Brock Lesnar is set to return to mixed martial arts at UFC 200, but one element of the WWE superstar’s comeback is raising some eyebrows.
Typically, fighters must be available to be tested by the United States Anti-Doping Agency in the four months leading up to a fight as part of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, which came into effect last July.
However, Lesnar, who announced his comeback on June 4 and is scheduled to fight Mark Hunt on July 9 in Las Vegas, did not have to go through the four-month period. This is because the UFC holds the right to waive the four-month requirement under certain circumstances.
The explanation can be found in section 5.7.1 of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy.
This exemption has resulted in certain people, including Lesnar’s upcoming opponent, questioning whether or not the former heavyweight champion is clean.
“I don’t think that’s fair. I think it’s a load of [expletive]. I think it’s rubbish,” Hunt told FOX Sports Australia. “I don’t think anyone should be exempt from testing. If they’re trying to clean the sport up — mixed martial arts — this is a bad way to do it. I don’t care who you are. It’s ridiculous.
“I don’t think it’s a great move. I think he’s juiced to the gills — and I still think I’m going to knock him out. So I don’t think that’s correct. I don’t think he should be allowed to get a four-month exemption otherwise everyone else should. Otherwise I should start juicing…I’ve already voiced my opinion to [UFC president] Dana [White] about it but apparently [Lesnar] has been getting tested but he’s probably been off a couple of cycles anyway.”
Hunt (12–10–1) is coming off a first-round knockout victory over Frank Mir in March. It was revealed in April that Mir tested positive for traces of the anabolic steroid dehydrochlormethyltestosterone.
“It doesn’t mean you’re not going to get knocked out. Frank Mir was juicing and he got knocked out,” Hunt added. “The same thing’s going to happen with Brock Lesnar.”
Lesnar (5-3) competed in MMA from 2007-2011 and never failed a drug test during that time. The 38-year-old hasn’t fought since announcing his retirement from MMA following a loss to Alistair Overeem at UFC 141.
Canadian stepping up on short notice
Quebec City’s Jonathan Meunier will make his UFC debut in Ottawa. The UFC announced the welterweight has replaced his Tristar Gym teammate Alex Garcia, who is injured, and will fight American Colby Covington at TD Place Arena on June 18. Meunier, 28, is 7-0 as a pro with all seven of his wins coming by way of stoppage.
Eye vs. Correia targeted for UFC 203 in Cleveland
It looks as though Rootstown, Ohio native Jessica Eye could fight in her home state at UFC 203 in Cleveland. The UFC hasn’t made an official announcement but, according to Brazilian outlet Combate, Eye is set to take on Bethe Correia at the event. Eye (11-5) has dropped four of her last five and is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Sara McMann in May. Correia (8-2), best known for her knockout loss to Ronda Rousey, wound up on the wrong end of a split decision against Raquel Pennington in April.
Eye’s teammate Stipe Miocic will look to defend his heavyweight title in the main event against Alistair Overeem.
Featherweight barnburner targeted for UFC Salt Lake City
The UFC announced it will hold its first event in Salt Lake City, Utah on Aug. 6 at Vivint Smart Home Arena. No fights have officially been added to the card to date, but according to FloCombat a featherweight bout between rising star Yair Rodriguez and fan favourite Alex “Bruce Leeroy” Caceres is being targeted as the main event.
