Brock Lesnar and Cain Velasquez, take to Spike TV for "Primetime"
By: Brian Lopez-Benchimol Posted On: September 3, 2010 at 11:46am
When current heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar and top contender Cain Velasquez meet, it will be one of the biggest events of the year. The dynamic of Lesnar, who has seemed every bit of champion material with two title defenses under him, and Velasquez has sparked the interest of many MMA observers–but the interest apparently hasn’t peaked yet.
Lesnar, who was last seen in action in a successful title defense against juggernaut and alleged steroid-user Shane Carwin at ufc 116 this past July, will meet the undefeated wrestling phenom from the American Kickboxing Academy in a heavyweight clash this October for UFC 121, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
The two are now officially tapped for the Spike TV special, for “UFC: Primetime“, a series which has carefully selected key bouts, beginning with UFC 94: BJ Penn vs Georges St. Pierre II.
Most recently, Spike and the UFC brass opted for the light heavyweight grudge match against former champions Rashad Evans and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 114 last May–which to date, has pulled in the largest audience with 1.2 Million average viewers (0.9 overall)
The special is much like the popular Countdown series the UFC produces, however takes a much more intimate look at the main-event fighters, including daily routines and their everyday lives in the waning days before the fight.
A monster like Lesnar, and a soft-spoken killer like Velasquez is sure to be a ratings success for the series, which I’m sure Spike and the Zuffa brand are banking on.
As a headliner, Brock has translated into the PPV market with extreme success. At UFC 91, which marked his first inception as top-billing for a PPV card, he has performed well into the 1 million buy rate. According to Dave Meltzer of Yahoo! Sports, the former NCAA champion raked in just over 1 million for UFC 91, 1.6 million at UFC 100, and most recently at UFC 116 this past July–between 1.05 and 1.28 million.
Undoubtedly, the head honchos are hoping the numbers here will translate with the show, and vice-versa.
The first episode of the three episode series is set to begin October 6 at 11 p.m., and will run it’s course until October 20, an episode per week for three weeks–leaving it just one day before the October 21st show.
So, MMA peeps, how do you feel about the “Primetime” selection? Pretty good, I must say. Lesnar actually declined duties to go “Primetime” with Shane Carwin, but has seemingly warmed up to the idea this time around. Let your opinions known below.
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Comments
That is some great news there. I’m a fan of both fighters. Brock has improved his fan status by actually showing how a true champion defends his belt! Cain is an under dog in this fight. I don’t under estimate him though because he is faster than Shane & Brock. I’m rooting for Cain in this one. I know it is a long shot but anything can happen in the UFC & in the NFL & in the NBA… whatever. It’s going to be sick nonetheless. Peace!
STEROIDS-BOYCOTT-STEROIDS-BOYCOTT-STEROIDS-BOYCOTT
Brock Lenar folds like a bully on a playground. One punch to the face and he flounders on the floor like a fish, pathetic. I hope all of you that paid to see this finally have a reality check on hype and sports in general. Losers who would be nothing in life taking steroids trying to fake us out that they are something. Just download the fight on Pirate Bay, and don’t waste your money.
I want to see the best and the UFC does not promote that, just hype. Who has the best name (5-2) record for brock, really? I think they should go back to tough man contests where there was a tier system. Anyone can fight. First level of 100 is split in groups of two, and they fight it out. Next day the fifty of less survivors pair off, and so on and so forth. This would seperate the men from the boys real quick. Dana White better open up the UFC to more talent because his side show is a joke now. Some people with money need to open up another organization, and that goes for other sports as well. I am tired of the monopolies.
Lesnar was off of steroids for a couple of years and look, Cain Valasquez kicked his ass. I was the only one in the whole bar that predicted that. Cain has great cardio at peaks at 167 bpm like an athlete should. This is what I have been talking about when it comes to steroids. Check my previous post below. Steroids is making UFC a joke, and needs to be cleaned up. I would like to see Cain vs. another Cain ranked athlete, and not a bunch of Fake Wrestling Steroid Rejects.
Done with MMA, Football, Baseball, Hockey, Basketball
I am tired of all the cheaters and steroids. If a sport cannot do olympic style blood and urine testing for hgh, steroids, etc, then they are not going to get my money. Look at baseball. Even though the sport is boring and has many problems, steroids killed baseball’s revenue. I see the empty stands and see how cameras try to manipulate seating shots to make it appear there is a full stadium. A real man stands on his own two feet for what he is and struggles to change his weaknesses into strengths, not cheat with steroids. All those mma cheaters are just a bunch of losers, and regardless of the media hype or money thrown they will always look like that in everyone’s eyes, period. Why don’t I give everyone a bat who didn’t take steroids to even the playing field. Americans know their “pro” sports are tainted, and we don’t need to wait for congress to fix you. Everyone speaks of mma like it is a circus rather than a sport because of all the controversy. You are going the same route as fake wrestling or strongman competitions that make no money because of steroid losers. It is cause and effect. Less fans, less attendance at other venues like bars, means less money for all businesses around. Regulate steroids before it destroys your source of income. I know I am not going to any events until you fix this crap.
List of just MMA Steroid Cheaters, some are still with their organizations after a slap on the wrist.ex Chris Leben
JOSH BARNETT (now with strikeforce), TIM SYLVIA, KIMO LEOPOLDO, NATE MARQUARDT, VITOR BELFORT, STEPHAN BONNAR, PAWEL NASTULA, KIT COPE, JOHNNIE MORTON, ROYCE GRACIE, JORGE ORTIZ, PHIL BARONI, SEAN SHERK (still with UFC), HERMES FRANCA, ANTHONY TORRES, BILL MAHOOD, ADAM SMITH, JASON WINTHERS, RUBEN VILLAREAL, DENNIS HALLMAN, ALEXANDER CRISPIM, CARINA DAMM, ALEXANDRE NOGUEIRA, ANTONIO SILVA, EDWIN DEWEES, CHRIS LEBEN (still with UFC), KIRILL SIDELNIKOV, KEN SHAMROCK, JOSH BARNETT, COLE PROVINCE, CHAEL SONNEN (still with UFC), SHANE CARWIN (not caught but federal link to purchase of steroids).
Really, you cheat, you get another chance, BS!!!
For everyone who supports steroid use, I don’t know what to say. You are either born a man or not, and compensating by drugs pretty much answers those questions. Everyone can see when most anyone really abuses steroids, and notes records broken, and people dying of cancer early. I hope those that support it take it and die from the stuff so the rest of us can enjoy this rock with a few less losers on it.
Piss tests are not good enough because any cheater can use a catheter and fill his bladder with whatever at any time. The testing is also not that costly, for blood and urine, so that argument don’t fly with me either. Also sports need to publicly state who was on what whenever they fail a test. Football and baseball keep their information private other than announcing a failed PED. I hear about a steroid user and I boycott and bad mouth.
Dana White you are a DOUCHE
Army of Darkness