Known as "The Beast Incarnate," former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar has retired from the UFC for a third time. UFC President Dana White told ESPN that Lesnar informed him that "he's done" as a mixed martial arts fighter despite Lesnar being linked to a potential UFC title fight with current heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier.
Lesnar retired for the first time after losing at UFC 141 back in 2011, then retired again in 2017 after the Nevada State Athletic Commission suspended him for failing drug tests at UFC 200. This time, the 41-year-old WWE superstar appears to be done for good.
Lesnar lost his WWE Universal Championship to Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 35 and is not booked for any future WWE events at the moment. However, he's rumored to appear at an upcoming WWE event in Saudi Arabia, which takes place on June 7, 2019.
One of the most decorated fighters of our generation appears to be on the downside of his career, but he's leaving behind a massive legacy.
Lesnar's first championships actually came during his college years as a two-time NJCAA All-American and the 1998 NJCAA Heavyweight Champion at Bismarck State College. He transferred to the University of Minnesota and continued to dominate, being named two-time NCAA All-American, two-time Big Ten Conference Champion, and becoming the 2000 NCAA Heavyweight Champion.
He finished his collegiate wrestling career with a 106-5 record.
Lesnar burst onto the WWE scene in 2002 (then it was still WWF) as a heel and would win the 2002 King of the Ring tournament. Feuds with Rob Van Dam and Hulk Hogan brought Lesnar to a match against The Rock at SummerSlam, where he'd become the youngest the WWE Champion ever at 25 years old.
Lesnar went on to face every WWE star thrown his way. John Cena, Randy Orton, Kurt Angle, Goldberg, Roman Reigns, Kane, and Seth Rollins all stepped in the way of The Beast, and all of them took a trip to Suplex City.
At WrestleMania XXX, Lesnar famously ended The Undertaker's 21-match undefeated streak at The Show of Shows by hitting The Deadman with three of his signature F-5s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQP9X4YWyw0
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In the UFC octagon, Lesnar finishes his career 5-3 with one no contest; he was disqualified after his win over Mark Hunt at UFC 200. Lesnar headlined the main event at some of the highest-rated pay-per-views in UFC history, including defending his UFC Heavyweight Championship against both Frank Mir (UFC 100) and Shane Carwin (UFC 116).
He lost his heavyweight belt after Cain Velasquez beat Lesnar with a first-round TKO at UFC 121.
After Cormier defeated Stipe Miocic at UFC 226 to become UFC heavyweight champ, Lesnar entered the ring after the fight, confronted Cormier, and said "DC, I'm coming for you m***** f*****."
That fight, obviously, never took place.
Dana White confirmed that UFC is planning a heavyweight title rematch of that UFC 226 fight between Cormier and Miocic on August 17, 2019 in Anaheim, California.
This isn't the first time Lesnar has made an impromptu retirement, but the fact that's he's now 41 and hasn't fought in a UFC octagon since July 2016 likely means that this time, it's for good.
No matter if you love or hate him, it's impossible to deny the greatness that was Brock Lesnar.
