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MMA

04th Apr 2019

Brock Lesnar set to return to UFC in August for shot at heavyweight title

Daniel Cormier will welcome the challenge

Darragh Murphy

Brock Lesnar will be 42 the next time he steps through the Octagon doors.

Lesnar is reportedly in talks for a sensational UFC comeback, with a shot at the heavyweight title on offer this August.

The report comes from Ariel Helwani, who is one of the best-connected journalists in MMA, and it states that the UFC is currently targeting a monster clash between Lesnar and current heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier.

UFC 240 doesn’t yet have a date or location but that would most be the most likely pay-per-view for Cormier’s next title defence.

Lesnar, a former UFC heavyweight champion, last competed at UFC 200 in July 2016, when he claimed a unanimous decision over Mark Hunt but that result was overturned after Lesnar tested positive for a banned substance.

Since Lesnar last fought, Cormier defended, lost and regained the UFC light heavyweight title before he returned to heavyweight last year and knocked out Stipe Miocic to win the belt. ‘DC’ successfully defended that title against Derrick Lewis last November.

Cormier originally intended to retire before his 40th birthday two weeks ago but has been persuaded by UFC President Dana White to hang around for another while.

While intriguing fights such as the rematch against Miocic and the realisation of a trilogy with Jon Jones remain open to ‘DC’, he has made no secret of his desire to share the Octagon with Lesnar in what would likely represent his biggest payday to date.

Lesnar was a massive draw for the UFC during his rise to the top of the heavyweight division and he is credited with two of the most successful pay-per-views in the organisation’s history.

And while Lesnar is currently scheduled to take part in WrestleMania this weekend, he is apparently eager to challenge himself with another MMA outing.

“I think Brock and Cormier want that fight,” White recently said. “I owe Cormier a lot. Cormier wants that fight, so Cormier’s going to get it.”