Jim Ross posted his latest blog on his website, discussing this weekend’s UFC 200 event, WWE Summerslam and much more. You can read a few highlights below:
Jim Ross comments on Brock Lesnar and Daniel Cormier’s wins at UFC 200:
Happy for both Brock Lesnar and Daniel Cromier winning their fights at UFC200. Both fought exactly the way they should against two, powerful strikers and that’s by essentially destroying the vertical base of each punch/striker and making their adversaries fight from underneath. Some fans might have found those styles to be too methodical but I didn’t and that strategy was spot on for both Brock and DC. Don’t allow strikers to stay standing and get in a comfortable groove which the two, wrestlers prevented from happening Saturday night.
DC overcame a miserable week after Jon Bones Jones failed a drug test that easily cost DC $1M+. Fighting Anderson Silva on two days notice can be an intimidating piece of business for any MMA fighter plus the live audience turned on DC to cheer for the veteran Silva who likely has only a handful, if that, of fights left in his career on a major level.
Lesnar looked beastly winning a unanimous decision over Mark Hunt who couldn’t stay upright long enough to land then necessary, heavy punches to disable the former WWE Champion. Lesnar was in magnificent condition while earning at least $2.5M for the night’s work with likely much more coming via pay per view bonuses. Brock made weight at 265 but looked to be back up to 280ish by fight time and was as agile and quick and athletic as I’ve seen hin in a good while.
Ross comments on what’s next for Lesnar, including facing Randy Orton at Summerslam:
I’d be shocked to hear that Lesnar was not going to fight again in the UFC. There are too many winners in this formula notwithstanding it creates a significant new, payday for Lesnar which keeps him happy, gets WWE a ton of global media stretch plus it creates a potential, organic storyline for WWE to utilize for Brock’s next WWE event after said, UFC fight. I’d keep any subsequent UFC fights for Brock away from Wrestlemania but where there is big money involved, deals can quickly be made and likey will be made.
Randy Orton is next for Lesnar at Summer Slam in Brooklyn August 20 in the sold out Barclay Center airing on the WWE Network. I’m curious to see how WWE sets this one up on TV and how, if any, that it may be impacted by the upcoming WWE Draft. There is no viable reason that Lesnar vs Orton shouldn’t be a terrific, in ring bout but that will be largely influenced by the build up to the match which is about episodic, compelling storytelling.
No, I’m not concerned about the number of Suplex City trips that RKO may go on in this main event level bout as some who have expressed such online. I could see Orton looking to debilitate Lesnar’s leg, for example, therefore making it more challenging for Brock to suplex Randy which is an easy and believable story to tell. Nonetheless there are multiple ways to structure a compelling pro wrestling presentation especially when dealing with two men as skilled as Brock Lesnar and Randy Orton. It was smart and strategic of WWE to announce this match ahead of UFC 200 as it was brought up endlessly throughout the build to Saturday night’s big event including post fight media.
