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Former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Brock Lesnar is heavily rumored to be returning to the Octagon in early 2019.
Lesnar has re-entered the USADA testing pool and despite his status as a WWE contracted performer, is expected to have a clause in his deal to allow him to fight in UFC whenever he so wishes.
Lesnar first competed in UFC way back in February 2008 at UFC 81: Breaking Point in a clash with former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Frank Mir.
Lesnar dominated Mir but showed naivety to allow himself to be caught by a heel hook that left him no choice but to tap out, despite experiencing no physical punishment in the contest.
Lesnar rebounded strongly at UFC 87, defeating perennial contender, Heath Herring before winning the UFC Heavyweight crown from the legendary, Randy Couture at UFC 91 on November 15, 2009.
Lesnar's reign as champion encompassed victories over Mir in a re-match at UFC 100 and a dramatic win over the previously undefeated, Shane Carwin at UFC 116.
However, Lesnar's status as the best in the MMA world was dealt a massive blow when he dropped the title to Cain Velasquez at UFC 121 in October 2010. A further loss to veteran, Alistair Overeem ended Lesnar's UFC career.
Lesnar's MMA career had been severely damaged by intestinal issues after he was diagnosed with Diverticulitis, which greatly sapped his strength and agility.
However, with several years to recover and recuperate, Lesnar made a surprise but successful return to the Octagon in 2016 at UFC 200 wherein he defeated the legendary Mark Hunt.
Unfortunately for Lesnar, the euphoria of this victory was short lived as he failed two drug tests which caused the result of the Hunt bout to be overturned to a No Contest.
Despite the ignominy of his last MMA fight, Lesnar seems set to prove himself in the world of legitimate fighting once more.
But who would Lesnar likely face in the Octagon if he returns in 2019 as rumoured. SK looks at the five likeliest candidates.
#5 Mark Hunt
Brock Lesnar and Mark Hunt have fought before.
Their clash in a featured bout at UFC 200 ended in a Unanimous Decision win for Lesnar but was later overturned to No Contest after Lesnar failed two post-fight drug tests.
The failed tests resulted in Lesnar receiving a 12-month ban from competition; a punishment that was paused when Lesnar exited the testing pool and returned to action in WWE.
However, in July 2018, it was announced that Lesnar had re-entered the testing pool and was expected to return to the Octagon in 2019.
His most recent opponent, Hunt, a vocal critic of UFC for continuing to work with fighters who repeatedly fail drug tests as well as the fighters themselves, was disgusted.
Hunt has stated that he would likely leave UFC if and when Lesnar returns. However, would he turn the opportunity down to exact some degree of revenge by knocking out that "cheat Lesnar?"
A Lesnar/Hunt re-match would likely be an exciting contest to behold and despite Hunt's protestations to the contrary, could conceivably occur in 2019.
#4 Derrick Lewis
Could 2019 bring a fight between the "Beast" and the "Black Beast" to the masses?
Derrick Lewis lost last time out in a Heavyweight title battle with champion, Daniel Cormier but despite his loss, remains a contender for that title.
Lewis is likely only one victory away from another crack at the Heavyweight crown. There is every likelihood that could well be against Brock Lesnar.
Standing 6 feet three inches tall and weighing 265 pounds, Lewis is the same height and virtually Lesnar's equal in weight too.
While their tale of the tape would be virtually identical, this would be a fight of two contrasting styles as the older Lesnar would likely rely on his substantial amateur wrestling skills whilst Lewis would attempt to knock out Lesnar with his iron fists.
This would be an excellent spectacle and one UFC should book at it's earliest opportunity.
#3 Junior dos Santos
Former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Junior dos Santos would once have been a daunting opponent for Brock Lesnar.
At the peak of his powers, dos Santo's hand speed, flexibility, conditioning, and clinch skills would have given Lesnar plenty to think about.
A Lesnar/dos Santos bout could well have been as one-sided as the Lesnar/Cain Velasquez fight at UFC 121, back in October 2010.
However, in 2018, dos Santos has not won consecutive fights in six years and Lesnar is the fresher of the two, having only fought once in the past seven years and enjoyed a part-time schedule in WWE over the past six years.
Lesnar, even at 41 years old would likely be the favorite in their fight. Despite neither being at their peak, a battle of the former champions would still be an enticing attraction and could easily go either way.
#2 Jon Jones
Jon Jones will return to the Octagon in December 2018 to face Alexander Gustaffson, likely with the Light-Heavyweight Championship at stake but could he step up a weigh class to face Brock Lesnar?
He could. Light-Heavyweights stepping up to compete at Heavyweight is a well-worn path that such legends of the Octagon like Randy Couture and Daniel Cormier have done to great success.
Jones and Lesnar have been talking up a potential fight for years. In fact, a bout between the pair was seriously mooted in July 2017 but was scuppered when Jones tested positive for a banned substance and received a lengthy suspension.
But with both men free to compete once more, Jones has been voicing his will to fight the "Beast" once again.
Lesnar is not one to turn down a challenge and a fight between these two would also make both competitors considerably richer.
If the stars align, these two will compete against each other in 2019.
#1 Daniel Cormier
Brock Lesnar versus Daniel Cormier is the fight that everyone is talking about. Although nothing is confirmed nor signed, the expectation among the MMA world is that Cormier will defend the UFC Heavyweight Championship versus Lesnar sometime in early 2019.
An enticing attraction between the current and former champion, Lesnar outweighs the incumbent Cormier by at least 20 pounds and is around five inches taller as well.
Cormier's greatest attribute is his awesome submission skills but how can he get close enough to Lesnar to put his opponent in that position when he gives away so much height and weight?
Observers may point to Cormier's win over the similarly sized Derrick Lewis as proof Cormier can do just that but unlike Lewis, Lesnar has greater conditioning and far superior submission defenses.
Lesnar is more than a match for Cormier, which is what makes this potential fight so exciting.
It will happen. It's just a matter of when.
