BROCK LESNAR: THE BEAST / PROFESSIONAL WRESTLER

The towering Webster, South Dakota, native leveraged his WWE superstardom to become the biggest box-office attraction in mixed martial arts. He conquered legends, won the UFC heavyweight championship, shattered pay-per-view records, and amassed millions in prize money. Despite his brief MMA career—spanning just nine fights and disrupted by a life-threatening battle with diverticulitis—Lesnar’s impact was undeniable. Now 42, he returned to a part-time role in WWE after his UFC 200 victory over Mark Hunt was overturned to a no contest due to a positive test for clomiphene.

With all signs suggesting that Lesnar’s MMA career has come to an end, here are five things you may not know about BROCK.

 

1. A Championship Pedigree Was Established Early.

Before stepping into the world of professional wrestling and MMA, Lesnar dominated as an amateur wrestler. He was a four-time collegiate All-American at Bismarck State College and the University of Minnesota, where he claimed the NCAA national championship in 2000. Across both programs, he amassed an astonishing 106-5 record before pursuing more lucrative opportunities.

2. His Collegiate Success Paved the Way for Superstardom.

Lesnar’s wrestling prowess caught the attention of the World Wrestling Federation, (now WWE), which signed him in 2000 and assigned him to its developmental system, Ohio Valley Wrestling, in Louisville, Kentucky. He made his main roster debut on March 18, 2002, and within three months, won the prestigious King of the Ring tournament, marking the beginning of his meteoric rise.

3. His WWE Achievements Are Nearly Unmatched.

Throughout his 18-year professional wrestling career, Lesnar cemented himself as one of WWE’s most dominant and recognizable figures. At SummerSlam on August 25, 2002, he became the youngest WWE champion in history at the time, defeating Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson at just 25 years old. Across five title reigns, Lesnar held the WWE championship for a combined 753 days, ranking sixth all-time behind Bruno Sammartino, Hulk Hogan, Bob Backlund, John Cena, and Pedro Morales.

4. He Briefly Pursued a Career in Professional Football.

In 2004, Lesnar put his wrestling career on hold to chase a lifelong dream of playing in the NFL, despite not having played organized football since high school. He signed with the Minnesota Vikings in July 2004 and saw action in preseason games before being released. Though he received an offer to play football in Europe, he declined the opportunity and shifted his focus back to combat sports.

5. His Rise in MMA Was Remarkably Fast.

Lesnar transitioned to mixed martial arts in 2007, making his professional debut against South Korean judoka Min Soo Kim under the K-1 Hero’s banner. He forced the Olympic silver medalist to submit in just 69 seconds. Four months later, he signed with the UFC, where he went 1-1 before earning a title shot against Randy Couture at UFC 91 on November 15, 2008. In just his fourth professional fight, Lesnar stopped Couture in the second round to become the UFC heavyweight champion. He successfully defended his title against Frank Mir and Shane Carwin before health complications and losses to Cain Velasquez and Alistair Overeem ended his MMA run, leading him back to WWE.