Brock Lesnar Retires from UFC : Brock Lesnar has decided to retire and the UFC will now head toward a different path for their reigning Heavyweight Champion, Daniel Cormier.
“He told me he’s done, he’s retired,” White told ESPN on Wednesday. “We’re going to move in another direction with Cormier.”
Brock Lesnar Versus Daniel Cormier was a dream match many fans around the world were looking forward to. The match had been highly anticipated ever since Lesnar’s post match interference at UFC 226 last year in July (Cormier won the Heavyweight championship from Stipe Miocic via first-round knockout).
The word going around is Former Champion, Miocic could replace Lesnar in the main event showdown on August 18. When spoken to after the news broke out Miocic said:
“I’m ready. I’ve been ready. And I’m going to take back what’s mine.”
Dana White: “Brock Lesnar told me he’s done. He’s retiring.”
UFC pivoting interest in Cormier’s next fight to Stipe Miocic rematch. Story coming via myself and @arielhelwani shortly.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) May 1, 2019
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But what does this mean for Brock Lesnar’s Future ?
Since the doping incident in mid-2016 where he tested positive for a banned substance and was handed a yearlong ban by UFC a lot has happened in his career. He retired from the MMA company, became a two-time Universal champion on WWE Raw. He even had the longest modern-day world championship reign in WWE along with becoming the highest earning Superstar in Vince McMahon’s circus!
But he did all of this on his own terms and conditions as he used his superstardom and repeated threats to join the UFC again to get what he wanted. The UFC rumors helped him leverage a contract and tailor it with cushions such as limited appearances (The major reason why many wrestling fans claimed that he was keeping the Universal Championship Hostage) and an inflated salary.
Dana White had claimed in March that Lesnar and Cormier were itching to have a go at each other and his return to the octagon and a subsequent match between them was inevitable. A claim that was further bolstered by Brock’s loss at the hands of Seth Rollins at this year’s Wrestlemania. The conclusion of which fueled rumors that he was done with wrestling and was taking the time off to prepare for their bout in August.
But now that he has finally called it quits with UFC once again it will be interesting to see if a similar decision is followed in wrestling as well.
To be fair Brock Lesnar has not really been in shape or top fitness for quite sometime now. It is very possible that he decided to quit to keep his dignity intact and not leave the octagon with his head between his legs. But these are issues he doesn’t have to bother himself with much in the squared circle.
Brock Lesnar has been listed in the June 7th event in Saudi Arabia, so we know that he’s not done with the squared circle for now but his future beyond that is purely speculative. However, the scripted nature of wrestling will probably suit the Beast more. Using a safer method in the ring, he can prolong his career for a good five to seven more years. A luxury he wouldn’t have been able to afford in the octagon.
But only time will tell in what capacity and role will Lesnar continue in the sports entertainment industry and for how long.
