When former Division I collegiate wrestling heavyweight champion and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) superstar Brock Lesnar made the decision to compete in MMA, he set lofty goals. After his debut win over Kim Min-soo in K-1, Lesnar set his sights on the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

"I'm a fighter, and I believe that if somebody should be holding a belt in the UFC, it's Brock Lesnar," that's what the 31-year-old pro wrestler told in August 2007.

Lesnar debuted in the UFC against former heavyweight titleholder Frank Mir at UFC 81 and lost via kneebar in a fight he was dominating. "I've been in front of a lot of crowds, but the one thing I hadn't been in was the Octagon and fighting a former champion," commented Lesnar. "I put a lot of pressure on myself that first fight. I had more pressure on my first fight I think than I did this fight."

UFC President Dana White had reservations about bringing Lesnar into the UFC. "When Brock said he wanted to fight in the UFC, I told him, 'This isn't the place to learn how to fight. You should fight in smaller shows,'" White told the media during the UFC 87 post-fight press conference. "He wanted to come here and test himself against the best."

After Lesnar's performance against Heath Herring at the Target Center in Minneapolis, White admitted something he rarely admits. "I'll be honest, I didn't think he could come in here with no fights and compete at this level. He proved me wrong. He looked unbelievable... I'm very impressed and I think everyone else is too."

Following his first win in the UFC, Lesnar told the media, "I got really excited after I won. And I have every right to be. I came off a loss. And it was tough. I don't like to lose. And it feels good."

Lesnar dropped Herring early in the first round with a right hand. Questioned if he's been working on his striking, he answered, "I've been working on everything, not just the right hand. It's one of those things where we broke Heath Herring down. And the advantage we had in our camp was Heath didn't have any footage on me and we had everything on him. He was expecting me to shoot on him and I faked a shot, faked a jab, and came with the right hand and put it where I needed to put it."

Following his impressive victory some criticized Lesnar for his post-fight antics, comparing it to his pro wrestling days in the WWE. "That was just me. I was excited," stated the heavyweight fighter. "That was for Heath's camp because on the way out to the Octagon there was some things said before the fight. And I had the last laugh and the last words to say. That's all that matters to me.

"I may have went a little overboard," he added. "But I was having fun. You know? I like where I'm at and if I offended anybody, I'm sorry. Ah… not really."

With only three MMA fights, Lesnar hasn't shed that stigma of being a former professional wrestler despite the fact that several mixed martial artists also participate in pro wrestling matches in Japan.

"First and foremost, I'm an amateur wrestler," stated Lesnar. "I was in the entertainment business for four and a half years. I didn't forget who I was nor will I ever forget. I started wrestling when I was five years old. Nobody gave me anything in my entire life. I've had to fight for every damn thing that I've got and I'm proud of it. I'm proud to be here."

Lesnar admitted that two years ago he was at a crossroads in his career and didn't know what direction he'd end up going. But the former three times WWE Champion has found a place in the UFC. "I feel at home here. People bounce around from job to job their whole lives and never find a home. I feel like this is where I belong."

White appears to agree, "(Heath Herring's) fought the best fighters in the world. He got dominated… dominated by Brock Lesnar. Brock Lesnar is a mixed martial artist, no doubt about it."

Do you agree with him?

Former International Fight League (IFL) Welterweight Champion Jay Hieron has followed in the path of his Xtreme Couture teammates Mike Pyle and Chris Horodecki, announcing his intent to sign a one-year three-fight deal with Affliction MMA promotion.

Hieron last week told that he had offers on the table from EliteXC, UFC and Affliction, but the clothing company turned MMA promotion brought the best deal.

"They came and offered me what I thought I was worth, and I'm happy to be a part of it," he said.

Hieron and his lawyer are currently in due diligence with the contract, ironing out details of pay and exclusivity. He says he would like to test his skills overseas if the opportunity were there.

"I know I could definitely fight overseas, and I'm trying to see what we're doing entails in the States," he said.

The signing ends a two-month period of limbo for Hieron's career following the cancellation of the IFL's August 15 card at the Izod Center in New Jersey. He said he had heard rumors of the company's demise, but didn't take them seriously until the event was cancelled.

"I'm finally going to see where my career's going," he said. "Now I can just put my mind at ease and train and know I have a home. Get back to what I love doing, and that's competing."

Now, the search is on to find the welterweight division a worthy opponent. A quick survey of Affliction's welterweight ranks shows that the company needs to import more talent to keep Hieron busy in the next year. The only other notable fighter in the division is his Xtreme Couture teammate Mike Pyle, and that's not even an option for him.

Hieron said he has already begun training for October 11's event "Day of Reckoning" and should know more about his opponent soon.

Not before and not since Dan Henderson won Pride Fighting Championships 183-pound and 205-pound titles has a fighter in a major organization held two title belts in two weight classes simultaneously, but it appears the current UFC 155-pound champion, BJ Penn, will try to do that very thing as he sets his sites on the Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre later this year.

But what does that mean for the 155-pound weight class and the Lightweight Championship if Penn is off fighting for another title in a different division?

"BJ's not vacating the 155-pound title," according to UFC President Dana White following UFC 87 in Minnesota last weekend.

Of course this puts possibly the deepest weight class in all the UFC on hold for an indefinite amount of time as Penn and St. Pierre aren't likely to clash before late December and the lightweight title could be out of the picture until some time deep into 2009.

The reigning UFC Lightweight Champion feels confident in his abilities to defend both titles if he is able to defeat St. Pierre.

"I'm moving up to the welterweight division and moving down to defend the lightweight title," said Penn.

Kenny Florian, who defeated Roger Huerta at UFC 87, is most likely next in line to face Penn for the 155-pound crown, but he doesn't plan on waiting around for a title shot. Instead he will try to compete again later this year against a different opponent, but he's still not sold on Penn retaining the title the entire time.

"I know BJ's game plan is to win the Welterweight title and defend both belts at the same time. I don't know if Dana's going to allow him to do that," stated Florian. "If he beats GSP is he going to stay in the welterweight division? If he loses it's probably more probable that he'll go back to 155. So I don't know, there's a lot of 'ifs"."

"I want to stay busy. I need it for me for me for my game mentally, physically I want to stay busy. I think it's important. I want to keep making money, I want to keep fighting."

For the time being it appears set that Penn will hold onto the lightweight title while waiting to fight Georges St. Pierre and Florian will look for another fight this year.

Fedor Emelianenko greeted his fans last Tuesday at the new Affliction store in Los Angeles, California. The World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts (WAMMA) World Heavyweight Champion said that he's interested in fighting Randy Couture to keep competing in the highest level and to reward fans who have supported this sport. He also said that he has never said anything to insult the UFC President Dana White. "It's White's problems and he can go on living with whatever issues he has," said Fedor.

Furthermore, he said he likes Brock Lesnar very much. Although Fedor hasn't seen much of Lesnar's fights, he sees that Lesnar is physically very strong and is someone with a bright future and a lot potential in MMA career. Lesnar is a fight Fedor would be interested in and Lesnar would definitely be a worthy opponent for him.

Fedor also said that he doesn't think about anything before a fight. He usually frees himself of any emotion and thoughts that would complicate things. He paces back and forth to keep the blood flowing and not to get stagnant.

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