Photo by Tracy Lee/Yahoo Sports

Former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar took a lot of criticism for the way he reacted once he got hit hard by Shane Carwin and he faced the same type of criticism after his fight with Cain Velasquez, although to a lesser degree.

Even though Lesnar was able to pull out the win against Carwin, the image of him retreating against the cage and covering up after eating a few shots is one people remember (maybe even more than the victory).

On the most recent episode of The Aftermath, a fan wrote in and asked Lesnar if he has been learning how to take a punch and even suggested he bring in some pro boxers to help fix the issue.

Lesnar responded:

“Obviously as a fighter you want to keep continuing to evolve, and I think as my fights have evolved I have faced guys with better boxing skills and it’s an area I definitely need to work on. As far as learning… I don’t know if you ever get used to taking punches, but that’s not the problem. The problem is all my other assets have been farther ahead of the game and this is one we’re going to have to keep lagging along and not get frustrated and understand I got to get better.”

The Aftermath host Stephan Bonnar pointed out that contrary to popular belief, he does not like to get hit either. Junior dos Santos also agreed with the sentiment.

Lesnar says the problem is not that he is not used to getting hit, it is just that the other aspects of his game are so much more evolved than his stand-up.

Is this the way you see it too ProMMAnow.com readers, or is Lesnar missing the point?

10 thoughts on “Brock Lesnar on learning how to take a punch”
  1. Humans have 2 typical (instinct) reactions. Fight or flight.
    Brock had a brief episode of flight because he was hurt, and instinct kicked in. He over came that and won the fight. The ability to over come the flight response is key to a great fighter.
    There is also whats called by our military: strategic redeployment to the rear.(otherwise known as retreat).
    If Brock was hurt bad, it was in his best interest to move back, cover up, and allow him self to recover. If he had stayed in the pocket taking blows, he might have been beaten.
    Make no mistake, Brock is a force to be reckoned with. And remember how new he really is to MMA.

  2. david no…. he didn’t win the fight by overcomming it, carwins 35, he simply gassed himself out punching lesnar when lesnar was turtled up in the fetus position, he subbed carwin because carwin had nothing left, in real life lesnar wouldn’t be able to run off into fetus position, it didn’t change with cain and i don’t think it will with jds, hes got to start taking punches, learning the difference between a wwe punch and a real one, its not an experience thing, how much exp did rogers have against fedor? he didn’t curl up like a turtle he took the hits until fedor knocked his head off. time is not on lesnars size he needs to learn how to get hit before santos fight

  3. What do you mean “in real life”? Was this in Candyland or something? Lesnar took a ton of punishment and won the fight. If anything that means he can take punches. He may not look good eating shot, but this is not America’s Next Top Model, this is MMA. Getting the W is what is important. Lesnar lost his last fight to the best heavyweight in the world. Does that mean he is suddenly a flake? Did he forget how to wrestle?

    This crap about how “Lesnar doesn’t like to get hit” has to stop. Nobody likes to get hit. Do children wish for a punch in the face before blowing out the candles on their birthdays? NO

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