The news on Brock Lesnar keeps getting worse. First he was just sick. Then it was mono. Now he reportedly has an intestinal problem that will require surgery. His condition is so bad that UFC president Dana White has said that Lesnar may never fight again.

While I wish Lesnar nothing but good health and the speediest of returns to the cage, the old adage comes to mind: the show must go on.

Lesnar was initially supposed to fight Shane Carwin at UFC 106, which then got pushed back to 108. Now Lesnar is out indefintely and may need surgery.

For his part, Carwin is being very gracious. In a post on the UG, Carwin wrote:

I am sure most of you know I am not the leader of the Lesnar Fan Club. That being said, antics or not, he is OUR UFC HWT Champion. He beat a future Hall of Famer to keep that belt and he NEEDS our prayers and good thoughts right now.

At the end of the day I can take off my UFC shirt and say here is a man, a Champion that has been brought down by an illness not another man. It is very humbling if you think about it.

Brock has a wife, kid, and friends that depend on him to make their lives better. You do not have to support Brock and his antics but you should have respect for the human side of what is happening here.

This is not a ploy to sell more tickets, he is the biggest draw this sport has ever had. This is not him ducking me or any other fighter. This is about a man who is fighting an illness for his career, family and friends.

Talk of stripping a man of his title due to illness will set this sport back farther then anything Brock has ever said. We need our Champions healthy and defending. I know the show will go on but to be a Champion you must beat a Champion.

The last paragraph is debatable, and there is certainly nothing wrong with an interim title bout, or even a true title bout if Lesnar is unable to defend his title because his career is over. Nobody wants that, but it is reality. And many of the UFC belt holders are currently injured.

Asked about an interim fight, Carwin added:

We are in talks. I have a knee I am rehabbing and a baby due on the 11th of February. I am down to do whatever is best for the division. Not sure how important the belt is in that scenario. Lots of great fighters at the top and lots of talented young guns on the way up right now.

I would love to see Carwin battle Velasquez, Dos Santos, Big Nog or even the winner of Mir/Kongo. Mostly I would just love to see him fight. Here’s hoping all the injured belt holders get well soon. For them, and for us.

Related posts:

1. Carwin Vs. Lesnar: How It Will End
2. Making Sense of the UFC Heavyweight Division
3. Randy Couture Trains With Brock Lesnar
4. Wanderlei Silva Out of UFC 116
5. Brock Lesnar Plans May UFC Return