Late last year, Brock Lesnar said he felt he got “robbed” by diverticulitis that cost him the prime of his UFC career. Now, as he prepares for a one-off return at UFC 200, Lesnar’s ready to prove to the world he’s still got it.
Appearing Monday morning on SportsCenter, Lesnar revealed he will face Mark Hunt at the July 9 pay-per-view.
“It could be anybody,” Lesnar told Hannah Storm. “I didn’t care…I think I match up very well.”
The promotion announced Lesnar, 38, would return as a co-main event at next month’s UFC 200 at Saturday’s UFC 199 pay-per-view. Lesnar has not competed inside the octagon since being knocked out by Alistair Overeem at UFC 141, nearly five full years ago. He finished his initial MMA run with a 5-3 record, though the Overeem loss came amid Lesnar still dealing with diverticulitis.
The digestive disorder, which counts abdominal pain and nausea among its symptoms, caused Lesnar to 12 inches of his colon. It also prematurely ended his UFC career and sparked a return to WWE, where he’s been one of sports entertainment’s biggest draws.
The flirtation between UFC and Lesnar, however is nothing new. He seriously contemplated another UFC run last year when his contract with WWE expired. While he ultimately chose to return to WWE on a three-year contract, it’s clear he was never over the octagon itch.
“It wasn’t a bluff,” Lesnar said on the Stone Cold Steve Austin podcast last year (via Ryan McKinnell of Yahoo Sports) . “I felt robbed by diverticulitis. I felt robbed by being sick. I was feeling good and it took me a couple years to start feeling good. I’m at home, I’m working out, my life is great, everything’s in tune, my contract’s coming to an end with WWE, hey it’s been a great time but something’s missing.
“I started a training camp. I wanted to test myself and see where I was, not more physical, but mentally. I wanted to see the mental challenges that it was going to take. If your head’s not in the game, the last place you want to get into is in the Octagon.”
WWE categorized Lesnar’s appearance at UFC 200 as a “one-off opportunity.” It’s clear the company would have no interest in allowing Lesnar out of his new deal with two years remaining, so they’ll use this as a cross-promotional tool for August’s SummerSlam. There have been rumors UFC 202 will help promote SummerSlam in some capacity, but that has not been confirmed.
“I’m a crossover athlete. I’m a modern-day Bo Jackson,” Lesnar said. “I couldn’t be more excited and honored that both companies have faith in Brock Lesnar to step back in the Octagon.”
Still, it’s clear WWE will get something out of this deal. UFC and WWE have often been publicly at odds in the past, so their willingness to work together for Lesnar speaks volumes of his star power and indicates something big might happen in the future. Perhaps it’s merely SummerSlam promotion, or this could lead to the long-rumored Ronda Rousey wrestling debut.
Either way, Lesnar will walk into next month’s pay-per-view with eyeballs across the sports world fixated on him.
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