Motivation is the activation or energization of goal-oriented behaviour, which can be classified by two main sub groupings:

The first is intrinsic motivation, which comes from the rewards inherent to a task or an activity itself (the love of fighting).

To me, what makes a guy like Randy “The Natural” Couture such a great champion, isn’t so much that he has been the most dominant fighter throughout his career, but it has more to do with his “natural” love of fighting.

My perception (and I could very well be wrong) is that he is the type of fighter who is always looking for the next best way to challenge himself.

He lives for the competition.

He will fight whoever they put in front of him (including a monster like Brock Lesnar), not because he is 100 percent certain that he will win, but because win or lose, he only ever wants to fight the best that is available (hence, his strong desire to want to fight Machida).

The result?

Well, an 18-10 record for starters, and an obvious amount of damage to his legacy in the eyes of many fans (not that he cares – nor should he).

“If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.”—Frank A. Clark


The second is extrinsic motivation, which comes from outside of the performer. Money and fame are obvious examples, but so is the threat of punishment (loss of a championship title).

Recently, while discussing his upcoming fight with Shane Carwin, Frank Mir had this to say about Lesnar:

"The competitor in me wants to face Lesnar as soon as possible and be the first one in line.

"As far as if it worked out, I don't feel like holding the heavyweight division hostage. If after, if I'm victorious on March 27, and I had an injury that didn't allow me to fight, and Brock wants to take a risk to fight Cain first before he fights me, more power to him.

"I think [Velasquez] is a dangerous fight for [Lesnar]. I would be willing to bet that maybe he would be more comfortable waiting for me."


Clearly, Mir’s remarks are working on the bold assumption that Lesnar’s motivation is strictly – extrinsic.

More comfortable fighting Mir?

What is it about the current UFC heavyweight champion that would make anyone assume that Lesnar’s motivation would be any different than Couture’s?

Lesnar has been a sporting competitor his entire life.

He made his way from being an accomplished amateur wrestler, to gaining prominence in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Then in 2004, Lesnar quit the wealth and security of the WWE to pursue a more challenging (and dangerous) career in the NFL (wow, talk about willing to “take a risk!”).

After that “risk” didn’t pay off, Lesnar then returned to professional wrestling at the end of 2005 for a brief stint in Japan before shifting gears and entering into the unknown world of mixed-martial arts.

Soon after, with only a record of 2-1, Lesnar was already willing to fight Randy Couture for the championship (because let’s face it – it was offered to him), when he easily could have taken his time fighting one tomato can after another (Bobby Lashley anyone?), with absolutely no affect to his fame, money, or pay-per-view drawing power.

But wait a second, if Lesnar is only concerned about protecting his title and status as the champion, then why wouldn’t he have played it safer from the start?

Hmmm....something just isn’t adding up.

Please don’t tell me that Mir is simply playing more mind games?

That would be very “un-Mir-like.”


“Success isn’t determined by winning. Each year, it’s how [a fighter] improves. Instead of focusing on actual “wins,” we focus on our system and as a result, the wins will simply become a by-product of all of the hard work that the [fighter] will put in.”—Coach Dave H.

Brock Lesnar is a true champion (like him or not) because he fights for the sake of fighting and would welcome any of the top heavyweights in the world at any given time – not because he is so completely positive that he will win, but because like Couture, he wants the greatest challenge available to him.

If that is Mir – great!

If it’s Cain, Carwin, Fedor, Dos Santos, Big Nog...whoever...Lesnar will be ready to take on all challengers.

The bigger question is; will they be ready for a new and improved Brock Lesnar?

I look forward to finding out.