The best and worst of UFC 226

#1 Worst: UFC’s treatment of Lesnar makes a mockery of the idea of a “clean sport”

Brock Lesnar brings eyeballs to the UFC, but he's still a drug cheat

Okay, so it was extremely memorable when former UFC Heavyweight champ and current WWE champ Brock Lesnar stepped into the Octagon after Saturday’s main event was over to square up to the newly crowned champ Cormier, apparently to set up a title fight for later in 2018. But what kind of message does this really send out?

Remember, Lesnar is a 40-year old man who – outside of one fight in 2016 – hasn’t fought regularly since 2010 and originally retired in 2011.

The last time he picked up an official win in the UFC was in July 2010. Of course, he did beat Mark Hunt in that 2016 return, but tested positive for the PED clomiphene afterwards and has been suspended by USADA ever since.

The UFC has never had any qualms with preferential treatment for fighters who draw the most money – think Conor McGregor or Nate Diaz – but this is the first time they’ve ever really brought the idea of a “clean sport” – something they’ve been pushing since joining forces with USADA in 2015 – into question.

Lesnar’s not only a totally undeserving title challenger, he’s also a proven drug cheat. What kind of message does allowing him to casually walk back in to probably the biggest fight of 2018 really send out?

The wrong one, basically – however, cool his confrontation with Cormier was.