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Brock Lesnar competed in UFC between 2008 and 2011, making an one off appearance at UFC 200 in July 2016.
Lesnar has competed eight times for the company in total, winning four, losing three and with one No Contest.
Lesnar made his name as a professional wrestler, competing for WWE most famously, between 2002 and 2004. He also competed for New Japan Pro Wrestling between 2005 and 2006.
In 2007, he made his debut in MMA, a logical career path for him, considering his excellent record as an amateur wrestler, which saw him win the NCAA Division 1 title twice.
Lesnar's career in UFC began the following year to much fanfare and also derision from a large section of the MMA fanbase who regarded him as a "fake" wrestler.
Lesnar didn't start at the bottom of the food chain however. He was immediately booked to fight former Heavyweight Champion, Frank Mir in his UFC debut at UFC 81, in February 2008. Despite dominating Mir, Lesnar got caught by a heel hook and was forced to tap out. His first fight in UFC had ended in defeat.
Lesnar bounced back of course. He would reign as Heavyweight Champion between 2008 and 2010 and compete in many thrilling bouts before he retired from the sport due to health issues and rejoined WWE in 2012.
Lesnar made an unexpected return to the Octagon in 2016 for UFC's 200th pay per view (in actuality it's 201st, owing to UFC 37.5), where he defeated Mark Hunt in an impressive performance. However, the result was later overturned when Lesnar subsequently failed two drug tests.
Now In December 2018, Lesnar has re-entered the USADA testing pool and is expected to compete in the Octagon again in 2019. Whether it is against current Heavyweight Champion. Daniel Cormier remains to be seen.
In the following slideshow SK relives the five best Brock Lesnar fights in UFC.
#5 Alistair Overeem - UFC 141 (December 30, 2011)
Brock Lesnar returned from a lengthy lay off to fight Alistair Overeem in what proved to be his final MMA fight in five years.
Lesnar was coming off his loss of the Heavyweight Championship and was attempting to get back into contention versus another top contender in the division. However, Lesnar looked a shadow of his former self in this entertaining bout, that was one sided, admittedly in favour of Overeem.
Lesnar threw a leg kick first up and both men began to trade blows. Overeem took control when he landed heavy knees which caused the "Beast" to double over in pain.
Lesnar tried to punch his way back into contention but Overeem withstood the assault and unloaded some big left hands followed by a huge leg kick to the body, causing Lesnar to stumble to the mat. Overeem jumped on top of him and unleashed a barrage for the TKO win.
A memorable match; just not a good result for Lesnar.
#4 Mark Hunt - UFC 200 (July 9, 2016)
Brock Lesnar's big return to the Octagon, came almost five years after his last appearance inside the cage. That gave Lesnar sufficient time to recover from his diverticulitis related health issues.
A vast improvement in Lesnar's strength and mobility saw him dominate the legendary Mark Hunt. Lesnar repeatedly took Hunt down and used his excellent ground and pound offence to defeat his opponent, with short punches doing even more damage than his massive haymakers.
Lesnar was awarded the win by Unanimous Decision and no one could argue with that call. Two failed drug tests saw the fight overturned to a No Contest and this fight as of December 2018 is Lesnar's final one inside the Octagon.
Hunt was livid by the manner of his loss and Lesnar still has a point to prove. Can he do so in 2019?
#3 Randy Couture - UFC 91 (November 15, 2008)
Many scoffed when Brock Lesnar was named the number one contender to the UFC Heavyweight Championship versus three time titleholder, Randy Couture with a record of 1-1 inside the Octagon.
Regardless of whether he deserved the shot or not, Lesnar was every bit the match for the Hall of Famer, Couture.
Lesnar, unsurprisingly overpowered Couture, driving him into the fence and took him down, unleashing some heavy ground and pound blows. Couture withstood the assault and looked to take the initiative in the guard.
Couture tried to find space to work a submission but the sheer size of Lesnar prevented him from being able to do so.
When the fight got standing, it was all Lesnar. The "Beast" landed a big time right hand that knocked Couture down. Lesnar was the Heavyweight Champion of the world.
#2 Frank Mir - UFC 100 (July 11, 2009)
UFC 100 played host to the big rematch between Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir from UFC 81, wherein Mir had defeated Lesnar in the "Beast's" UFC debut via submission.
Lesnar was incensed by Mir's post-fight comments in which the former Heavyweight Champion had derided Lesnar's abilities. This added a huge amount of intrigue and intensity to the Heavyweight Championship clash.
The rematch couldn't have been more different than their first encounter. The larger Lesnar took Mir down and patiently smashed him again and again with deliberate elbows that badly cut up Mir's face.
Lesnar immediately took Mir down once more in the second round but allowed Mir back to his feet. The former Heavyweight Champion nearly made Lesnar pay for that by tagging him with a big right hand and a flying knee.
Lesnar and Mir ended up back on the mat once more and Lesnar repeatedly smashed Mir in the face until the referee, Herb Dean jumped in for the TKO finish.
Lesnar screamed in Mir's face post-fight as if to prove a point. Lesnar was the man; the top dog in the Heavyweight division.
#1 Shane Carwin - UFC 116 (July 3, 2010)
Brock Lesnar's UFC Heavyweight Championship defence against unbeaten challenger Shane Carwin was the draw for UFC 116 and the main event delivered in spades.
Carwin had finished all 12 of his previous opponents in the first round and came close to doing the same to Lesnar.
Carwin unleashed a barrage of blows, pummelling the champion up against the fence. Lesnar could not respond and did extremely well to manoeuvre himself out of danger. Lesnar showed immense heart to hang in there and survive to round two.
In the longest match of his career, Carwin tired and an opportunistic Lesnar was able to take full advantage to lock in a submission for the win. It was Lesnar's finest MMA fight and an incredibly entertaining battle of the behemoths.
Lesnar was still the reigning Heavyweight Champion. Can he regain that belt in 2019?
