Brock nation
Backed by legions of fans, Lesnar returns to octagon with shot to become a legend
LAS VEGAS — When a list of all-time multisport athletes is mentioned, the names Jim Thorpe, Bo Jackson, Jim Brown and Deion Sanders come to mind. If Brock Lesnar can become t he UFC heavyweight champion again, he becomes part of that discussion. His résumé already includes being an NCAA Divi - sion I wrestling champion, a five-time world champion in professional wrestling, a former UFC heavyweight champion and a brief stint with the Minnesota Vikings. He returns to the octagon for the first time in nearly five years Saturday night as part of the historic UFC 200 card at the T-Mobile Arena. Lesnar, who turns 39 next week, last fought at UFC 141 on Dec. 30, 2011, where he lost to Alistair Overeem by first-round TKO. Lesnar was trying to compete though a persistent case of diverticulitis, a digestive disease. Saturday night he faces the seasoned Mark Hunt in a nontitle heavyweight bout on a stacked mixed martial art s card — in what is now the main event as the rematch of Jon “Bones” Jones and Daniel Cormier for the UFC light heavyweight championship was scrapped late Wednesday when the UFC announced Jones is being suspended for testing positive for a banned substance. Unlike the brash persona he displays as a WWE star, Lesnar has embraced an opportunity to resume his MMA career and erase some of the negative memories of his last appearance in the octagon.
“I love this sport,” he said recently. “I believe I was meant to be a fighter and an entertainer. Absolutely, I want to get back in. I was forced out of this because of an illness I had. I tried to be the competitor I wanted to be. But it’s hard to do when you have a disease. I’m in a whole different spot physically and mentally. Before I’m a 40-year-old man I want to get back into the cage.”
It’s easy to see Lesnar with his WWE background and view him as more actor than athlete. But the skill to perform in the WWE requires a gifted breed. He also showed enough talent in football to spend eight weeks in the Vikings training camp in 2004, his first taste of football since high school.
After winning his share of Wrestle-Manias, Lesnar began his MMA career in 2007 and signed with the UFC in 2008. He lost his debut to Frank Mir at UFC 81, beat Heath Herring at UFC 87 and then captured the UFC heavyweight title by dethroning MMA legend Randy Couture at UFC 91 in November 2008. He would fight only four more times before announcing his retirement.
A huge draw during his brief tenure in the UFC, his late addition to Saturday’s lineup is added value for what figures to be a record-breaking pay-per-view sale.
“I was sitting there one day on my property and thought ‘I can’t sit and think about this and wishing and wondering if I should do it,’ ” he said. “I’m a person that pulls the trigger. I don’t want any regrets.”
This i sn’t about someone needing money or trying to prove something to skeptics who think he’s a poster child for PED use. “I’m a white boy and I’m jacked. Deal with it,” is Lesnar’s response.
This might be a one-time fight or the start of another pursuit for a heavyweight championship. If he wins Saturday, figure on the latter and perhaps an appearance at UFC 205 set for Madison Square Garden in November.
“Since I left the octagon and lost to Overeem and was forced out of the cage because of my illness, it has haunted me for a long time,” Lesnar said. “I didn’t want to spend the rest of my days on this earth wondering why I didn’t step in the cage again.”
The competition in the heavyweight division is deeper than it was when Lesnar first appeared. Stipe Miocic is the UFC beltholder after his stunning upset of Fabricio Werdum at UFC 198. He’ll defend against Overeem at UFC 203. Cain Valesquez, Andrei Arlovski and Junior dos Santos are all top-tier fighters.
If Lesnar can somehow win the UFC heavyweight championship again, he has to be included in any discussion of all-time athletes.