Spike TV repeats it's special about Brock today at 8:30pm, plus shows Brock's fights against Mir on several UFC Unleashed episodes today. Happy watching!
All credit to ESPN.com (for full interview go there):
Opinions on Nov. 21's Brock Lesnar-Shane Carwin meeting -- more demolition derby than fight considering their combined 500-something pounds -- aren't in short supply. But no observers have quite the same perspective as Ron Waterman, Carwin's high school wrestling coach and Lesnar's roommate during a development stint in a WWE training league.
ESPN: You and Lesnar spent a good deal of time together in Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), which was a developmental league for the WWE, around 2000-02. Did he ever discuss fighting with you then?
Waterman: I think he wanted to do it back then. We were both locked in to WWE contracts at the time. I had already fought in the UFC, and he said it was something he might want to do if wrestling didn't work out, down the line. Brock and I were pro wrestling, but we would train a lot, roll a lot, wrestle a lot, just to stay in shape. Shelton Benjamin, Brian Keck, other college wrestlers were there, too. We'd wrestle all the time. As big as he is, to be as strong and as quick as he is, it's amazing. He was close to 300 pounds and could do a standing back-flip. He was one of the only guys I've trained with that could take me down at will
ESPN: Who's stronger: Lesnar or Carwin?
Waterman: I think Brock would have to have the edge on physical strength. He probably walks around a little bit heavier than Shane. But it's not a huge difference. They're both extremely strong. I might give athleticism to Brock's side, but the technique to Shane a little more. He's come along with his ground and stand-up. He's got good submissions now.
ESPN: There's also debate over Lesnar's Division I honors and Carwin's Division II. Do you see much of a difference?
Waterman: At the time, when Shane was wrestling, there was not a huge difference. Both were national champions. I think they had a few similar opponents. I had Brock in town with me here in Greeley and I took him to the gym to train with me one day and Shane was there: I introduced them. This was six or seven years ago. They met for the first time. They were talking back and forth about Stephen Neal and other common opponents they had wrestled against. They had real similar outcomes.
ESPN: If you had to bet on who gets the first takedown, where does the money go?
Waterman: [long silence] It's really hard to say. If they come in to wrestle, Brock might get the first takedown. But if Shane plays his cards right and is looking to defend and keeping him away and setting it up with punching, I'd give it to Shane. It's a chess match. It's about who comes ready to play that day.
ESPN: You can approximate both guys fairly well. Are you going to train with either one?
Waterman: Shane is asking me to train with him for this fight, so I'll be training with him for the next two months. I have a fight with Lashley in November, so it's going to help me out as well. I think it'll help Shane. Brock and I have very similar fighting styles. We take opponents down, ground and pound, don't let them move, look for submission. That's basically what Brock's done: control opponents. That's my style. Having Shane train with me will be an advantage for him.
ESPN: Did anyone from Lesnar's camp try to reach you?
Waterman: No, I haven't heard anything from Brock's side.
ESPN: Back to you and Lesnar in OVW: Was it quiet, or did anyone ever want any trouble?
Waterman: It never happened. We just spent a lot of time together hanging out at the mall and going out to eat. No one had that much courage. There were a group of guys: Dave Batista, John Cena, Randy Orton, Mark Henry -- just a bunch of big freaks.
Brock Lesnar was in attendance at UFC 102 watching the fights at octagonside with Dana White. During the post-fight press conference Dana said: “Brock was excited. He was cheering for Randy. We’re all fans at the end of the day.”
If you listen closely towards the end of the Couture/Nogueira fight you could hear Lesnar sounding like he was giving Couture words of encouragement to see if he could make something happen as the buzzer sounded.
Lesnar was talking to White and attempting to negotiate another fight with Couture: “Brock was saying, ‘If Couture wins this fight let me fight Couture again!’ Dude, you’re alright fighting [Shane Carwin]. These guys are always wanting to be the matchmakers,” White explained. (credit: 5thround.com)