‘He was a freak’ – Joe Rogan once revealed why Brock Lesnar could have been UFC great if he avoided WWE
Joe Rogan believes Brock Lesnar had the potential to be an ‘all-time great’ in the UFC. Rogan blamed Lesnar’s time with the WWE as one of the reasons for his lack of key mixed martial arts skills. Brock Lesnar is one of the biggest stars in UFC historygetty He also holds the same value in the world of WWE Lesnar started his combat sports career with the billion-dollar promotion, before transitioning to MMA and becoming the UFC’s heavyweight champion. The now 47-year-old was part of MMA’s biggest league for three years from 2008, until Alistair Overeem kicked him into temporary retirement in 2011. After going back to the WWE again in 2012, Lesnar returned for one final UFC bout in July 2016 at UFC 200. Although he outpointed the prolific KO artist Mark Hunt over three rounds, the result was overturned to a no-contest when Lesnar tested positive for Clomiphene. “I swear that if Brock Lesnar got into mixed martial arts right out of college,” Rogan explained on his popular podcast six years ago. “Well, it went college wrestler right into training, if he really learned striking and learned slowly, like took some small fights. Really learned striking instead of spending all that time doing WWE, which I’m sure he made a f***load of money [from]. “I mean good for him. That’s all great and everything like that. But man, I think he could have been one of the all-time greats. “I really do. He was a freak and a giant.” Rogan later compared Lesnar to a ‘gorilla’ and a ‘viking’ during his brief spell with the UFC. Lesnar transitioned to MMA in 2007 following a successful five-year period with the WWE, during which he became WWE Champion and headlined Wrestlemania. Rogan said that Lesnar could have been an ‘all-time great’ if he learned how to strike better Lesnar defeated Heath Herring at UFC 87 before claiming the heavyweight titleGetty He is regarded as one of the greatest heavyweights of all timeGetty Images - Getty talkSPORT BET: Latest Cheltenham Festival odds and free bet offers He was called up to the UFC after just one fight, which saw him dismantle his opponent in just 69 seconds. ‘The Beast Incarnate’ was then booked to face ex-UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir on his promotional debut in February 2008, but suffered a first-round submission defeat. Lesnar only had a one fight deal with the UFC, but begged White for another shot in his promotion before he took off and won a title. He got back on track with a decision win six months later, before knocking out MMA legend Randy Couture to become the UFC heavyweight champion after just four fights in the sport. Lesnar defended his strap twice against Mir and Shane Carwin, but lost it to Cain Velasquez at UFC 121 in October 2010. Rogan interviewed Lesnar several times in the UFCUFC Lesnar has not competed in the WWE ring since 2023Getty The 6’3” 300-pounder was then body-kicked into temporary retirement 14 months later by Overeem, before returning to the WWE. Lesnar rolled back the years in what would be his final fight in Dana White’s promotion when he defeated Hunt, before the bout was ruled a no-contest. Ahead of UFC 300 in April 2024, MMA fans had speculated that Lesnar, having fought at UFC 100 and UFC 200, would compete at the coveted event that was eventually headlined by Alex Pereira and Jamahal Hill. However, UFC CEO White shut down those rumours when he confirmed Lesnar was unlikely to fight in the UFC ever again. “I think Brock’s done,” White said. “I don’t think he ever comes back.” White later confirmed the status of his friendship with the UFC and WWE legend Lesnar. White said he considers Lesnar a friendGetty “I always had an incredible working relationship with Brock Lesnar,” he told FanNation. “It’s funny to say this because he’s such a grouchy dude, but I consider Brock Lesnar a friend.” Lesnar has since returned to the WWE but hasn’t competed since SummerSlam in August 2023. Nothing has been confirmed by the wrestling organisation owned by the TKO Group, who now also own the UFC, as to whether he will make a comeback soon. Lesnar has opted to spend his free time supporting his daughter, Mya, who is a track and field athlete at Colorado State University. Speaking on The Pat McAfee Show in 2022, Lesnar revealed that he did not expect to have a career in professional wrestling Although Lesnar has been wrestling since he was five, The Beast never expected to make a career out of itWWE “I started wrestling when I was five years old,” he said. “I grew up in Webster, South Dakota, on a dairy farm and wrestling was just a passion. “We didn’t watch TV, didn’t have [a TV], we worked and tried to make a living right. “I did not watch professional wrestling until I got to college. It was on in the dorms and all the guys would watch it in the congregational hall. “Monday
Joe Rogan believes Brock Lesnar had the potential to be an ‘all-time great’ in the UFC.
