UFC 116 punch drunk preview
UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin Punch Drunk Preview After more than eight month of waiting, this event is finally here….
UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin Punch Drunk Preview
After more than eight month of waiting, this event is finally here. People have been waiting to see Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin step into the cage together since October, and now it’s coming to fruition. Of course, last weekend’s results up the ante even more; with Fabricio Werdum upsetting Fedor Emelianenko, the throne long occupied by The Last Emperor has been vacated, and one of these behemoths will stake their claim Saturday night.
Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-1-0, 1 NC) vs. Chris Leben (20-6-0)
Two weeks after impressing against Aaron Simpson, Chris Leben returns to the cage as a late replacement for Wanderlei Silva in the co-main event. The Crippler looked better than he had in some time in halting Simpson’s unbeaten streak, and he’ll need to be equally as good this time around against Akiyama.
While the Japanese judoka initially balked at the idea of facing the original Ultimate Fighter bad boy, Akiyama eventually agreed to face Leben. It’s a good thing too; Akiyama needs a win to prove the UFC’s investment was a worthy one, and a resurgent Leben is a good measuring stick.
Ultimately, this is a very similar match to the originally scheduled contest between Akiyama and Silva; Leben is basically a younger, more one-dimensional version of The Axe Murderer and Akiyama has to make a statement with this fight or risk being an overpriced bust in just two fights under the Zuffa umbrella.
Brock Lesnar (4-1-0) vs. Shane Carwin (12-0-0)
This fight is awesome and there is nothing more that I need to say. Awesome, and I can’t wait.