Alex Marvez's weekly look at professional wrestling

In pro wrestling vernacular, Brock Lesnar should approach his next mixed martial arts bout as a loser-leaves-town match.

Lesnar will fight Heath Herring in the co-main event of Saturday night's "UFC 87: Seek and Destroy'' pay-per-view show emanating from Minneapolis. With a victory, Lesnar is guaranteed to remain in a high-profile UFC role.

A defeat clouds his UFC future.

Lesnar's UFC debut in February was a huge success. "UFC 81: Breaking Point'' drew a live gate of $2.4 million and a reported 600,000 pay-per-view orders. Many of those willing to pay $39.95 for the telecast were pro wrestling fans curious about how Lesnar would fare in a real-life fight.

Lesnar already reigned supreme in World Wrestling Entertainment, emerging as one of its top performers in just three years on the main roster. But Lesnar grew tired of the travel and had a falling out with WWE management, leading to his 2004 departure. Lesnar had an unsuccessful tryout with the NFL's Minnesota Vikings and wrestled in Japan before beginning full-time MMA training in April 2006.

For a relative novice with only one prior pro bout, Lesnar acquitted himself well against former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir. An NCAA wrestling champion at the University of Minnesota, Lesnar put an early hurting on Mir before submitting to a knee-bar at 1:30 of the first round.

"I really rushed that fight and I made a foolish mistake," Lesnar said last week in a media conference call. "I had Frank in a dominant position and stood up and fed him. I've just got to be a more controlled fighter and a little more relaxed in there."

Lesnar would make huge strides toward solidifying himself as a legitimate MMA up-and-comer by besting Herring, an 11-year veteran with a 28-13 career record. The 6-3, 265-pound Lesnar has worked diligently on trying to better his boxing and jiu-jitsu defense since dedicating himself full-time to MMA training in April 2006.

Lesnar, though, still must prove he is more than a novelty act. It's unlikely that Lesnar would be released outright from UFC with a loss to Herring because the promotion may not want to lose any more "name" heavyweight f fighters like Andrei Arlovski and Tim Sylvia to the rival Affliction MMA group. UFC, though, did cut MMA superstar Mirco Cro Cop after two consecutive losses because they felt he was no longer worth a big-money contract.

Lesnar -- who has a $250,000 per-fight guarantee, not including what can be substantial bonuses from UFC management -- may face the same fate if he slides down the ladder and his drawing power fades.

"There's always pressure to win in any circumstance as an athlete," said Lesnar, 31. "Nobody likes to follow a loser."

After giving Lesnar a stern first test in Mir, UFC management initially tried booking Lesnar against what on paper would have been an easier opponent with an even bigger name in Mark Coleman. While one of MMA's 20all-time legends, Coleman has taken a heavy physical beating during his 12-year MMA career. Even Lesnar described the 43-year-old Coleman as being "a little over the hill."

Coleman was forced to withdraw from the fight after injuring his knee in training, which created an opportunity for Herring.

The "Texas Crazy Horse" faces the same pressure as Lesnar to win. Herring has performed inconsistently in his four UFC bouts but almost defeated interim heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Noguiera in July 2007.

"Like I said from day one, I didn't want any easy fights," Lesnar said. "Heath is not an easy fight for me."

George St. Pierre vs. Jon Fitch headlines UFC 87. For more information, visit www.ufc.tv.

(Alex Marvez writes a syndicated pro wrestling column for Scripps-Howard News Service. Contact him at alex1marv@aol.com.)