Dana White Doubts Brock Lesnar Will Return to UFC
Dana White Doubts Brock Lesnar Will Return to UFC
UFC President Dana White isn't too optimistic Brock Lesnar will ever return to the Octagon.
Don’t count UFC President Dana White among those hoping to see former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar back inside the Octagon again.
"I doubt it,” White told TMZ when asked if fans could expect Lesnar returning to the UFC. “I don’t know how much longer he’s got with WWE. I think his career is winding down but he's a freak of nature. Who knows? Maybe he'll give me a call and say he wants to do it again but I think he's ready to ride off into the sunset. But we haven’t talked about it.”
Lesnar (5-3, 1 NC) earned a unanimous decision win over Mark Hunt at UFC 200 in July. This victory marked the former NCAA wrestling champion’s first professional fight since he announced his retirement back in 2011.However, the UFC later announced Lesnar had been flagged by the U.S. Anti-Doping agency for a potential violation stemming from an out-of-competition drug test from June 28.
Not soon after, it was revealed Lesnar had also been flagged for a second anti-doping violation, this time from an in-competition collection on July 9 ahead UFC 200.
As a result, the NSAC changed Lesnar’s win over Hunt was also overturned to a “No Contest” while handing him a one year suspension and $250,000 fine.
But someone White hasn’t ruled out from stepping back inside the Octagon is another former WWE Superstar in CM Punk.
Phil Brooks (0-1) made his highly publicized mixed martial arts debut against welterweight prospect Mickey Gall at UFC 203 in September. While his confidence was at an all-time high when the Octagon doors closed, Gall quickly brought him back down to reality with a dominant first round submission victory.
While White had previously stated he hoped Brooks would take a few fights outside the bright lights of the UFC, he also revealed he had yet to meet with the former Chicago native to hash out the plan.
“[CM Punk] and I have not figured that out yet but we will,” said White. “I don’t know. I just have to talk to him and see how this works out for him. The UFC is a dangerous place. It’s a tough place to come in for your first couple fight. I give him all the credit and the respect in the world for giving it a shot. But it’s a tough place to do it in.”
"I doubt it,” White told TMZ when asked if fans could expect Lesnar returning to the UFC. “I don’t know how much longer he’s got with WWE. I think his career is winding down but he's a freak of nature. Who knows? Maybe he'll give me a call and say he wants to do it again but I think he's ready to ride off into the sunset. But we haven’t talked about it.”
Lesnar (5-3, 1 NC) earned a unanimous decision win over Mark Hunt at UFC 200 in July. This victory marked the former NCAA wrestling champion’s first professional fight since he announced his retirement back in 2011.However, the UFC later announced Lesnar had been flagged by the U.S. Anti-Doping agency for a potential violation stemming from an out-of-competition drug test from June 28.
Not soon after, it was revealed Lesnar had also been flagged for a second anti-doping violation, this time from an in-competition collection on July 9 ahead UFC 200.
As a result, the NSAC changed Lesnar’s win over Hunt was also overturned to a “No Contest” while handing him a one year suspension and $250,000 fine.
But someone White hasn’t ruled out from stepping back inside the Octagon is another former WWE Superstar in CM Punk.
Phil Brooks (0-1) made his highly publicized mixed martial arts debut against welterweight prospect Mickey Gall at UFC 203 in September. While his confidence was at an all-time high when the Octagon doors closed, Gall quickly brought him back down to reality with a dominant first round submission victory.
While White had previously stated he hoped Brooks would take a few fights outside the bright lights of the UFC, he also revealed he had yet to meet with the former Chicago native to hash out the plan.
“[CM Punk] and I have not figured that out yet but we will,” said White. “I don’t know. I just have to talk to him and see how this works out for him. The UFC is a dangerous place. It’s a tough place to come in for your first couple fight. I give him all the credit and the respect in the world for giving it a shot. But it’s a tough place to do it in.”