Former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar (5-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) may be strongly considering a return to the world’s largest MMA promotion, according to a recent report.
In the latest addition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (subscription required), Dave Meltzer reports that Lesnar’s current bosses at professional wrestling organization WWE are working under the assumption that the 37-year-old is intent on returning to the UFC when his contract expires in March 2015.
“The Lesnar people always keep things quiet, but within the company, the belief is that he’s going back to UFC, and his showing up lighter to TV last week confirmed that to people who thought it,” Meltzer stated.
While UFC President Dana White has previously suggested he’d be willing to consider a Lesnar return to the promotion, when reached for comment, the exec said there hasn’t been any progress in recent months.
“I haven’t talked to Brock,” White told MMAjunkie via text.
In November, at the UFC’s massive “The Time is Now” press conference, White admitted thatLesnar has expressed a desire to compete again for the first time since suffering a TKO loss to Alistair Overeem at December 2011’s UFC 141 event.
“We have a great relationship with him,” White said of Lesnar. “He’s healthy, and he’s said that he’s interested in fighting again. We’ll see what happens.”
Lesnar, who came to the UFC in 2008 following a seven-year run in professional wrestling, instantly established himself as one of the most marketable fighters on the planet and earned the UFC heavyweight belt with a November 2008 TKO of Randy Couture.
Lesnar would go on to successfully defend the belt twice with stoppage wins over Frank Mir and Shane Carwin before suffering back-to-back losses to Cain Velasquez and Overeem.
The tail end of Lesnar’s MMA career was famously plagued by diverticulitis, a medical condition that required multiple surgeries and a complete restructuring of Lesnar’s diet. However, Lesnar is reportedly back to full health, which may be providing an incentive to fight again.
Although in his late 30s, Lesnar still hovers around the average age of current UFC heavyweights. It’s unknown what, if any, level of training Lesnar has maintained since his last fight. Regardless, he could find himself in big fights immediately upon his return, as he would instantly (and again) become one of the UFC’s most marketable commodities.
Bellator MMA President Scott Coker recently expressed a desire in Lesnar’s services, as well, though the organization has yet to make an official offer.
WWE officials working under assumption Brock Lesnar set for UFC return
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