Five Reasons Why Brock Lesnar Will Destroy Mark Hunt

The mixed martial arts (MMA) world was stunned when the UFC announced last weekend (June 4, 2016) that former heavyweight champion and current WWE wrestler Brock Lesnar would be making his return to the Octagon at July 9’s UFC 200 from The T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The masses were even more surprised when Lesnar himself announced that he would be taking on No. 8-ranked slugger Mark Hunt in the co-main event of the blockbuster pay-per-view (PPV).

After nearly five years away from the sport, many had expected Lesnar to be booked against a lower-ranked opponent. Instead, however, he was thrown to the wolves, and will be facing off with perhaps the division’s most feared puncher. “The Super Samoan” possesses a decorated kickboxing background, and still has some gas left in the tank at age 42 as he’s compiled a winning streak that features back-to-back brutal knockouts.

With that being said, it’s understandable why many are picking Hunt to put Lesnar away at UFC 200. However, it’s also interesting to flip the script and look at the fight from another angle for a moment.

Let’s take a look at five reasons why Brock Lesnar just might destroy Mark Hunt next month.

Lesnar’s Wrestling Background

In my opinion, this is the most obvious reason as to why Lesnar may get the job done.

Hunt is a legendary striker; there’s no question to it. He may be the very best striker in the heavyweight division, and his knockout power speaks for itself.

If the fight stays on the feet, Lesnar could find himself in a whirlwind of trouble, but fortunately for the former champion, he prefers to take the fight to the ground.

Lesnar, a former NCAA Division I champion, possesses a decorated wrestling background, and is known for using this skillset in the Octagon to drag opponents to the canvas before unloading a brutal barrage of ground and pound.

Hunt’s takedown defense percentage isn’t bad, but he’s simply not the best wrestler. He was repeatedly taken down and battered by current champion Stipe Miocic when the two met in May 2015, and it could be argued that Lesnar’s wrestling is superior to Miocic’s, or at least it was, as it’s hard to tell where the ex-champion is currently at after the layoff.

Anyway, if Lesnar is able to get the fight to the ground, which I suspect he will be, Hunt could be in serious trouble.

Strength/Explosiveness

Despite Hunt’s advantage in power striking, Lesnar will undoubtedly be the bigger, stronger, and more explosive man.

The former champion is simply a monstrous human being, and this raw power could be difficult to deal with for Hunt.

If Lesnar is able to use these traits to essentially ‘bully’ and ‘rag doll’ “The Super Samoan,” it could be his fight to lose. Lesnar should look to pressure Hunt up against the cage and fight in close corners, as well as implement the use of explosive takedowns.

Hunt is a somewhat small heavyweight at 5’10,” as opposed to Lesnar, who stands 6’3″, and this size discrepancy could be a difficult one to overcome for the former K-1 champion.

Top Game

Piggy-backing off of our two previous reasons is Lesnar’s dominant top game.

His wrestling and strength should land him on top of Hunt on the ground, and if this ends up being the case, I just don’t see “The Super Samoan” having an answer.

Lesnar’s ground and pound is stifling and absolutely brutal, to say the least. He also showed hints of a submission game from the top in his previous tenure in the Octagon.

Hunt isn’t typically known for his grappling, and he doesn’t have much of a submission game off of his back

Having Lesnar on top of him will be a whole different story, and if it comes to this, I don’t see Hunt getting back up.

Reach Advantage

I’ll be the first to say that Lesnar isn’t the world’s greatest striker. In fact, with no disrespect intended, I’d go as far as to say that he’s an awful striker at best. The towering giant was just never able to grasp the technique to throwing crisp combinations.

With that being said, Hunt clearly owns the striking advantage, and by a gigantic margin. “The Super Samoan” holds a lifetime of experience, and his knockout power is simply something from another universe.

However, it’s hard to knock out what one can’t hit, and Lesnar will hold a significant reach advantage. Lesnar has a reach of 81 inches as opposed to Hunt’s 74-inch reach.

We have seen “The Super Samoan” take out taller, longer fighters in the past, but if Lesnar is able to utilize his reach effectively, he could eliminate Hunt’s strongest weapon.

Lesnar should look to fight from a distance where he’ll be able to execute crisp takedowns, and perhaps even land a powerful shot of his own.

If he can do this, he’ll put himself in a position for success.

Athleticism

On top of all of our previous reasons is Lesnar’s athleticism.

Despite having not fought in five years, and being an aging competitor at 38, Lesnar is simply a freak athlete. He always has been.

It’s rare to find a man of Lesnar’s stature, a man who packs the amount of strength, size, and explosiveness that he does, also possess the quickness, and speed that does. In terms of pure athleticism, Lesnar undoubtedly ranks amongst the best athletes to have ever stepped in to the Octagon.

If the former heavyweight champion can polish up on his skills, and employ an intelligent game plan, his raw attributes should aid in propelling him towards victory.

The Beast Incarnate may just turn some heads at UFC 200.