Penick's Take
PENICK: Addressing the rumors of Brock Lesnar looking for an exit from the UFC
Dec 28, 2010 - 9:55:34 PM PENICK: Addressing the rumors of Brock Lesnar looking for an exit from the UFC

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

A discussion between Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez on Wrestling Observer Radio has blown up on message boards and MMA sites as an indication that Brock Lesnar is looking for a way out of his UFC contract to possibly take a spot on WWE's Wrestlemania in 2011.

However, Meltzer's commentary was taken out of context, and in fact Meltzer even stated he expects Brock to fight in 2011. Meltzer does, however, provide his opinion on Brock currently taking time off to hunt instead of training.

"There's two Brocks, either the Brock who wants it real bad or the Brock who is looking for an exit strategy, who's the business man, who's rich, happy and now doesn't want to get hurt," Meltzer said. "That's the reality. If the guy really wanted to beat Cain Velasquez, he'd be going to Holland or importing Holland to Minnesota [to train with those strikers].

"He's got some flaws, you don't improve those flaws in six weeks or eight weeks, and you certainly don't improve them by not training. If you had the motivated Brock, he'd be doing different stuff than he's doing right now. And also he'd be calling Dana White going 'get me a fight.' Instead he's not returning any phone calls. That tells you something too."

Meltzer believes Lesnar should be training to beat Cain Velasquez in a rematch, and his opinion is that by not training right now and not trying to improve his striking game at this point that Lesnar isn't necessarily serious about fighting. To whit:

"He still has to catch up as far as the skill level goes," Meltzer said. "He's got a big hole in his game right now. If he gets motivated in June, yeah he might beat Roy Nelson, but if he's serious about fighting he's got to beat Cain Velasquez, and he ain't going to do that with eight weeks of training no matter how hard the training is.

"If he was like St. Pierre, he might be able to coast on eight weeks of training and just because he's so much better than everybody else be able to beat people. And he may be able to do that with Roy Nelson, and he may be able to do that with Mir, but the goal, in theory, would be to beat Velasquez and he ain't going to do that with Velasquez."

This is where I disagree with Meltzer's contentions. For his next fight Lesnar does not need to have his game improved to the point of beating Velasquez. He's not going to fight Velasquez next.

Lesnar wanted to take time off after returning at UFC 116 from his battle with diverticulitis, but he returned quickly to take the fight with Velasquez, and after such a humbling loss he's been concentrating on hunting and his family. Right now, with Frank Mir being pulled from a planned bout with Brendan Schaub, I'd still expect to see that fight take place, and with no word still coming out for The Ultimate Fighter's 13th season, I wouldn't be surprised to see those two still be chosen as the coaches.

Because of Lesnar's history - leaving the WWE and the NFL early - far too many have been waiting for this shoe to drop, and are eager to read into things to see Lesnar on his way out. I still contend that he's not finished in this sport, and that he will be looking to make his way back to the top in 2011.

UPDATE: Meltzer reiterated that he believes Lesnar will fight again on his podcast today, and said the initial comments were blown way out of proportion (via BloodyElbow.com):

"Brock Lesnar. Oh my God! I didn't say he was never going to fight again. I thought I made it pretty clear that I expected him to fight once next year or maybe even twice. It's amazing how things get blown out of proportion."

So again, Lesnar's not looking for a way out right now. He may walk away from the sport if he suffers another crushing defeat, but he's a competitor and he will fight again in the UFC in 2011.