Rogan blamed Lesnar’s time with the WWE as one of the reasons for his lack of key mixed martial arts skills.
Lesnar started his combat sports career with the billion-dollar promotion, before transitioning to MMA and becoming the UFC’s heavyweight champion.
The now 47-year-old was part of MMA’s biggest league for three years from 2008, until Alistair Overeem kicked him into temporary retirement in 2011.
After going back to the WWE again in 2012, Lesnar returned for one final UFC bout in July 2016 at UFC 200.
Although he outpointed the prolific KO artist Mark Hunt over three rounds, the result was overturned to a no-contest when Lesnar tested positive for Clomiphene.
“I swear that if Brock Lesnar got into mixed martial arts right out of college,” Rogan explained on his popular podcast six years ago.
“Well, it went college wrestler right into training, if he really learned striking and learned slowly, like took some small fights. Really learned striking instead of spending all that time doing WWE, which I’m sure he made a f***load of money [from].
“I mean good for him. That’s all great and everything like that. But man, I think he could have been one of the all-time greats.
“I really do. He was a freak and a giant.”
Rogan later compared Lesnar to a ‘gorilla’ and a ‘viking’ during his brief spell with the UFC.
Lesnar transitioned to MMA in 2007 following a successful five-year period with the WWE, during which he became WWE Champion and headlined Wrestlemania.
talkSPORT BET: Latest Cheltenham Festival odds and free bet offers
He was called up to the UFC after just one fight, which saw him dismantle his opponent in just 69 seconds.
‘The Beast Incarnate’ was then booked to face ex-UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir on his promotional debut in February 2008, but suffered a first-round submission defeat.
Lesnar only had a one fight deal with the UFC, but begged White for another shot in his promotion before he took off and won a title.
He got back on track with a decision win six months later, before knocking out MMA legend Randy Couture to become the UFC heavyweight champion after just four fights in the sport.
Lesnar defended his strap twice against Mir and Shane Carwin, but lost it to Cain Velasquez at UFC 121 in October 2010.
The 6’3” 300-pounder was then body-kicked into temporary retirement 14 months later by Overeem, before returning to the WWE.
Lesnar rolled back the years in what would be his final fight in Dana White’s promotion when he defeated Hunt, before the bout was ruled a no-contest.
Ahead of UFC 300 in April 2024, MMA fans had speculated that Lesnar, having fought at UFC 100 and UFC 200, would compete at the coveted event that was eventually headlined by Alex Pereira and Jamahal Hill.
However, UFC CEO White shut down those rumours when he confirmed Lesnar was unlikely to fight in the UFC ever again.
“I think Brock’s done,” White said. “I don’t think he ever comes back.”
White later confirmed the status of his friendship with the UFC and WWE legend Lesnar.
“I always had an incredible working relationship with Brock Lesnar,” he told FanNation.
“It’s funny to say this because he’s such a grouchy dude, but I consider Brock Lesnar a friend.”
Lesnar has since returned to the WWE but hasn’t competed since SummerSlam in August 2023.
Nothing has been confirmed by the wrestling organisation owned by the TKO Group, who now also own the UFC, as to whether he will make a comeback soon.
Lesnar has opted to spend his free time supporting his daughter, Mya, who is a track and field athlete at Colorado State University.
Speaking on The Pat McAfee Show in 2022, Lesnar revealed that he did not expect to have a career in professional wrestling
“I started wrestling when I was five years old,” he said.
“I grew up in Webster, South Dakota, on a dairy farm and wrestling was just a passion.
“We didn’t watch TV, didn’t have [a TV], we worked and tried to make a living right.
“I did not watch professional wrestling until I got to college. It was on in the dorms and all the guys would watch it in the congregational hall.
“Monday Night Raw was on. I watched it for a bit and then I got recruited to the University of Minnesota.
“Next thing I know, I’m getting phone calls from the WWE and its like: ‘Well, that might be kind of cool’.”
And his journey reached its pinnacle when he ended The Undertaker’s 21-match undefeated WrestleMania streak in 2014.
