10 Things You Need To Know About Brock Lesnar's UFC 200 Return
9. Lesnar Has More To Lose Than Many Think
If WWE has little to gain, what about Brock Lesnar? And what is he risking by returning to the sport of mixed martial arts?
As he tends to be just about anywhere, Lesnar is a polarizing figure. In the MMA world, many see him as a man who walked in off the street with just raw talent, a wrestling background, and freakish athletic ability that carried him to a UFC championship. They see unfulfilled potential, or what could have been - had he started his MMA training earlier, or had diverticulitis not cut his fighting career short.
Then there are those who cannot get past his pro wrestling stigma. They feel he was just in it for the money, that he didn't have the heart, and look down on him for returning to the WWE.
Whereever you fall, the reality is this: Brock Lesnar's legacy rests on the edge of a knife. He is tied as the longest-serving UFC heavyweight champion in terms of title defenses, with two. However, as a pro fighter, he has a 5-3 record, hardly something to write home about. Many have debated, in recent years, whether he belongs among the UFC heavyweight greats.
Then there's his credibility in the WWE. His wrestling persona is so closely tied to his UFC run that a loss today could detract from his image in the squared circle. Fans have forgotten Lesnar's final UFC losses - they may not forget a fresh one.