Brock Lesnar's Ultimate comeback

When we last saw Brock Lesnar in the Octagon, the hulking heavyweight was curled into a fetal position -- his opponent, Cain Velasquez, conducting a symphony of brutal, fight-ending punches.

That was 14 months ago. After losing his heavyweight belt, Lesnar's life outside of the Ultimate Fighting Championship proved to be just as difficult. In May, the former Gophers and WWE wrestler had surgery to correct a second run-in with diverticulitis, a painful disease that attacks the intestines. Doctors removed 12 inches of his colon.

Now, the good news: On Friday, the UFC's biggest attraction returns to the cage for a showdown with highly-touted striker Alistair Overeem. UFC 141 will take place in Las Vegas, where -- for the first time -- the self-proclaimed "baddest man on the planet" is considered a slight underdog. Hard to believe? Here's everything you need to know about Lesnar's comeback fight.

1. The UFC needs him -- badly.

The world's leading mixed martial arts promotion company had a lot to cheer about in 2011. The UFC purchased its chief rival (Strikeforce) and it signed a huge TV deal with Fox. But its main cash cow -- pay-per-view -- was flat. Missing was Lesnar, whose past three fights sold more than one million buys apiece.

His return will do big business, and the UFC picked the perfect opponent to generate maximum buzz. Hardcore MMA fans have been clamoring for the UFC debut of Overeem, a fighter whose punching pedigree is second only to current heavyweight champ Junior Dos Santos, who took the belt from Velasquez in November. The winner of Lesnar vs. Overeem will face the Brazilian knockout artist next.

2. Lesnar will be tested like never before

• Before signing with the UFC in September, the 31-year-old held heavyweight championships in three promotions: Strikeforce, Dream and the kickboxing leader, K-1.

• Like Lesnar, Overeem possesses a freakish physique (he's 6-5 and likely will weigh in at the heavyweight limit of 265 pounds). Like Lesnar, he's been dogged by steroid accusations.

• Lesnar's weakness -- his rudimentary boxing skills -- is Overeem's greatest strength. The Dutchman's kickboxing prowess gives him punishing power in his hands and knees.

3. Don't count Lesnar out

Lesnar's best option is to use his superior wrestling to take Overeem to the mat and finish him with a smothering ground-and-pound attack. But Overeem's striking isn't all Lesnar should worry about. Overeem has submitted 19 opponents in his long career.