Big boy decision

The beast in the cage has been tamed.

Following his dramatic, first-round loss by technical knockout to Alistair Overeem on Friday night at UFC 141 in Las Vegas, Brock Lesnar announced his future in mixed martial arts is over.

"Tonight is the last time you'll see me in the Octagon," he said. "Brock Lesnar is officially retired."

A life-threatening intestinal disorder called diverticulitis that he had battled on and off for two years proved to be far more powerful and lethal than any combination of body or head shots he absorbed at the hands or feet of an opponent. It interrupted his rising ascension inside the Octagon and ultimately led to the end.

From hope to nope.

He is only 34, far too young to retire, but sensible enough to know that he was potentially putting his life in danger had he continued. He hadn't fought in 14 months and had surgery as recently as May to remove a foot of colon. It was hardly like coming back from a broken limb that could have been repaired and restored to its full usage.

Who knows what might have happened had he continued to fight? His rock-hard abdominal wall had already been cut wide open by a surgical knife, so surely he had to know repeated punches to that area could have created untold damage.

If hockey star Sidney Crosby was medically cleared by expert doctors following a lengthy layoff because of a concussion and sustained a recurrence of the problem only a few short weeks following his return, it proves there are no certainties when it comes to health, in particular when you're involved in a contact sport.

Crosby's future in hockey is hazy. Whether or not he plays again will be his own decision, but predicated by his past.

Lesnar ended his career on his own terms.

He had already told his wife and children that if he lost to Overeem, his career would be over. Had he won, he would have fought only one more time, and it would have been a title shot against current champion Junior Dos Santos.

This was a family decision, plain and simple, and unlike the wrestling world from which he first achieved international stardom, this isn't a contrived storyline to take some time off to do something else but with the intention of coming back. This is real. It only took a few, but lethal, shots by Overeem to the abdomen to punctuate what Lesnar already knew going into the fight. He was fighting on borrowed time and knew it.

But give him credit for having the will, desire and passion to come back for at least one and possibly two more tries. He had the heart to battle his intestinal disorder -- and can make a great spokesman to raise awareness for diverticulitis. Many suffer in silence daily with intestinal issues, but maybe Lesnar can be the one to help draw attention to it because of his profile.

While Lesnar is through fighting, it wouldn't be surprising if he continues in the UFC as part of its presence on primetime mainstream TV. He provided analysis for the UFC's first venture into this area in November. He didn't disgrace himself as a broadcaster, and has the image and profile to be a star in a different way.

And he has a name that you'd swear was created in Hollywood, though it's real. Many stars in the UFC have nicknames, Lesnar didn't. His first name alone had appeal.

His stardom began when World Wrestling Entertainment boss Vince McMahon realized years ago that Lesnar had bankable commodities as a big man with tremendous athletic skills. And when the opportunity arrived to bring Lesnar to the Octagon, UFC president Dana White quickly pounced on it. It's what makes McMahon and White brilliant businessmen and marketers.

He retires with a professional MMA record of 5-3 (4-3 in the UFC), winning the heavyweight title once and successfully defending it twice.

He will be remembered for the classless words he used in his first major win in the UFC (back in July 2009) and his immature actions, but also for the classy way he concluded it.

"Alistair, it's been a pleasure," he said Friday night.

It was a case of saying little when you win and even less when you lose.

For the 31-year-old Overeem, the future is great. He is a seasoned veteran, but may be hitting his peak in the UFC at the right time. It could be a perfect storm for a company looking to break through globally and with a fighter born in England, raised in the Netherlands and with a background as a champion in MMA and kickboxing.

Overeem is big, graduating from a light heavyweight into a heavyweight, and with immense talent and charisma. In his long-awaited UFC debut following an acclaimed career in Strikeforce, he did what he has done so many times before -- win and in quick fashion.

While Lesnar took the fight early with striking, connecting with one punch that cut Overeem over the right eye, and some attempted takedowns, his savvy opponent clearly had a gameplan. Surely he wanted to test the very area of Lesnar's body that had been repaired.

And even though Lesnar came into the fight in tremendous physical condition, so did Overeem. He had considerable more skill and versatility with his striking and kicking, so Lesnar's only chance was to get Overeem off of his feet and ground and pound him. It never happened.

The loss and the fact it happened by technical knockout after only 2:26 of the first round was hardly a surprise. It had been predicted by veteran analysts and, for money purposes, by the Vegas bookmakers who put Overeem as the heavy favourite and placed the over-under at one-and-a-half rounds.

Overeem said before the fight he didn't expect it to go more than one round. He felt he would win because of his experience. He wasn't being cocky.

He now moves into position to fight champion Dos Santos for the title. He stated before the Lesnar match that winning the UFC title would be the crown of his career, but didn't want to look beyond Lesnar. He gave his opponent proper respect and, in turn, Lesnar returned it.

This was a total contrast to the co-main event on the card, featuring lightweights Nate Diaz and Donald Cerrone. Diaz punked Cerrone a couple days before the fight at a media conference when he flipped off his opponent's trademark cowboy hat. The two did not shake hands after receiving the referee's orders before the fight. And while standing up and waiting for the third round to begin, Diaz flipped the bird with both hands, essentially giving Cerrone the double-finger diss.

Diaz may be a punk, but you can't deny that he has incredible skills as a fighter, stunning Cerrone with snap right jabs and combinations that were expertly measured. From start to finish, Diaz was the better man. It really was no contest.

Maybe Diaz needs to grow up or maybe that's just who he is, and there's nothing that says a fighter can't be a bad-ass. It's a common thread shared by Diaz and his brother Nick, a welterweight who will fight against Carlos Condit on Feb. 4 for the interim title while injured champion Georges St-Pierre is on the sidelines.

Lesnar came into the UFC with a temperament and attitude similar to the Diaz brothers, but he changed. Dealing with life issues and a family made him a different man.

Perry Lefko keeps you connected to all the news in the CFL on sportsnet.ca. He is also a regular contributor on other sports, including the UFC.