Bad Boys 3

The UFC hyped up this past weekend's UFC 100 as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, MMA pay-per-views EVER. It didn't disappoint with the main event, Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir II, ending with Lesnar beating Mir like he stole something and then borrowing a page from his WWE days by going out of his ways to infuriate the crowd and even one of UFC's top sponsors. Now, the unified heavyweight champion of the world, Lesnar has established himself as one of the company's top draws while also building up his reputation as the emerging sport's top bad guy. However, after pummeling Mir, the question that is no doubt being raised amongst MMA fans is simple: Now what? The dream scenario for UFC pit boss Dana White would be putting Lesnar against the man seen by many to be the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world, Fedor Emelianenko. While an Emelianenko-Lesnar match might equal or surpass the numbers that UFC drew this past Saturday, there's another intriguing opponent that could bring the UFC the kind of national attention that might make them a threat to American sports' Big Three(NFL, MLB, NBA):



Iron. Mike. Tyson.



Let's be honest with ourselves here. When MMA started to generate serious attention from the sports fans and sports media, we all at least pondered the possibility of Iron Mike establishing a second career in the Octagon. For one, he's the biggest boxing draw of the last 40 years. Second, his punching power, raw aggressiveness and borderline psychotic demeanor makes him, at the very least, an interesting prospect for MMA. Sure, Tyson's 43 years old and has spent the last few years on the Jessica Simpson Diet, but he's also a devastating puncher in dire need of steady cash flow and if 48-year old Ray Mercer can knock out former UFC heavyweight champ Tim Sylvia in nine seconds, Tyson would have at least a puncher's chance against Lesnar. It also gives Tyson the rare opportunity to be the good guy, as most(if not all) MMA fans tend to despise Lesnar for his unsportsmanlike antics and immature behavior. While UFC doesn't garner the type of paydays Tyson is accustomed to(Lesnar reportedly made $400K for UFC 100, not including sponsor money), that could change if Tyson commits himself to once again becoming a nationwide superstar.



As for Lesnar, no fighter currently in the MMA world(not even Fedor Emelianenko) can provide the type of buzz that a match-up with Mike Tyson can provide. The name Mike Tyson is sure to bring out all the old boxing fans who have been on hiatus while boxing has taken a downward spiral and given the styles of both fighters(Tyson the classic hard-charging brawler, Lesnar a ground-and-pound wrecking ball), it will no doubt perk up the ears of even casual fans. It also would give Lesnar a opportunity to test what some have called a "suspect chin". While Tyson clearly isn't the whirlwind of chaos that he once was(at least not inside the ring), he still packs one of the hardest punches on the face of the planet and Lesnar's ability to take some shots from Iron Mike will go a long way to his still-blossoming career. Plus, there's the opportunity to further rub salt in the eyes of fight fans by dispatching one of the greatest boxing legends of all time. Given Lesnar's affinity for verbally disparaging opponents and igniting the crowd with his arrogant, vulgar brand of instigation, it would be entertaining to see how Lesnar would call out Tyson at the end of his fights(assuming he continues to win) and further promote this dream fight.



Now, for why the UFC would be interested. Obviously, there's the chance to bring Tyson to the Octogon, which has been something diehards have been pressing White to do for years. Also, what better way to put the final nail in the coffins of boxing and pro wrestling than reaping the benefits of a fight that puts arguably the most popular and enigmatic boxer of the last 30 years against one of the greatest former WWE superstars of this generation? With pro wrestling already struggling to draw fans to their current PPVs, it would be almost impossible for them to match a main event with the kind of hype of Lesnar-Tyson(Side note: Reportedly, the best the WWE has been able to do in terms of PPV buys was just over 1.2 million for Wrestlemania 23. A number that UFC could easily smash with Lesnar vs. Tyson as well as an undercard featuring stars like Georges St. Pierre). The big risk, of course, would be the possibility of Tyson winning and then, much like he did during his boxing career, losing motivation and reducing himself back into to being a Grade A headcase. The UFC would have then sacrificed its biggest heavyweight cash cow to put all its eggs in the withered basket of Mike Tyson. There's also the obstacle of Tyson's contract demands. As the bigger draw of the two and someone in financial straits, Tyson would require an unheard of amount of money to convince him to get off his couch and get pounded on by a man nearly half a foot taller and nearly 40 pounds heavier(assuming Tyson comes in around his boxing weight of about 220)



That being said, White has been known to take risks when building his brand. The publicity and revenue for a fight of this magnitude might be too large for White to pass up(especially if Lesnar were to win). With Tyson's name back on people's tongues after his small role in The Hangover and also being on the cover of EA Sports' Fight Night Round 4, the time to strike on a deal to lock down Tyson might never be better than right now. With Lesnar earning critical acclaim after his dismantling of Mir(granted as UFC's biggest jerk), this might be the only time that both men have a substantial amount of national relevance at the same time. Lesnar. Tyson. White. It's America's Most Wanted.....so LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE!!!!

---Dave