This old chestnut.
With a concerning shortage of active pay-per-view draws at their disposal, the UFC might be tempted to bring Brock Lesnar back yet again.
Lesnar infamously returned to the Octagon in the summer of 2016, when he battered Mark Hunt to a unanimous decision victory in the co-main event of UFC 200, a bout which was ultimately overturned to a No Contest.
Lesnar’s much-anticipated UFC comeback was mired in controversy, however, when it emerged that the former UFC heavyweight champion tested positive for performance enhancing drugs following an out-of-competition drugs test which took place two weeks prior to the event.
He was suspended for one year by the Nevada State Athletic Commission but, halfway through his ban, Lesnar officially retired from mixed martial arts competition.
But in spite of his age and given the ease with which he returned against Hunt, one of the hardest hitters in the heavyweight division, Lesnar may be persuaded to take to the Octagon one last time.
UFC President Dana White has sensationally admitted that it wouldn’t surprise him if the 40-year-old decided to dust off his 5XL gloves.
“Anything is possible,” White said on UFC Tonight.
Here's our full interview with @DanaWhite as he announces the #UFC222 card, addresses the Woodley-Diaz rumors and @FloydMayweather's chances of coming to the UFC! https://t.co/kr7TWez9NL
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) February 8, 2018
“Brock has always shown interest in coming over and fighting in the UFC. I wouldn’t be shocked if he gave it one more shot.”
Lesnar is currently contracted to the WWE but only appears in the ring sporadically and he had been linked with a super-fight with UFC light heavyweight great Jon Jones last year.
The relationship between the UFC and the WWE seems to be in better shape than ever, with former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey taking to the ring at the Royal Rumble and hinting at a wrestling debut at WrestleMania.
While it remains entirely possible for Lesnar to move in the opposite direction, former foe Hunt is not happy with suggestions that he could return for a 10th MMA bout.
“Well he shouldn’t be fighting,” Hunt told Submission Radio. “He’s just a cheater. There should be a shelf for steroid users like him. You can’t tell me any different, he doesn’t deserve to be there.
“He took the shortcuts. And it just goes to show their credibility when they say, ‘Oh, Brock Lesnar’s coming back.’ Oh, so it’s all about money. So you don’t really care about the fighters at all.
“So when you said to me, ‘Oh, Mark you’ve got to go and get a test because we’re worried about you,’ you’re lying!? Yeah, I thought so.
“At the end of the day, we’re setting a bad example and the wrong example, to not only a lot of the kids coming through that want to be pro fighters at the top, you’re talking about martial artists.
“This is a sport of respect and honour and doing the right thing, not taking shortcuts to get to the top. Making money… this is just pathetic, that’s all I can say.”
