Joe Rogan Admits Brock Lesnar ‘Pulled Off’ the Perfect Revenge Against UFC Legend Frank Mir

“If I were Gable Steveson, I’d go to WWE first. I’d build my name there because WWE wants him just as much as the UFC does. I’d go to WWE first,” stated UFC veteran Daniel Cormier in 2021. He shared his thoughts on what he would do if he were in the shoes of NCAA star champion Gable Steveson, advising the 24-year-old to follow the “Brock Lesnar approach.” That approach, taken over 17 years ago, significantly changed the landscape of MMA.

At the time, no one had successfully made the leap from professional wrestling to the Octagon at such a high level. However, in October 2007, a historic moment in combat sports took place in Cincinnati when the UFC signed WWE star Brock Lesnar. The move made perfect sense—the Minnesotian was already a global sensation with a massive fan base. Furthermore, at 30 years old, he became the first WWE fighter to sign with the UFC, opening the door for future crossover athletes like Ronda Rousey, CM Punk, and Shayna Baszler.

Seizing the opportunity, Brock Lesnar quickly rose to prominence in the promotion. Eventually, he even avenged his initial defeat against former heavyweight champion Frank Mir, solidifying his dominance. Fast forward to today, and Lesnar’s UFC career remains a topic of discussion. On an episode (#2296) of JRE podcast, Joe Rogan and his guest, Big Jay Oakerson, revisited this historic moment. During their conversation, they specifically discussed Frank Mir’s injury and recovery. Reflecting on Mir’s return to the Octagon, Oakerson recalled, “Then he came out and fought Brock.”

Joe Rogan affirmed, “Right, he was like… right away. Yep, he fought Brock. Knee, knee bar. That was all after the accident.” Building on this point, Oakerson remarked, “Man, the UFC really has straightened out your belief in other people from other sports saying, ‘I can come to do, uh, mixed martial arts.'” In response, Rogan praised Lesnar for successfully transitioning to MMA and securing his redemption against Mir, stating, “Very few could ever pull it off, but Brock pulled it off.”

Indeed, Brock Lesnar was one of the few fighters then to successfully make such a leap. In their rematch, he avenged his loss to Mir and defended his heavyweight title at UFC 100. The Canada native had initially captured the belt by defeating then-champion Randy Couture at UFC 91, proving he was more than just a crossover star. However, in 2009, diverticulitis sidelined him for almost a year, temporarily halting his meteoric rise. Upon his return, Lesnar faced interim champion Shane Carwin in a high-stakes unification bout, securing victory to become the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion.

Yet, after that win, Brock Lesnar was never quite the same. In his next fight, Cain Velasquez dismantled him, stripping him of the title. Battling ongoing health issues and struggling in subsequent matchups, Lesnar eventually stepped away from the sport. However, in 2016, he made a brief but highly anticipated comeback against Mark Hunt at UFC 200. Initially, he won decisively, but the result became a no-contest after Lesnar tested positive for a banned substance. That incident marked the final chapter of his MMA career, as he ultimately bid farewell to the sport for good.

Brock Lesnar shared an authentic perspective on his UFC journey

Brock Lesnar not only established himself as a global fan favorite, making an impact in a short amount of time, but also secured a place among the UFC’s top 10 highest-paid pay-per-view fighters. Over the course of his UFC career, the webster export headlined six events and participated in eight pay-per-view bouts, earning him a reputation as one of the highest-paid athletes of that era. According to Bloody Elbow, Lesnar earned $11 million between his fights with Alistair Overeem and Mark Hunt. Despite these impressive earnings, however, Lesnar still felt underpaid for his MMA efforts.

In a candid discussion about his financial expectations, Brock Lesnar opened up on The Pat McAfee Show, admitting, “Dana’s all right. I’ve got a lot of money from him. I probably should have got paid more, maybe.” Lesnar originally signed a one-fight deal, and after a setback with a loss to Frank Mir at UFC 81, he feared the promotion might cut him loose. Reflecting on that period, he recalled, “I was so mad at myself. It just built another thing that people ram down your throat and say you can’t do something. Love those people. Love them. I get goosebumps for that. I had a one-fight deal, and I was like, ‘Please give me another shot at this.’ Boom, then it took off.”

Now, in retirement, Brock Lesnar is focusing on spending quality time with his family. Yet, according to MMA pundits, had Lesnar started his MMA career earlier, with his background as an NCAA champion, he could have been even more dominant in the sport. What do you think? Share your thoughts below.