Brock Lesnar to Return to UFC?
Posted: Jun 4th, '16, 21:23
Source: PWInsider
By Mike Johnson & David Tees on 2016-06-04 20:52:00
MMAFighting.com's Ariel Helwani is reporting that former UFC Heavyweight champion and current WWE star Brock Lesnar is close to a deal that would see him return to the Ocagon to fight at UFC 200.
Lesnar has not fought for UFC since losing in December 2011 to Alistair Overeem . He flirted with the idea of a little over a year ago when his WWE contract was coming due but instead announced live on ESPN in March 2015 that he had signed a new WWE deal and considered himself retired from MMA competition.
"It was a very hard decision at this stage of my career," Lesnar told ESPN's Michelle Beadle during that announcement. "The fighter inside me wants to compete. The father and husband. I'm an older caveman now. I make wiser caveman decisions. So, I'm here to say my legacy in the Octagon is over. It was a hard decision to make. It took me a year. I've thought about this for a year. At the end of the day, it's all about me wanting to have fun. The last two-and-a-half months I've been training to get back into the Octagon. I felt physically great, but something lacked mentally, and that's not good."
Lesnar's UFC run was tainted by health issues, specifically diverticulitus, something that has personally bothered Lesnar.
Lesnar last appeared for WWE at Wrestlemania 32, defeating Dean Ambrose. What a potential UFC return would mean for his WWE contract status remains to be seen....as does whether WWE and UFC could be in bed together as part of a larger deal.
There are rumors within the MMA circles that a promotional video for Lesnar could air as early as tonight's UFC 199 PPV and that Lesnar could be fighting either Stefan Struve or Mark Hunt. [9:25 PM Update: It will not be Struve as he underwent hand surgery and would not be cleared to train or fight by UFC 200.] Frank Mir, the obvious Lesnar opponent due to their history, would not be possible due to a current suspension.
UFC 200 takes place 7/9 in Las Vegas.
PWInsider.com has reached out to WWE regarding Helwani's report but as of this writing, has not heard back.
David Tees is covering UFC 199 right now at www.PWInsiderXTRA.com.
By Mike Johnson & David Tees on 2016-06-04 20:52:00
MMAFighting.com's Ariel Helwani is reporting that former UFC Heavyweight champion and current WWE star Brock Lesnar is close to a deal that would see him return to the Ocagon to fight at UFC 200.
Lesnar has not fought for UFC since losing in December 2011 to Alistair Overeem . He flirted with the idea of a little over a year ago when his WWE contract was coming due but instead announced live on ESPN in March 2015 that he had signed a new WWE deal and considered himself retired from MMA competition.
"It was a very hard decision at this stage of my career," Lesnar told ESPN's Michelle Beadle during that announcement. "The fighter inside me wants to compete. The father and husband. I'm an older caveman now. I make wiser caveman decisions. So, I'm here to say my legacy in the Octagon is over. It was a hard decision to make. It took me a year. I've thought about this for a year. At the end of the day, it's all about me wanting to have fun. The last two-and-a-half months I've been training to get back into the Octagon. I felt physically great, but something lacked mentally, and that's not good."
Lesnar's UFC run was tainted by health issues, specifically diverticulitus, something that has personally bothered Lesnar.
Lesnar last appeared for WWE at Wrestlemania 32, defeating Dean Ambrose. What a potential UFC return would mean for his WWE contract status remains to be seen....as does whether WWE and UFC could be in bed together as part of a larger deal.
There are rumors within the MMA circles that a promotional video for Lesnar could air as early as tonight's UFC 199 PPV and that Lesnar could be fighting either Stefan Struve or Mark Hunt. [9:25 PM Update: It will not be Struve as he underwent hand surgery and would not be cleared to train or fight by UFC 200.] Frank Mir, the obvious Lesnar opponent due to their history, would not be possible due to a current suspension.
UFC 200 takes place 7/9 in Las Vegas.
PWInsider.com has reached out to WWE regarding Helwani's report but as of this writing, has not heard back.
David Tees is covering UFC 199 right now at www.PWInsiderXTRA.com.