When WWE star Brock Lesnar takes on UFC Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture, it very well could be an accelerated passing of the torch, from one prominent wrestler as heavyweight champion, to another. And while Lesnar's record doesn't wreak of a man who is title contention ready, he would quell the critics who doubt him with a win over Couture.

It will however, should Lesnar win, most likely be not much more than that...a passing of the torch. Fans everywhere could likely view this as a bridge between generations in MMA, not as 'the better man wins'. To the masses and at least to the hardcore Couture fans, he will always be the better man, just past his prime enough to lose to a beast like Lesnar.

It would be difficult for many NOT to see it as merely the older champ officially handing over the high profile throne to the younger, newer champ. Sadly, this is an unfortunate byproduct of the title fight happening before Brock earns his way up the ladder and even more so because he would be seizing the title from a 45 year old, end of his career, warrior in Randy Couture.

Whatever level of belief you have in Couture's ability to defy the odds and beat down the bigger man, even at age 45 (like he did against Sylvia), will be directly proportionate to the level of credibility and respect that a victorious Brock Lesnar would inherit.

Should Randy win, fans of MMA the world over will clamor for Couture vs Fedor, with a chance they demand a Lesnar rematch more IF the bout is THAT good.

Should Brock Lesnar win, the bout could likely be capped off as no more than a proud and glorious segment on a highlight reel. Now don't get me wrong, Brock Lesnar can be the dominant UFC Heavyweight Champion who mows down contender after contender. But, he won't be the man atop the mountain with the bulls-eye on his back from beating Randy Couture alone. He'll need to beat a handfull of top level heavyweights for that kind of praise. And that process, should it come to fruition, will be retroactively referenced as having begun with the demolition of Heath Herring at UFC 87.