Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar

By Jesse Heitz

Today’s piece centers on the possible future of one of MMA’s biggest names, even though the man no longer competes in the sport.  The man I’m talking about is of course Brock Lesnar, one of the sport’s biggest draws, and a man that can still capture the attention of the MMA media.

In a recent interview published by MMAFighting, professional wrestling mastermind Paul Heyman weighed in on Lesnar and his possible future in MMA, stating,

“I think he’s very, very happy right now with what we’re doing in WWE.  It’s (returning to fight in UFC) not a subject he has to think about. If the deal ends up over in WWE, if a change of circumstances happens, and if it’s a no-brainer to get him back into the cage, I’m sure it’s something he’d consider. Right now, it’s not a topic of conversation. Why would you mess up the WWE deal?”

“Brock Lesnar avoids watching UFC because every person that he watches, he will turn and say, `I could whip that guy’s ass.’ Sometimes I’ll say, `Did you happen to see this fight because it’s really good?’ The one I remember, I couldn’t believe the butchering that Cain Velasquez put on Bigfoot. Cain Velasquez is the Abdullah the Butcher of the Octagon. He scars everyone he faces. He scarred Brock Lesnar. He not only beats people within an inch of their lives, he bloodies and massacres guys in the Octagon, and he’s the nicest guy, which makes him so scary. He doesn’t have to be loud, and then he gets into the cage, he’s the Tasmanian devil, a whirling dervish. He’s the devil.”

This is a particularly interesting topic of discussion as it combines two of my longstanding passions, MMA and professional wrestling.  I know, they’re like water and oil, they just don’t go together.  I’m also well aware of the absolute thrashing pro-wrestling fans take by many members of the fight community on MMA forums.  However, I still maintain that a person can admire both sports for their own exciting qualities.

With that disclaimer having been put in writing we can move on to the meat of this story.  Would Lesnar turn from the WWE and return to MMA?  I think Heyman is right on the money.  Of course “money” is the operative word here.  If the price were right and the physical expenditure were less than or equal to what the WWE currently requires of him there’s no reason not to think that Lesnar wouldn’t jump ship again.

I mean let’s be serious here.  Lesnar is known for chasing both the dollar and whims.  There’s nothing inherently wrong with that to be sure, after all it’s his body and career and he’s entitled to do what he wants.  However, Heyman alludes to the bigger point here as well, that if Lesnar were to re-enter MMA, notably the payday rich UFC, there’s no way he comes out on top against the likes of Velasquez and the heavyweight division’s elite.