Kicks, punches and bad behavior at UFC 100

Sports

Kicks, punches and bad behavior at UFC 100

UFC bout

UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) hotshot Brock Lesner defeated Frank Mir on Saturday night in a fight that brought criticism. In just his fifth MMA fight after a winding athletic path through college wrestling, fake wrestling and the Minnesota Vikings' training camp, Lesnar first refused to touch gloves with Mir. The hulking 265-pounder spent most of the fight's two rounds on top of Mir, using his weight and wrestling skill to wear down Mir's defenses.

Brock Lesnar is well on his way to becoming mixed martial arts' biggest name. As he showed in UFC 100, he's already its biggest jerk. That's certainly good news for the UFC's bottom line, since fans of any sport love to hate a proper villain. It's not so good for the mainstream image of a sport that publicly claims it wants nothing to do with its heavyweight champion's pro wrestling-style theatrics Saturday night in Las Vegas. He defeated and taunted Frank Mir.

Lesnar (4-1), who lost to Mir last year, at one point Saturday taunted his fallen opponent while Mir (left) still sat on his stool, his face bloody and swollen. When the Mandalay Bay crowd booed, Lesnar made a two-handed obscene gesture, followed by a rambunctious interview in which he insulted a prominent UFC sponsor and made an off-color comment about his own wife.

"Brock is talented," UFC president Dana White said. "He's accomplished something that nobody has ever accomplished (by winning the title so quickly). Let that speak for you, not what you saw out there. ... That's not who he is. I've spent time with this guy. He's a smart guy, but he gets in there, the (energy) starts kicking. The mouth is moving, but the brain isn't sending stuff to the mouth."

Georges St-Pierrre takes down Thiago Alves during their welterweight title bout at UFC 100 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas Saturday. St-Pierre won by unanimous decision.

Georges St. Pierre battles Thiago Alves during their welterweight title bout in Vegas. Ultimate fighting involves mixed martial arts.

1/6

UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) hotshot Brock Lesner defeated Frank Mir on Saturday night in a fight that brought criticism. In just his fifth MMA fight after a winding athletic path through college wrestling, fake wrestling and the Minnesota Vikings' training camp, Lesnar first refused to touch gloves with Mir. The hulking 265-pounder spent most of the fight's two rounds on top of Mir, using his weight and wrestling skill to wear down Mir's defenses.

Today's Gallery Headlines

Jesse Jackson

PHOTOS: Civil rights icon Jesse Jackson found stage and home in Atlanta

Spring training Day 5 (Saturday)

PHOTOS: Day 5 of spring training for the Braves

Valentines for Veterans

Metro Atlanta students write valentines to veterans

GHSA Championship, Dance, Akins Ford Arena, Athens

PHOTOS: Georgia teams dance way to state championships

More Galleries

Spring Training Day 1

PHOTOS: Braves arrive for spring training

Kennesaw State University new baseball facility

PHOTOS: A look at Kennesaw State baseball's new home

aajc 011926 hawks-mlkgame

PHOTOS: Hawks and Bucks in action on MLK Day

atlanta hawks, boston celtics

PHOTOS: Hawks fall at home to Celtics