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MMA fans routinely pull their hair out when watching mainstream media report on MMA figures. Today is no exception. 

E:60, ESPN's investigative journalism news-magazine, recently did a report on UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar. Tonight they aired an update due to Lesnar's performance at UFC 100. The update featured interviews with Josh Gross of SI.com and the narrative that Brock Lesnar became the "face" and the first true "villain" of the UFC. 

What a crock of B.S.

When it comes to the face of the UFC that description changes depending on what day of the week it is. On Sunday it is former high school math teacher Rich Franklin. Monday it is Randy Couture. Tuesday it is Dana White and after White curses someone out then its Lorenzo Fertitta. Wednesday it is Kenny Florian, due to all the time he spends at the World Wide Leader. Thursday it is Georges St. Pierre because he is the only UFC athlete to have a major sponsor outside the UFC. For "Funny Friday's" it is Forrest Griffin. And on Saturday it is Chuck Liddell because we need someone to do shots with. 

Now if E:60 means that Lesnar is the "face" of the UFC as in he is their biggest PPV draw then I can understand this statement. But by no means is Zuffa putting Lesnar forward as the prototypical MMA fighter. 

I basically wrote this all before so I will simply quote myself, 

The WWE fans who buy his pay-per views don't hate him nor does the mainstream audience that bought or watched UFC 100 out of curiosity. Lesnar to them represents an anchor, something that is familiar and already quantifiable, as they dive into an unfamiliar and foreign sport. Put it this way, Lesnar is the easy thing for newcomers to understand and that's alright with such a complex sport as MMA.     

Now that we dispensed with E:60's first haphazard story line let's address the second that Lesnar is the UFC's first real "villain." 

For anyone to believe this narrative then they expose themselves as a bandwagon UFC fan who didn't know the sport existed before 2007. 

E:60 editors, you want the first "villains" of the UFC? I'll go easy on you, why don't you try Frank Shamrock, Tito Ortiz or Tim Sylvia. All of which were the objects of scorn in their UFC careers. It is impossible and disingenuous to claim that Brock is the "first villain" of the UFC.

Then again I don't even agree with the premise that Lesnar is a universal villain.  

Where are the masses of people who hate Brock Lesnar? True, there is a small vocal minority of MMA fans who despise Lesnar but this is not universal trend. In fact there are more MMA fans that hate Kimbo Slice than Lesnar, which would make Kimbo the "ultimate villain". Compare that to the universal scorn the public feels towards t Brett Farve, Alex Rodriguez, Terrell Owens, Chad Johnson, Barry Bonds, Ron Artest and Roger Clemens.

I call bull shit on you E:60. 

P.S. Please stop calling MMA "Ultimate Fighting". It makes you sound like you are from 1993.