UFC is Better Without WWE Sideshow Brock Lesnar

The fight game has and always will be about numbers and dollar signs. So in that sense, when Brock Lesnar decided to re-sign with the World Wrestling Entertainment instead of rekindling his MMA career with the UFC, it was undoubtedly a blow to the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s bottom line.

Lesnar set pay-per-view records for the UFC when he marched through the heavyweight division to become champion and the organization is desperately looking for another big name to wave the company flag. Lesnar could certainly have done that if he did return to the UFC.

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Would it have been worth it down the road though?

While the UFC tries to separate itself from pro wrestling at every turn, it has been happy to adopt some of the WWE’s biggest stars. CM Punk was the latest big WWE name to turn from pro wrestling to MMA. He hasn’t been scheduled for a UFC fight yet and likely won’t enter the octagon for months, but when he does, WWE fans will tune in.

If he wins, the UFC has a storyline to work with and can really begin building his brand. But the fact that Punk is even employed by the UFC has already angered MMA purists and veteran fighters. Of course, the signing was purely to boost ratings and the UFC can’t be faulted for that from time to time.

The issue is, with icons like Georges St. Pierre out of the picture and Anderson Silva in hot water for PEDs, the temptation to latch onto these quick fixes is increasing. The UFC has at least a couple of events every month now and needs bodies – and preferably big names – to fill those cards.

That said, every time the UFC promotes a name over the sport’s quality it loses a true fan. Now, Lesnar proved his worth in the octagon, but he hasn’t been in a real fight since 2011 and is already 37 years old with serious health concerns. Is he really the type of guy the UFC ought to be chasing?

Instead of throwing a pile of money at Lesnar, the UFC would be much better off promoting the talent it already has and trying to sign elite fighters from rival MMA organizations. You know, guys who are actually fighting and not acting in Speedo-clad soap operas.

Like in many things, short-term fixes often turn out to be just that. Have fun screaming into a mic in your underwear, Brock. The UFC is better without you.