"It doesn't get any bigger than this. Brock Lesnar takes on Alistair Overeem for a chance to compete for the UFC Heavyweight Championship. Nate Diaz fights Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone and Jon Fitch makes his return to the UFC."
Friday December 30th 2011, the UFC end's its 2011 campaign with the biggest fight in UFC history, as former UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar (5-2) takes on the debuting Alistair Overeem (35-11-1) at UFC 141 in a five round, title eliminator bout.
Brock Lesnar is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion who has only fought the best of the best since entering the UFC. Thrown to the wolves right from the start, Lesnar has never had a “gimme” fight and has only faced the elite of the Heavyweight devision including Frank Mir (twice), Randy Couture, Shane Carwin and Cain Velasquez.
A true Heavyweight who must cut weight to make the 265lbs. limit, Lesnar is one of the best pure athletes to ever compete in MMA. A hard hitting, intense, explosive wrestler with unmatched speed and quickness, Lesnar moves with the agility of a Lightweight inside the cage. In order to win his fight against Overeem, Lesnar is going to have to rely on his wrestling to dictate where this fight takes place. Every opponent who has faced Lesnar has been taken down at some point of the contest, and if Lesnar has any hope of winning he needs to force this fight to the ground.
While he is a tough matchup for any fighter, due to his freakish speed and strength, if Lesnar wants to wear UFC gold around his waist again, he needs to take Overeem down as quickly as possible.
The reason Lesnar needs to get this fight to the ground as fast as he can, is because Alistair Overeem is not only one of the best Heavyweight fighters in the world, but is unquestionably the best striker the UFC Heavyweight devision has ever had.
Alistair Overeem is one of the most decorated fighters in MMA history and is currently the champion of three separate organizations. The Heavyweight DREAM and Strikeforce Champion, Overeem is also the current K-1 champion and is the first fighter to ever simultaneously hold titles in kickboxing and MMA.
The UFC Heavyweight Championship is the only major Heavyweight title Overeem has not yet claimed, and if Overeem is able to get past Lesnar, he will earn the opportunity to fight for the prestigious UFC Heavyweight Championship.
A fighter whose striking is on a completely different level, Overeem is instantly the best striker in the UFC upon arrival. Last December, Overeem defeated three of the top strikers in the world on one day to win the K-1 2010 World Grand Prix, the highest honor in kickboxing.
Still, while Overeem is much more decorated in his professional career and has much more experience, Lesnar is still arguably the best Heavyweight fighter Overeem has ever faced. Lesnar has competed against the absolute best in the world, while Overeem's most notable Heavyweight opponent has been Fabricio Werdum. This is also Overeem's UFC debut, and while I'm always leery about choosing a fighter to win when he has never fought in the UFC before, I am making an exception for Overeem and predict he wins by knockout in the first or second round.
In my opinion, Lesnar could not be a better opponent for Overeem to make his debut against, since all of Brock Lesnar's weaknesses are Overeem's strengths. While Lesnar does have a chin, he does not like to get hit and that is exactly what Overeem is best at doing.
Lesnar has also not competed since October of 2010 and is returning after his second battle with diverticulitis, in which he had 12 inches of his colon removed and repaired. I don't trust Lesnar being a hundred percent, and I still consider him to be a baby in this sport, so a full year away from learning and improving, makes me think that at the end of the night, Overeem will be the man with his hand raised.
Another factor, is that every fight starts on the feet and Lesnar is going to have to stand with Overeem at the start of every round. Overeem has solid takedown defense, and if Lesnar rushes in like he normally does, he is going to leave himself open and Overeem will capitalize.
Even if Lesnar gets the takedown, he is still in danger. Overeem is a very underrated grappler and possesses fantastic submissions, especially his guillotine choke. Out of Overeem's 35 career wins, 19 have come via submission, 8 of those by guillotine.
The common MMA fan might not know the name Alistair Overeem now, but come 2012, he will be known as a serious threat to the UFC Heavyweight Championship.
The co-main event of UFC 141, is an outstanding Lightweight match between Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone (17-3-1) and Nate Diaz (14-7), in what could possibly be the best fight of 2011.
Competing for the fifth time in 2011, Cerrone has had arguably the best year of any MMA fighter. Currently on a six fight winning streak, Cerrone has looked fantastic since coming over to the UFC. Improving in every fight, Cerrone last fought at UFC 137 in October where he submitted the top ranked Denis Siver in the first round via rear naked choke.
An outstanding kick boxer who holds a 28-0 record, Cerrone is one of the best strikers in the Lightweight devision but also possesses a great ground game with 13 of his 17 MMA wins coming via some form of submission.
His opponent Nate Diaz, is the TUF Season 5 champion and younger brother of Nick Diaz. A brown belt in BJJ under Ceaser Gracie, Diaz is coming off the best performance of his career, submitting Takanori Gomi, with one of the best submissions of 2011. This fight is without a doubt going to be a high paced chess match, as both fighters are highly technical and always come to fight. Diaz has drastically improved his boxing and if this fight hits the ground, the fans are in for a late Christmas present, as both are a treat to watch and Diaz is one of the best in the world at transitions.
Also on the card, is the return of perennial Welterweight title contender Jon Fitch (23-3-1-1NC). Fitch has been out of action since February with a shoulder injury and is taking on fellow wrester Johny Hendricks (11-1). A win over Hendricks, should put Fitch in line for a shot at the interim Welterweight championship.
Predictions:
Alistair Overeem defeats Brock Lesnar via KO in Round 2
Donald Cerrone defeats Nate Diaz via Unanimous Decision
Jon Fitch defeats Johny Hendricks via Unanimous Decision
Alexander Gustafsson defeats Vladimir Matyushenko via Unanimous Decision
Jim Hettes defeats Nam Phan via Submission in Round 2
Ross Pearson defeats Junior Assuncao via TKO in Round 2
Danny Castillo defeats Anthony Njokuani via Unanimous Decision
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