With a multiple NCAA wrestling titles, multiple WWE titles including a Guinness World Record for being the youngest champion in World Wrestling Entertainment history and a brief career in the NFL, Brock Lesnar set his eyes on another athletic venture; Mixed Martial Arts.

“I had to get out of the wrestling business back then to save my life. I just wasn’t happy. I wasn’t happy at the time. I felt like a caged animal. I didn’t want that. I still had a competitive nature inside me. I had a calling to go back and compete again.” Lesnar told Foxsports, citing his motives to change careers.

Signing under the FEG K-1 banner in 2006, Brock Lesnar was matched up with K-1 veteran and fellow giant, South Korean Hong Man Choi for the Dynamite USA Show in 2006.

Preparing for his debut Lesnar had spent time at Miletich Fighting Systems with the likes of Tim Sylvia, but eventually made a permanent move to work with Greg Nelson, Erik Paulson and Marty Morgon, which also marked the formation of Team Death clutch where he spend the rest of his MMA career.

Ten days prior to the event Hong Man Choi had his license denied by the CSAC upon discovery of a tumour in his pituitary gland, rendering him unfit to compete. Filling in the spot of Choi would be Judo Silver Medalist; ‘Mr Shark’ Min Soo Kim.

Refereed by Lesnar’s future officiating nemesis Steve Mazzagatti, Lesnar wasted little time getting his opponent to the mat showing effects of the last minute opponent switch. From there he immediately secured mount and administered a dose of punches forcing ‘Mr Skark’ to tapout to strikes at 1:09 of round number one, making for a successful MMA debut.

Brock Lesnar’s next stop? The Ultimate Fighting Championship.