He's been out of action since 2011, but Brock Lesnar has consistently remained one of MMA's big stories.
But after his Tuesday appearance on SportsCenter, that will no longer be the case. Lesnar , 37, appeared with Michelle Beadle on the afternoon edition of ESPN's flagship news program and announced that he was closing the door on a return to the UFC, where he won a heavyweight championship despite a lack of experience in anything but wrestling.
Lesnar said he'd re-signed with World Wrestling Entertainment on Monday night. WWE executive Paul Levesque said Lesnar had signed a multiyear deal with the wrestling promotion. Lesnar noted that it was an incredibly difficult decision.
"It was just hard," Lesnar said. "It was hard for me. It is hard to talk about it. But the fighter inside of me wants to complete. The father, the husband...you know, I'm an older caveman now. I make wiser caveman decisions. So I'm here to say my legacy in the Octagon is over."
A source close to Lesnar told Bleacher Report in recent months that the fighter had begun training for an Octagon return, going so far as to reach out to potential training partners and coaches. He'd lost some of the weight he gained when he returned to WWE three years ago, putting him within reach of the 265-pound limit of the heavyweight division.
But at the end of the day, Lesnar said, WWE head honcho Vince McMahon made him an offer he couldn't refuse.
Lesnar is a competitor at heart, and in watching SportsCenter, you could tell the decision was not an easy one. He was emotional, or at least exhibiting more emotion than we are used to seeing from him.
But the decision he made was the right one. He'll be 38 years old in July. He has been out of the Octagon for more than four years. And he still has the same experience level he had when he was overwhelmed against Cain Velasquez and Alistair Overeem.
Could Lesnar go back to the UFC and beat Frank Mir again? Probably. Could he beat other UFC heavyweights? Of course. But at some point, his high price tag would demand high-profile fights against younger men who are far more well-rounded. Lesnar 's athleticism carried him a long way in the UFC, but he's getting older, and that athleticism is usually the first thing to go.
Plus, it always appeared that Lesnar never truly enjoyed being punched in the face. This is not an insult; few among us enjoy being punched in the face. It is not a pleasant experience. But Lesnar seemed to recoil from it more than most, and that would be a detriment for him now, especially at his age. And he won't have to put his body through the rigors of a training camp, either.
Many will paint Lesnar 's decision to stick with pro wrestling as a sign that he is a coward. This is ludicrous, of course. Pro wrestling might be scripted, but it is far from fake. But Lesnar will be working the same limited schedule he has been on for the past few years. And, as he noted, that's the dream of every working man.
"I'm in a great position with both and I'm happy," Lesnar said with a smile. "I love what I'm doing. I work a limited schedule. I work part-time with full-time pay, like everybody wants, but which you can't have. Just me. So I'm happy."
I won't lie: I will miss covering Lesnar . There was nothing like the energy and the buzz he created. I was fortunate to cover four of his bouts, and they were unlike anything else before or since. He had a presence that was unmatched. Ronda Rousey comes close, and I suspect CM Punk will generate the same sort of excitement when he eventually makes his debut. But Lesnar was a unique force.
And now he's gone. He made the best decision for him and for his family. Though I can't help but wonder what Lesnar would have accomplished if he'd gone into the sport straight out of college, I am thankful that he eventually decided to make a run at it.
His time in the sport was short, but it was mercurial, and it sure was fun to watch.
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