Just over a week ago Brock Lesnar retired from MMA after being systematically taken apart by Alistair Overeem inside the first round. At this point Alistair’s win was overshadowed by Lesnar’s retirement from the sport, and the drama of the UFC losing one of its biggest PPV earners. There has been much fuss about the loss of the former champion but we offer up three reasons to calm down.

Alistair Overeem – What a way to make an entrance to the UFC and prove the doubters wrong at the same time. The giant was vicious in his dismantling of Brock and such a performance will picked up a whole new legion of fans in the process. Overeem possess the excitement factor of Brock Lesnar with the likeability factor the former WWE star lacked.

Chael Sonnen – This is a man who needs no introductions to MMA fans around the world. Love him or hate him, you’ve heard the name. Now he’s on TV and there is will be no stopping him now. The polar opposite of Jones and Overeem: loud, crass and outspoken, Chael is another reason Brock will be mere memories by the end of February. This guy knows how to sell a fight whether it’s his or not.

FOX NETWORK – This is the big one, Fox alone and their million TV stations will boost the Pay-Per-View buys in 2012. No amount of Brock Lesnar’s will ever amount to the power that this mega company has. We could even see the ban of MMA in New York lifted by pumping the UFC into millions of more homes across the United States.

Even without Brock Lesnar stepping inside the Octagon this year, 2012 is set to be a massive year for the UFC.