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The UFC's heavyweight division, across the promotion's 25 glorious years of existence, has showcased some of the sport's most elite fighters. The division of the big boys, over the years, has been sought after dearly by fans who relish a dosage of bludgeoning heavyweight action.
The UFC, in the past, and also very much in the present, have spoilt fans with some of the most mouth-watering match-ups in the 265-pound division.
There have been a plethora of champions in the lustrous history of the UFC, and one such individual who we will be closely associating with, in this article, is former UFC heavyweight champion, Brock Lesnar.
Brock Lesnar is an American professional wrestler and mixed martial artist, presently signed under the WWE and UFC banners. Lesnar has been a professional mixed martial artist only since as recent as 2006 but has never failed to make a grand appearance of himself, whether it was inside or outside the Octagon.
In this article, we will be taking a close look at some of Brock Lesnar's potential opponents, given his probable return to the sport, this year.
#7 Alexander Volkov
With a nickname like 'Drago,' there is no escaping the mere fact that Alexander Volkov is one among the better heavyweights of this era. Standing at 6 foot and 7 inches tall, this Russian mixed martial artist is as mean as they come! Being a professional fighter since 2009, Volkov has been a part of multiple fighting avenues such as M-1 Global, Bellator MMA, and of course, the UFC.
Alexander Volkov, although a semi-new prospect to the UFC, has had more cage-time experience than most fighters in the current heavyweight roster. Boasting a record of 30 wins, with just the exception of 7 losses, Volkov has taken on some of the best in the business such as Stefan Struve, Roy Nelson, and Timothy Johnson, straight to the cleaners.
With a superhuman reach of 81 inches and a kickboxer by early discipline, Alexander Volkov is one of the better and more sophisticated strikers in the sport. Brock Lesnar has, in the recent past, been flirting with the idea of a return to the UFC, and Alexander Volkov could very well be an ideal match-up for the South Dakotan All-American wrestler.
#6 Curtis Blaydes
When one thinks of promising, up and coming talent from the heavyweight directory, one thinks of none other than Curtis 'Razor' Blaydes. Currently ranked number four in the UFC's 265-pound rankings, Blaydes has displayed an impressive skill set ever since his maiden victory with the promotion against Cody East on October 1st, 2016.
Curtis Blaydes began his journey into the grand Coliseum of combat sports as a wrestler during his senior year in college, assembling an unprecedented amateur record of 44 wins and 0 losses. Before leaving school to pursue a full-time career in mixed martial arts, Blaydes secured the NJCAA National Championship as a red sophomore, thereby solidifying his 'A' game in wrestling.
Renowned for his obliterating takedowns, Curtis Blaydes first caught the attention of many during his UFC 221 co-main event against Mark Hunt. After being starched on multiple occasions, thanks to Hunt's undeniably competent striking prowess, Blaydes took matters to the ground by landing successive takedowns that eventually saw him as the winner via unanimous decision.
In the case of Brock Lesnar's return to the UFC, it will be interesting to see him go against a superior wrestler in the sport, such as Curtis Blaydes. Both these fighters have had immense success in taking their opponents to the ground before beating them into a pulp, and this could be where equal forces collide.
#5 Junior dos Santos
Running by the alias, 'Cigano,' former UFC heavyweight champion, Junior dos Santos, is an accomplished natural mixed martial artist from Brazil. Trained in the Capoeira and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu disciplines, dos Santos made his professional MMA debut at the age of 22. Making his way up the charts by winning six out of his first seven bouts, he matured into a champion fighter, representing some of the better-known Brazilian promotions such as Demo Fight, Extreme Fighting Championship, Minotauro Fights, and Mo Team League.
On October 25th, 2008, Junior dos Santos took the world by surprise by knocking former UFC heavyweight champion, Fabricio Werdum, just one minute and 20 seconds into the very first round. In lesser time than most people would imagine, dos Santos began rapidly clearing out the top contenders in the heavyweight division. With wins over the likes of Stefan Struve, Gabriel Gonzaga, Mirko Cro Cop, Cain Velasquez, and Stipe Miocic, dos Santos seemed to be carving out a legacy that many would remember and celebrate.
By definition of skill, dos Santos is a straight-forward fighter with equal expertise in more than one department of the sport. Although he is a fierce striker, with 14 of his total 20 wins coming by way of knockout, dos Santos has earlier been put to the test by wrestlers like Stipe Miocic and Cain Velasquez. Presently, dos Santos is on a two-fight win streak and looks hungrier than ever. A super fight against Brock Lesnar would be the perfect matchup not only for the fans but also, stylistically speaking.
#4 Francis Ngannou
Entering into the spectrum of martial arts as recent as about six years ago, Francis Ngannou has picked up the sport's essentials, at a staggering pace. Nicknamed 'The Predator,' this Cameroonian-French professional presently competes in the UFC's heavyweight division. A freak of nature by appearance, strength, and speed, Ngannou holds the world record for the hardest punch at a whopping 129,161 units.
