The UFC need a superstar now more than ever.
Legitimate pay-per-view draws are at a premium right now given that Ronda Rousey is currently a professional wrestler, Jon Jones’ fighting future is up in the air and Conor McGregor’s spell out of the Octagon is set to continue following his antics last week.
There are several champions who can generate decent buyrates but there is no doubting the fact that Dana White will be hoping to get a deal done with former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar.
Before the emergence of McGregor, Lesnar’s allure had resulted in the UFC’s top two pay-per-views of all time in UFC 100 and UFC 116.
Lesnar made a shock return to the Octagon in 2016, when he defeated Mark Hunt by unanimous decision but that result was overturned to a No Contest when it emerged that Lesnar had tested positive for a banned substance.
However the former UFC heavyweight champion is being linked with yet another comeback after Dana White confirmed Lesnar’s interest in pulling on the size XXXXL gloves again.
On Monday, Lesnar re-signed with the WWE after defending his Universal Championship at WrestleMania 34 but his deal will allow him to fight for the UFC while competing as a WWE superstar.
It’s understood that the world’s preeminent mixed martial arts organisation is planning to award Lesnar an immediate heavyweight title shot for their end of year show.
That means that the winner of the superfight between UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic and UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier will have the honour of welcoming back one of the most iconic fighters in the organisation’s history.
https://twitter.com/jeremybotter/status/983462238232117248
Bleacher Report’s Jeremy Botter confirmed the plans for Lesnar and it’s safe to say that the guaranteed payday that comes with any fight against the 40-year-old will act as an added incentive for Miocic and Cormier.
Last week, Cormier reacted with giddy glee after finding out that the winner of UFC 226’s main event would be in line for the biggest fight of 2018.
Reporter: "What are you doing to get yourself ready for heavyweight?"
DC: "Eatin'…"
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Daniel Cormier was on top form at last night's press conference… That Brock Lesnar reaction though đŸ‘€ pic.twitter.com/HyycJTeNIp
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) April 7, 2018
“Conor calls it red panty night,” Cormier said. “When you go on a card with Brock Lesnar or fight Brock Lesnar, it’s like green panty night, because it’s raining money. When you fight Brock, you get paid. Brock Lesnar would be awesome, because you get paid when you fight with Brock Lesnar or against Brock Lesnar.”
Lesnar’s year-long suspension by the United States Anti-Doping Agency was frozen when he opted to retire from professional mixed martial arts in 2017 so he would have to see out the remainder of his ban before he would be allowed to return and could also be subjected to more stringent USADA testing given the fact that he would be coming back from retirement and has previously failed tests.
