UFC 91: White says Lesnar's barrage on Couture 'crossed the line'

Issues raised at the post-fight news conference of UFC 91, where Brock Lesnar carried in his heavyweight championship belt four mixed martial arts fights removed from his stature as a World Wrestling Entertainment character and mused he’s still addressing inexperience issues:

“Inexperience has gotten me this far, though,” the 31-year-old former NCAA-champion wrestler said grinning.

Lesnar’s decisive right cross that landed behind the left ear of former champion Randy Couture, 45, sent the proud champion to the canvas, where Lesnar jumped on to deliver about 30 more blows.

Afterward, a German journalist asked the fighters how that scene qualified as sport, and Couture answered it was allowable under “rules of engagement” to be “eating leather,” as he put it. Lesnar dodged the issue.

Yet, earlier, UFC President Dana White said as he watched the barrage he thought, “The ref [Mario Yamasaki] was going, ‘Eh, is [Couture] OK?’ Mario was trying to give him time [to recover]. There’s a fine line between that and [allowing] too many punches. When I saw Randy go back down, I thought we had crossed that line.”

Keys to the outcome? Couture said it was Lesnar’s “go-go Gadget arms. It’s one thing to find guys who are big and heavy, another to find a guy with an 85-inch reach,” he said.

Lesnar suffered a cut over his right eyebrow seconds before scoring his winning TKO, and the blood was his own, not from a packet like those used in WWE.

“It made me a little nervous, but [upset him], I wanted first blood,” Lesnar said. “Something in my head went, ‘All right, we’ve got to pick this up,’ and we did.”

The victory was a redeeming moment for White, who took a chance with credibility by signing a WWE product but maintained Lesnar had potential beyond the failed MMA mission of YouTube-famous street-fighter Kimbo Slice with Elite XC.

“This guy’s far from Kimbo Slice,” White said.

“I don’t even know that guy [Slice],” Lesnar said.

--Lance Pugmire

Photo: Brock Lesnar delivers about 30 blows to Randy Couture. Credit: Eric Jamison / AP

Comments

[ric]

It simply amazes me how people have to be right at all costs, whether they actually are or not. Blood packets and "blading" have been used in wrestling entertainment for many a year. There...everyone's right, now get over it.

[John]

Why are you folks comparing UFC to the WWE? Fake vs. real. Period. WWE is entertainment, and those guys are athletes. I've watched it for years, but no longer do, however I still have respect for what they put themselves through. UFC is real. I'm older now so I watch things that are real. They do not relate to each other, period. Both are athletes and both are enjoyable to watch, but they should NOT be compared to.

[WWEISOFRLOSERS]

You are all idiots, the blood isnt real in "Wrastling" hahha what morons here, they use packets u dopes. You must all have star wars swords and carry your "Wrastling" belts around hahahahhahaha what idiots!

[DC]

The only time blood capsules or packets are used are either with "internal bleeding" injuries or when someone is "attacked" out of view of the crowd and left "bloody" to further story lines.

The idea of using blood packets when one is in the ring is beyond silly since if that we there case it would eventually wear off and you'd see there was no sort of injury. I'd argue that when prowrestlers get busted open these days it can be much more gruesome than anything in MMA (breaking bones aside but even then prowrestling has had its fair share of that too though on accident) seeing as they would likely stop the fight if someone was busted open like the late Eddie Guerrero was performing at Judgment Day 2004 or how even Vince McMahon was during a show, look it up. Also look up Joey Mercury taking a see-sawing ladder right to the face.

As much as MMA fans may hate it, both industries share the same roots in catch wrestling and still share various aspects even if one has gone a fixed, planned route and the other a supposedly legitimate sport. At least professional wrestling this days is admittedly fixed unlike boxing or the NBA.

[UFC-FORUMS.COM]

Brock was not even winding up when he was ground and pounding.

[Globetrotter]

I find it hilarious that all the comments on a UFC fight article are about whether real blood is used in pro wrestling or not. Who cares? The wrestling fans try so hard to defend their so-called "sport" yet everyone in the world knows it's pure choreographed entertainment and nothing more. There's nothing wrong with that, but call it what it is.

[Don't Clickhere]

I can hardly believe I am wasting precious momments of my life reading comments from people talking about blood packets and fake wrestling (The national sport for idiots).

Brock beat Couture hands down. Done.

He's not Kimbo "Spice", he's the champ now. Fair and square.

I look forward to him facing the winner of Nog vs. Mir.

[Burt Wright]

Let's get one thing clear up front. I think that Lesnar is an exceptional athlete, as are the vast majority of "Pro Wrestlers". I do NOT think pro wrestling is a sport. It is entertainment, but there is no competition. It is staged choreographed and in my "OPINION" completely absurd and ridiculous. Again, that's my opinion. Now as far as Lesnar being the champ, well of course he is. He won. He beat Randy after he hadn't fought a fight in a year and a half, he beat Randy at 45 years old. He beat Randy as Randy is going out of the sport and needed that one big pay day befor he retired. I find it somewhat disheartening that none of the MMA fans seem to care that Lesnar got a shot at the title after only 3 fights. Especially considering that he lost the only fight against a worthy opponent that he'd faced. I had no doubt in my mind that Lesnar was going to win. This entire BS paper fight smelled to high heaven as soon as it was mentioned. I am disgusted with Dana White and the management of UFC at this point. I believe that they are quickly on there way to Boxing status with these contrived fights and set up bouts. It's really sad. I wish such a fantastic sport could remain pure but I guess with so much money at stake, that is a bit unrealistic. That brings me to my next point. UFC invested tons of money in Lesnar. All the promoting and hoopla cost millions. I stagger to think what they payed Lesnar up front. What better way to get at least some of that cash back? I have an idea, let's put him on the big stage with a legend, enter "Randy Couture". What better way to get Randy the rest of the money they owed him from the defunct contract? I have another idea, put him in with the Biggest Freaking Marketing Ploy that MMA has seen yet. As for the ridiculous thought that blood packs have never been used in pro wrestling. Honestly? I mean really guys, do you really think that ? If you do, you need to go back to the 8th grade and get your money back b/c you got robbed. Blading, Gaffing, biting, and just plane old getting busted open is I'm sure a very common thing in such a rough stage show, but blood packs, well that's just common sense man.

Damian . Honestly you don't have to believe me at all. However, I did run a haunted house for the children in my neighborhood for Halloween and two separate times I was given a large assortment of blood packs by Jake "The Snake" Roberts.

[Burt Wright]

I just have to ask for my own amusement. How old are you guys and what part of the country do you claim as home?

[JonBoy]

Anyone who thinks Lesnar's blows to Couture "crossed the line" might also recall that Lesnar himself was caught in a similar situation in the only UFC fight he has lost so far. He was risking getting his leg permanently damaged and trying to tap out and the ref just stared at Lesnar's frantically tapping instead of immediately stopping the fight. Lesnar had a lot of words for the ref in a later interview, and for good reason. That's one that went too far, and "crossed the line." So, where was the big fuss from this author when that happened?