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What’s the story?
During the UFC 25th anniversary press conference, UFC President Dana White and several other MMA personalities opened up on a myriad of topics.
White revealed that Brock Lesnar is still under contract with the UFC. Besides, White reiterated his aforementioned claims during the UFC 223 post-fight press conference as well.
In case you didn’t know…
Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar is widely regarded as one of the biggest box office draws in combat sports history.
Lesnar, who rose to prominence in the WWE during the early-2000s, transitioned to the sport of MMA and went on to win the UFC Heavyweight title.
However, the latter half of Lesnar’s reign as UFC Heavyweight Champion was marked by his battle with the life-threatening disease, diverticulitis, which is said to have adversely affected his performances inside the Octagon, as he ended up losing back-to-back fights at the hands of Cain Velasquez & Alistair Overeem by way of KO/TKO.
The heart of the matter
Brock Lesnar returned to the WWE in 2012 and, has been working a part-time schedule in WWE ever since, except his one-off UFC fight against Mark Hunt at UFC 200 in 2016.
During the UFC 25th anniversary presser, Dana White noted Lesnar will have to get into the USADA (United States Anti Doping Agency) testing pool before he’s allowed to compete in the UFC. White stated:
"No, that (Lesnar fighting in the UFC) is not one-hundred percent, I mean, he's still under contract with the UFC, but we have not signed him to a fight…He's still under contract with us, he still has fights on his deal. He just has to get into the USADA pool."
Furthermore, during the UFC 223 post-fight press conference, White doubled down, explaining that Lesnar has multiple fights left on his UFC contract.
White added that Lesnar has spoken to him recently, and informed the former that he genuinely intends to return to the UFC (*Courtesy--MMA Weekly)—
What’s next?
As previously noted by Dana White, given that Brock Lesnar retired from the sport of MMA after UFC 200, per the USADA guidelines he’s obligated to serve 6 more months of his suspension.
Lesnar failed a couple of steroid tests in relation to his UFC 200 matchup and is yet to complete the remainder 6 months, to be specific of the suspension that was handed down to him.
Lesnar defends his WWE Universal Championship against Roman Reigns, at WrestleMania 34 tonight, following which he’s likely to leave the WWE and return to UFC and the sport of MMA.
Author’s take
Brock Lesnar is an exceptional wrestler and a true athletic specimen.
Here’s hoping Dana White’s words ring true, and martial arts fans get the honor of watching the 'Beast' wreak havoc in the UFC Heavyweight division once again.
