4 Opponents for Daniel Cormier if Brock Lesnar does not return after Roman Reigns' Leukemia

Brock Lesnar is rumoured to be returning to the UFC in 2019. In fact, this is extremely believable given that the performer joined the USADA testing pool which would qualify him for a late January return to the company in 2019.

However, a tragedy has since befallen WWE, which might be directly affecting Lesnar's return to the fight promotion.

Roman Reigns, the star who had been built as the face of the company for the past 4+ years, contracted Leukemia. He had beaten Leukemia before, but the disease made a return, which forced him to step away from the company to recover and combat the disease in an appropriate manner.

What has since been seen as a problem, however, is the fact that in Reigns' absence, there is a noticeable gap at the top tier of the WWE. As such, according to many rumors and reports, this has led to Vince McMahon handing out a contract to Brock Lesnar which will see him tied up with WWE for the next year, at least until WrestleMania.

Now, on the other side of things, Lesnar's prospective opponent for his return was none other than Daniel Cormier. Cormier has announced that he plans to retire by the 20th of March, 2019.

If Lesnar is tied up in WWE affairs until WrestleMania, there is almost no way for him to take on this fight as well, seeing how WrestleMania 35 is set to take place on the 7th of April in 2019.

So, in such a situation where Cormier's potentially last fight is concerned, he needs a proper opponent.

In this article, we will be talking about three possible opponents for Daniel Cormier if Brock Lesnar does not return due to Roman Reigns' illness.

#4 Stipe Miocic:

Stipe Miocic might finally get the fight that he has been looking for since UFC 226

If there is one fighter who is deserving of a chance at the UFC Heavyweight Title, it is none other than Stipe Miocic.

Having successfully defended the title for a while, he lost it against Daniel Cormier, a fight which he was the favorite for.

Unfortunately, Cormier got on the inside and knocked him out, something Miocic won't be forgetting soon.

Miocic has been vocal about not getting a rematch for the title and has been looking for one ever since his loss. With Lesnar possibly out of the picture, he will be looking to secure a rematch against Cormier to set the records straight.

#3 Cain Velasquez:

Cain Velasquez may be looking for a big comeback once he returns from his hiatus

Cain Velasquez has been out of competition in the UFC for more than 2 years. The legendary fighter has been anything but someone to count out, with 4 wins in his last 5 fights.

He was the UFC Heavyweight Champion but unfortunately lost the title in a fight to Fabricio Werdum. While he was supposed to get a rematch for the title, he never got the opportunity due to injury problems.

Instead, he faced Travis Browne and beat him. While he was supposed to continue, bone spurs were discovered on his back, which resulted in him having to take time off to heal.

Now after a two-year hiatus, he is almost ready to make his return to the Octagon.

What better way to do it than going for the title that he never got the rematch he deserved for? Daniel Cormier better watch out if this is the last fight of his career.

#2 Francis Ngannou

Francis Ngannou might be on his way back up

Francis Ngannou had a terrible year in 2018. He may have started looking for the UFC Heavyweight Title against Stipe Miocic, but a loss there caused a big first stumble in his UFC career.

Anyone can stumble, but often it's about how they manage to bounce back from their loss that matters. Extremely unfortunately, following his loss to Miocic in January, when he went on to face Derrick Lewis, things did not improve for Ngannou.

In a fight where both fighters were timid to say the least, Lewis came away with the win over Ngannou. Criticized by the fans heavily for the nature of the fight, Ngannou looked like he was done.

So, when he defeated Curtis Blaydes in only a few seconds at UFC Fight Night 141, everyone concerned was extremely surprised.

One of the top-ranked UFC Heavyweight Fighters, following the win over Blaydes, Ngannou has proved he is far from done.

A fight against Daniel Cormier for the UFC Heavyweight Championship may be just the second chance that he has been looking for.

#1 Jon Jones

Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier have history, but a history that neither fighter will be too fond of.

While Cormier knows that Jones is most probably his opponent, should the Lesnar fight not happen, he revealed that he had made his peace with not facing Jones.

The last two times the two squared off, both time it was Jones who had won. However, following both fights, Jones was found to fail the drug tests, and both times he was stripped of the UFC Light Heavyweight Title.

Cormier is none too fond of Jones, having suffered the only losses of his career against him. If the two do face off, Cormier will be looking to set the record straight.

Now facing Alexander Gustafsson at Light Heavyweight following his controversial 15-month suspension, Jones may end up facing Cormier at Heavyweight in March if the Lesnar fight does not work out.

Will this time end differently than the last two times the rivals faced each other?

Edited by Kishan Prasad