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All that talk of a Brock Lesnar return to the UFC just got a little complicated.
WWE announced today that Lesnar has re-signed with the professional wrestling promotion. The news comes on the heels of UFC President Dana White’s definite declaration last week that Lesnar is returning to fight in the octagon.
“Yeah, Brock Lesnar’s coming back,” White said during an appearance on FS1’s “UFC Tonight.” “I don’t know when, but yes he is.”
That led to widespread expectation that Sunday’s Wrestlemania 34 would serve as Lesnar’s final appearance in WWE, but he went on to win his match against Roman Reigns to retain the Universal Championship.
Perhaps White not knowing when Lesnar will return can be explained, at least in part, by the Sporting News’ Steven Muehlhausen, who cited multiple sources in reporting that Lesnar will be allowed to both compete in the UFC and perform for WWE.
EXCLUSIVE: Well, Vince McMahon broke part of the news I had. Indeed, Brock Lesnar has resigned with WWE. But, from what I have been told by multiple sources, Lesnar signed a new multi-year deal AND will also be allowed to fight in the UFC as hes still under UFC contract.
— Steven Muehlhausen (@SMuehlhausenMMA) April 9, 2018
The precedent for such a situation exists, with Lesnar fighting at UFC 200 in July 2016 while he remained under contract with WWE.
Lesnar (5-3-1 MMA, 4-3-1 UFC) hasn’t fought in MMA since then. The result, a win over Mark Hunt, was later overturned to a no-contest after Lesnar failed a pair of drug tests by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. Lesnar was handed a one-year suspension and later retired from the sport.
In order to return to the UFC, Lesnar has to unretire to re-enter USADA’s testing pool and serve out the remaining six-plus months on his suspension.
Contd: Lesnar’s been under a UFC contract since the announcement was made he would face Mark Hunt at UFC 200. Lesnar’s WWE contract had options that would have expired in August but McMahon really wanted him to stay as he views him and Rousey as his two biggest attractions.
— Steven Muehlhausen (@SMuehlhausenMMA) April 9, 2018
Contd: The plan is for Lesnar to fight one time this year vs the winner between Stipe Miocic-Daniel Cormier fight at UFC 226. Lesnar still has to formally reenter the USADA drug testing pool and finish his suspension which is around 6 months.
— Steven Muehlhausen (@SMuehlhausenMMA) April 9, 2018
White said last week that Lesnar’s first fight back could be for the heavyweight title against the winner of the showdown between champ Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier, who holds the 205-pound title.
That was music to Cormier’s ears.
“I think Conor (McGregor) called it, ‘Red Panty Night,’” Cormier said. “When you go on a card with Brock Lesnar, or fight Brock Lesnar, it’s like ‘Green Panty Night,’ because it’s raining money. When you fight Brock, you’re getting paid.”
Even before this, Lesnar has been the subject of some big callouts while he’s been away from MMA. Following his win at UFC 217, Jon Jones put Lesnar on notice that he wanted to fight, though that lost steam in the wake of Jones’ imminent suspension from USADA for his own failed drug test. Ex-title challenger Francis Ngannou expressed his desire to take on Lesnar.
For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, visit the UFC Rumors section of the site.
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