WWE manager Paul Heyman hints that Brock Lesnar could return to the UFC.
Could WWE superstar Brock Lesnar return to the UFC this year?
UFC president Dana White wouldn’t be shocked to see the former heavyweight champion back in the Octagon, and WWE promoter and manager Paul Heyman said Lesnar is ‘always ready’ to fight anyone, anywhere.
“I think Brock Lesnar does whatever Brock Lesnar wants to do,” Heyman told TMZ Sports in a recent interview, per MMA Fighting’s Jed Meshew. “If Brock Lesnar wants to fight in UFC, Brock Lesnar will fight in UFC. If Brock Lesnar wants to fight in WWE, he will fight in WWE. Ask Braun Strowman, ask Randy Orton, ask ‘The Undertaker,’ Brock Lesnar does what Brock Lesnar wants to do.”
Lesnar, who is currently contracted to WWE, returned to MMA after a five-year hiatus in 2017. The heavyweight juggernaut cruised to a unanimous decision over combat sports veteran Mark Hunt at UFC 200 but his win was overturned to a No Contest (NC) after it was revealed he tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).
Lesnar’s one-year suspension was frozen when the 40-year-old removed himself from USADA’s (United States Anti-Doping Agency) drug testing pool. If he’s interested in a return to the UFC, Lesnar will have to re-enter the testing pool and serve out the remainder of his suspension (six months).
Heyman, Lesnar’s long-time manager, said the wrestling powerhouse has had the chance to heal his body since leaving MMA and believes he could be one of the healthiest fighters in the heavyweight division.
“The time away actually makes him better because it gives his body gets a chance to heal,” Heyman said. “The problem with these UFC fighters – and they are all fantastic athletes, top of the line in the entire world – is that they wear their body’s down in these training camps. All these guys that are cutting weight are just destroying their own bodies. Brock Lesnar is probably the healthiest fighter to enter UFC if he decides to do that.”
Lesnar was originally hyped for a super-fight against former light heavyweight champ Jon Jones, but ‘Bones’ tested positive for steroids after his UFC 214 championship rematch against Daniel Cormier and was subsequently suspended and removed from the UFC rankings.
Lesnar may not be heavyweight championship material at this late stage of his career but the NCAA Division I wrestling standout could easily compete against any top-ten contender.
Bloody Elbow will keep you updated if Lesnar re-enters USADA’s drug testing pool.