At 26, after a failed attempt in becoming a professional boxer and barely making ends meet through odd jobs, Ngannou began training in MMA under the guidance of Didier Carmont, in August of 2013. After a few fights in the amateur setup, Ngannou earned his shot at a UFC professional debut match against Luis Henrique. He made the most of the opportunity handed to him by amassing six victories, on the trot, which subsequently translated into a championship title shot against former UFC heavyweight champion of the world, Stipe Miocic.
Leading up to his title fight, many believed that Francis Ngannou was, in fact, undermining Stipe's credibility as a champion. Ngannou suffered a fifth-round unanimous decision loss against Miocic and an almost immediate setback against Derrick Lewis at UFC 226. However, a recent rematch against Curtis Blaydes proved to be the source of redemption for Ngannou, putting him right back in the hunt for the championship gold. In the context of physical strength and brute, Ngannou seems to be another spectacular test for Brock Lesnar, considering his comeback into the sport.
#3 Stipe Miocic
Known for the most successful run as 'The Baddest Man On The Planet,' Stipe Miocic has defended the UFC heavyweight belt, as champion, a record number of three times. Being an American mixed martial artist from a Croatian decent, Stipe has been considered by many to be the greatest heavyweight champion in MMA and UFC history.
A wrestler by origin, Stipe is an NCAA Division I wrestler, with an avid boxing background. Initially representing the North American Allied Fight Series, an Ohio based MMA promotion, Miocic won six out of his first six amateur fights by knockout. In June of 2011, Stipe signed a multi-fight deal with the UFC and fought some of the best men in the division such as Roy Nelson, Mark Hunt, Fabricio Werdum, Alistair Overeem, and Junior dos Santos.
After a successful run as UFC heavyweight champion, an unfortunate loss against Daniel Cormier at UFC 226 set Stipe back in pursuit for the title. An immediate rematch against Cormier seemed like the right arrangement for Miocic, but the UFC had other plans of execution in mind. Standing at 6 feet and 4 inches tall, Miocic could pose as a formidable challenge to Brock Lesnar, taking into account that both fighters are former wrestlers. However, Miocic seems to have an added advantage with better striking abilities and an overall superior understanding of the sport.
#2 Daniel Cormier
Arguably one of the greatest light heavyweight champions of all time in the UFC, Daniel Cormier has been a great warrior for the sport. A heavyweight by build, Cormier has accomplished what most would consider a gamble - dropping down a weight class, and as a result, dropping down on the pack behind those punches. However, in the case of 'DC,' he has been a dominant champion in the 205-pound division by beating world-class talents like Dan Henderson, Anthony Johnson, and Volkan Oezdemir.
After a rather bizarre no-contest decision against Jon Jones at UFC 214, Cormier stepped up a division to begin his endeavors as a heavyweight in the UFC. He was set to fight the then-heavyweight champion, Stipe Miocic, for what was going to be a champion vs. champion matchup, slated for the headliner of UFC 226. To the shocking bewilderment of many MMA fans and critiques, Cormier finished Miocic in round number one with a heavy right-hand shot in the pocket, rocking the chin of the heavyweight champion of the world.
Following his heroic win against Stipe, Cormier made his first successful heavyweight title defense against Derrick Lewis at UFC 230, by submitting 'The Black Beast' on the ground with a grim rear-naked choke. With a recovering right hand, Daniel Cormier is awaiting a decision on his next fight. Although little is known about Cormier's monumental heavyweight championship clash against WWE superstar Brock Lesnar, that fight remains to be on the cards for a giant pay-per-view arrangement.
#1 Cain Velasquez
In the history of the UFC, there have been a number of heavyweight champions who have graced the Octagon with their ungodly talent. One such heavyweight, who is renowned for his power, might, and skill, is former UFC heavyweight champion, Cain Velasquez. A Mexican by origin, this American mixed martial arts legend is also a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and an NCAA Division I wrestler.
After his MMA debut on October 7th, 2006, Velasquez quickly moved from Strikeforce to the UFC by making his UFC debut on April 19th, 2008 against Brad Morris. He then went on to amass a 7-fight win streak in the UFC with wins against top-contenders in the division like Ben Rothwell and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
Following his last performance against Travis Browne, Velasquez took a temporary lay-off from the sport due to complications concerning bone spurs on his back. The former two-time heavyweight champion is now set to make a return to the UFC, thanks to his latest four-fight contract, starting with his UFC on ESPN 1 clash with 'The Predator,' Francis Ngannou, on February 17th, 2019.
Cain Velasquez has had a brief and rather horrific history with WWE mega-icon, Brock Lesnar. During their championship matchup at UFC 121, Velasquez dethroned Lesnar from his post as UFC's heavyweight champion, after creating a bloody mess of him. Velasquez and Lesnar have since not entered a clause for the rematch, but a second fight in the current context of the fight game will be an epic showdown of mass pay-per-view proportions.
