Are you sitting down?
After years away from the sport making millions of dollars for not being punched in the head, former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar has once again retired from MMA.
Lesnar hasn’t fought since 2011 when he was handed a second consecutive first-round TKO loss, the only of his short four-year career. Lesnar relinquished his title to heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez at UFC 121 in 2010, then suffered another brutal stoppage at the hands of Alistair Overeem at UFC 141 in 2011.
Well, one man who surely isn’t happy this morning is UFC president Dana White. ‘The Lesnar Era’ introduced UFC and the sport to millions of new fans, culminating in the promotion’s single most successful pay-per-view event in 2009’s UFC 100.
Although White says he’s glad to see Lesnar happy, he and the promotion will undoubtedly lose out on a name that would have assuredly brought in millions more.
“I’m happy for him,” White told FOX Sports. “He was always a standup guy. I knew about this three hours ago. He called us and let us know. From what I understand Vince [McMahon] made him a deal that he couldn’t refuse, which is awesome. I’m happy to hear that. I’m happy for both of them.”
Lesnar, of course, re-signed with his day job, heavyweight champion of the WWE.
“This is a sport where you’ve got to be all in,” said White. “You’ve got to be like McGregor and Aldo. Brock had a really good stint here. He did some amazing things and it was fun to have him.”
Speaking with the Associated Press Tuesday afternoon after appearing on ESPN to announce his decision, Lesnar said he turned down an offer worth “10 times” his original UFC salary.
According to Lesnar, UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta even made a last ditch effort to sign the heavyweight while he was walking into ESPN’s Los Angeles studio.
“Lorenzo said to me, ‘Can we sharpen our pencil? Can we double it'” Lesnar said. “I said, ‘It’s not about that. I’m calling you to tell you where my heart is, and it’s not about the money.’
“And then in the back of my mind, I’m thinking, ‘Well, yeah, it is about the money, but I don’t have to beat myself up for it.’ To prepare for another MMA fight, we’re talking 16, 18 weeks of pure hell, and then the cage door shuts and it’s on.”
5 MUST-READ STORIES
‘My legacy in the Octagon is over.’ Former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar sticks with WWE and says he’s done with MMA.
In search of strange brew. Chuck Mindenhall tracks down TUF 1’s Jason Thacker, the quirky Canadian that trained out of the old abandoned truck stop.
Cancelled. UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw has been forced to withdraw from his rematch with Renan Barao at UFC 186.
‘Brazilian culture.’ Conor McGregor says PED use may be second nature to Jose Aldo and requests weekly drug testing.
‘I’m in his head.’ UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo believes he’s taken the mental edge against McGregor.
MEDIA STEW
UFC 189 world tour embedded episode 3.
UFC 185 fight motion will really make you appreciate Roy Nelson’s toughness.
Brock Lesnar making his announcement on ESPN.
McGregor and Aldo think each other use PEDs.
McGregor invites Aldo to sit on his lap and call him daddy.
McGregor arm-wrestling some bro with the wrist and hand he injured last year.
Long watches.
Joe Rogan Experience #628 – Garry Tonon & Eddie Bravo
…
Black Eye Podcast – Elias Theodorou on UFC 185, Fight Fame and Pre-Fight Nerves
…
Submission Radio 22/3/15 Ricardo Lamas, Felice Herrig, Jeremy Horn, Edmond Tarverdyan + UFC Rio
…
TWEETS
Trucking on.
Mr. Bundles O’Cash and Mr. Abramovich on route to Boston City. #ConAir pic.twitter.com/yz8yTJfvde
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) March 25, 2015
Get well soon.
First of all I want apologize to all my fans and everyone looking forward to this fight. I… https://t.co/McS74Hvlfg
— TJ Dillashaw (@TJDillashaw) March 24, 2015
Stolen goods.
#UFCWorldTour Embedded | episode 4 is going to be GOOD! Only stop number 3… http://t.co/9IFtlf2dOt #UFC189 https://t.co/7MAqWJFAQ0
— UFC (@ufc) March 25, 2015
Congrats.
The Weidman family is gonna get a little bigger. Happy to announce my wife is pregnant once again!!! https://t.co/XhHMl4r9n1
— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) March 24, 2015
Get it together.
To all those who think I’m not taking Mendes seriously, you need to get your heads checked. Come see me train… http://t.co/CjSO7PJzMD
— Ricardo Lamas (@RicardoLamasMMA) March 24, 2015
You think?
I see u @thefrankmir knocking on the top tens door. I am too. We gotta fight to see who goes in first.
— Todd Duffee (@ToddDuffee) March 24, 2015
Damn.
The highlight of my Game Of Thrones season premiere night was meeting Emilia Clarke (Khaleesi). She… https://t.co/Je3FZtkVXr
— Rashad Evans (@SugaRashadEvans) March 24, 2015
Exciting.
Excited to announce I’m fighting in STL for the first time since 2010. Spread the word! #ImComingHome #IronMichael pic.twitter.com/0SK7oZOnjn
— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) March 24, 2015
Not bad.
Haha yes, this is good! RT @b00mslice: #UFConFOX15 @LukeRockhold vs @lyotomachidafw get your #hadoukens ready. pic.twitter.com/UMRpxXYlcg
— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) March 25, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (March 24 2015)
Michael Chandler vs. Derek Campos joins Bellator 138, which moves to June 19
Kenny Robertson out, Tim Means vs. George Sullivan at UFC on FOX 15
Claudio Silva out, Chris Clements vs. Nordine Taleb at UFC 186
cancelled T.J. Dillashaw vs. Renan Barao at UFC 186
Kelvin Gastelum vs. Nate Marquardt at UFC 188
Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.