why.
RELATED STORY: UFC 116 PREVIEW: Shane Carwin believes he's just scratched the surface of his abilities, wants to finish Brock Lesnar at UFC 116: [CLICK TO READ FULL ARTICLE]
[Brock Lesnar art by Travis Beaven (c) MMATorch.com]
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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