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Alistair Overeem doesn’t think Brock Lesnar will return to MMA.
Brock Lesnar’s potential return to MMA is the talk of the town at the moment, but Alistair Overeem doesn’t think his former opponent will return to the cage.
Overeem (46-18, 1NC) is no stranger to Lesnar (5-3, 1NC) as he had the task of facing the former heavyweight champion in his UFC debut in 2011. “The Demolition Man” won the fight by first-round KO and Lesnar has fought just once in the UFC since the loss.
Talking to TMZ Sports, Overeem explained why he thinks Lesnar’s fighting days are well and truely over with.
“I don’t think he’s gonna come back,” Overeem said. “He’s 43 years old. To be honest, I don’t think he’s gonna come back. The last time he came back, it was a debacle so I don’t think he’s gonna come back. I was wrong about the last time though, because I predicted the same thing. It actually did become a debacle, but we’ll see what happens.” (Transcription via MMA Fighting)
Lesnar’s UFC return in 2016 was bittersweet, as he won a decision against Mark Hunt at UFC 200, which was later overturned to a no-content due a failed drug test. Lesnar was later fined $250,000 and handed a one-year ban by USADA.
“I beat him up,” Overeem said. “So if somebody wants a rematch, it would be him. I already did it. Why would I chase him? Who cares about Brock? Which fans? He’s not coming back. He’s 43 years old, he’s flunked tests, it’s over with him. He’s not coming back. Last time the waived the testing for him and still he got into trouble. It’s been a debacle. He’s not gonna come back. Listen, if he does, all hats off to him, but I don’t think he’s gonna come back.”
Overeem fights Augusto Sakai in the main event of UFC Vegas 9 this Saturday, September 9.