Brock Lesnar completed his comeback from the hospital bed to the pinnacle of the fighting world Saturday night at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena.
The former Gophers wrestler defeated previously unbeaten heavyweight Shane Carwin (12-1-0) in his first fight since being diagnosed with diverticulitis this winter, capturing the undisputed heavyweight title in the much-anticipated feature fight at UFC 116.
Carwin became the interim heavyweight champion while Lesnar — and his heavyweight belt — was away from the sport. Known as a knockout artist, Carwin hadn’t allowed an opponent out of the first round in his 12-fight career, a trend which almost continued Saturday.
With three and a half minutes left in the first round, Carwin knocked Lesnar to the ground and started raining punches to the former NCAA champion wrestler’s face and chest. Lesnar could only cower and enter what he called “survival mode” as he waited for the first-round onslaught to end.
In the second round, however, the man previously known for his brute strength and wrestling ability took Carwin down to the mat and put him in a jiu-jitsu submission for the tap out.
“You find out how tough a fighter is when they face adversity,” UFC President Dana White said. “Brock stayed in there.”
The technical submission symbolized not only Lesnar’s evolution as a fighter, but his ability to survive when faced with difficult challenges — and then overcome them.
“It’s been a crazy year. I’ve been through a lot,” Lesnar said. “I wasn’t going home without this [belt] tonight, that’s for sure.”
Lesnar defeated Frank Mir in a fight last year to become the undisputed heavyweight champion, and the ensuing post-match celebration left many UFC fans appalled at the actions of the brash, surly heavyweight king.
Lesnar verbally taunted a dazed Mir, gestured toward the crowd with both middle fingers and berated the fight’s primary sponsor, Bud Light. Shortly after that, Lesnar was stricken with diverticulitis — essentially a perforated intestine which prevented him from eating solid foods.
Because of weakness stemming from the condition, Lesnar had to cancel a fight with Carwin scheduled for last October. Lesnar’s next bout is not yet scheduled, but it will be with another undefeated heavyweight, Cain Velasquez (8-0-0).
A more humble celebration
Moments after choking out Carwin with an arm triangle jiujitsu submission hold even Lesnar couldn’t pronounce, the fans cheered, but certainly some must have wondered, “What will he do this time?”
This time, Lesnar acted more like a grateful man than a possessed one. The perspective gained from his bout with the illness was evident immediately after his hand was raised Saturday night.
Lesnar was handed a microphone and silenced any doubters who questioned his maturity.
“This isn’t about me tonight,” Lesnar said before immediately thanking his family, his doctors, his training staff and the referee for allowing the fight to continue past Carwin’s first-round onslaught.
“I am blessed by God,” he said. “Ladies and gentlemen, I stand before you, a humble champion.”
At several times throughout the night’s interviews, Lesnar appeared as if he would break down and cry, and later admitted he was choked up by the magnitude of the situation.
“I really feel like I’m in a dream,” he said.
Yet, after giving his thanks and displaying some newfound humility, Lesnar still flashed the macho bravado that reminded anyone wondering that the 6-foot-5-inch, 265-pound giant isn’t just a teddy bear.
“I’m still the toughest S.O.B. around, baby,” he said.