After being an unstoppable force in pro wrestling for much of the 2000s, Brock Lesnar left the business and began a short but highly successful MMA career in the UFC in 2008.
Things didn’t get off to a great start for The Beast Incarnate, with his first fight against Frank Mir ending in a submission loss.
For his second fight, however, Brock Lesnar dominate Heath Herring and earned a victory by unanimous decision from the judges.
Brock Lesnar shows another side of himself to UFC cutman
Despite his fierce reputation in both pro wrestling and MMA, Brock Lesnar showed a softer side of himself to UFC cutman, Jacob ‘Stitch’ Duran.
Speaking to The Signature Spot, Duran recalls that when he was wrapping Lesnar’s hands before the Herring fight, the star unexpectedly gave him a gift.
“I was always the one designated to wrap his hands. I remember the time when he was fighting Heath Herring in 2008. I’m wrapping his hands. I remember telling him before that, ‘That’s a nice t-shirt’ because he had nice shirts. And he said, ‘I have one for you.’
“He said, ‘When I was packing, my wife asked, should I bring a shirt for Stitch?’ I finished wrapping his hands, he reaches into his bag and gives me a shirt.
“I thought that was nice, because those are the moments that are done when you’re not there. They kind of think about you. I’m not even part of the team, but it made me feel like I was part of the team. It was one of the team’s shirts.”
Brock Lesnar went on to defeat Randy Couture for the UFC Heavyweight Championship later that year. He held onto the title until being defeated by Cain Velasquez at UFC 121 in October 2010.
Duran recalled treating a deep gash Lesnar received to his cheek during the fight.
“When he fought Cain Velasquez in 2010, he ended up with a big old gash on his cheek. I’m working on it and literally the whole swab went all inside. You could literally see the bone, the cheekbone.
“When I’m working on him, just between him and I, he said, ‘Stitch, take care of me.’ I said, ‘Don’t worry, brother. I got you covered all the way.’ And I did.”
Former UFC cutman Jacob "Stitch" Duran speaking about his experience with Brock Lesnar.
— The Signature Spot (@SignatureSpot) December 17, 2022
H/T to The Signature Spot for the above transcription.