Issue 132

September 2015

MMA’s history retold through FO's archives, featuring September 2010. Five years ago, Brock Lesnar battled through adversity for the defining moment of his MMA career

When the September 2010 issue of Fighters Only was published, we were still recovering from a breathtaking clash of behemoths for the sport’s biggest prize. These athletes were a different breed to the more streamlined champions of modern MMA. Five years ago, giants walked the earth.

The UFC 116 championship clash featured the two biggest bucks around: Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin. Both had to cut down to make the 265lb weight limit. It was billed as literally the biggest battle for the heavyweight belt in history.

But the story of the fight went deeper than just size statistics. Lesnar was returning after a year out, ravaged by bouts of mono and diverticulitis. There were doubts about his ability to stand up to the 5XL-fisted assault from a man who had finished all 12 of his career fights to that point.

At first, it looked like those concerns were well founded. Carwin dropped the former pro wrestler and unleashed a salvo of ground ‘n’ pound to earn a 10-8 opening round. The champ was beaten bloody, but survived to take to his stool and prepare for round two.

Carwin, however, was spent. He’d gassed after the exertion of his opening round assault. Lesnar proved he’d recovered from the ravages of illness and had serious heart by fighting through five minutes of adversity. Then, in what FO labeled a “measured and mature display,” he took the fight to the floor and used his incredible strength to force a tap with a vise-like arm triangle choke.

The crowd inside the sold-out MGM Garden Arena went nuts as the belt was wrapped around Lesnar’s waist – a complete turnaround from the hate he’d received for his villainous antics following his previous fights. 

His reign would only last until his next outing, however, when a young, athletic, relentless destructive force by the name of Cain Velasquez mugged him for the title. But back in the summer of 2010, Brock was definitely the baddest man on the planet.

Suga not so sweet

Fresh from a long-awaited grudge match victory over Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson, cover star Rashad Evans was happy to wait in the wings for Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua to heal up for a 205lb title showdown. However, fate can be a cruel mistress, and the TUF 2 winner’s own injury woes opened the door for then teammate Jon Jones to swoop in and take the strap. The closest Evans has been to gold since was his wide decision loss to former friend ‘Bones’. 

On deadly ground

Deep from the bowels of the Black House gym, FO reported how a bond between Sensei Steven Seagal and Anderson Silva had been formed. The aged Aikido expert visited California to impart some martial arts wisdom. We laughed at the time, but just a few months later the Under Siege star claimed responsibility for teaching ‘The Spider’ the devastating front kick that KO’d Vitor Belfort at UFC 126. The Brazilian later distanced himself from the claims, but Seagal had some people going for a while. 

Nostradammaus: lights out

Ahead of James Toney’s freak-show, ‘boxing vs. MMA’ fight with Randy Couture at UFC 118, Fighters Only said it would be “unthinkable” that the former lineal boxing middleweight champion would be able to compete with the Octagon legend. We didn’t even give him a puncher’s chance. And we were right. It took little more than three minutes for ‘The Natural’ to take Toney down, wax him up like a chump and choke him out.