LAS VEGAS — Brock Lesnar never thought he’d be back in the octagon, but there he was Wednesday, at the podium discussing his upcoming UFC 200 bout against Mark Hunt and wearing a grin seldom seen on the menacing fighter.
The biggest smile came when Lesnar was asked to share his favorite UFC 100 memory. Fans remember that July 11, 2009 fight both for Lesnar’s beatdown of Frank Mir and his legendary rant in which he openly questioned a UFC sponsor and said some NSFW things about his wife and his seriously injured opponent.
Lesnar’s recollection of that day was classic.
This week, Lesnar doesn’t seem too interested in reliving past glory. Indeed, the 38-year-old former heavyweight champion is living in the moment ahead of his first UFC fight since 2011.
“Let’s get through Saturday and see what happens,” Lesnar responded in the pre-fight press conference when asked if he’d ask the WWE to allow him to participate in more UFC fights after this one.
While Lesnar admitted his UFC future lies in WWE chairman Vince McMahon’s hands — he signed a long-term contract with the wrestling outfit last year — it’s clear he’s a huge draw at UFC 200. Fans at MGM Grand’s KA Theatre roared when Lesnar took the stage for the pre-fight presser, and some shouted at Hunt with threats that he was about to visit “Suplex City.” One fan went heel, though, yelling to Lesnar that Hunt would knock him out Saturday night, drawing another smile from the WWE star.
Lesnar’s jovial mood carried over to his square-off with Hunt after the press conference. Typically, both fighters scowl when UFC president Dana White puts them face-to-face, but Lesnar shook Hunt’s hand, patted him on the back and happily posed for the press.
Make no mistake, though: Lesnar’s scowl will return Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena. He’s a competitor and wants to improve on his 4-3 UFC record (5-3 overall), even if this is a one-off fight. And the health issues that plagued Lesnar during and after his previous UFC stint — he was diagnosed with diverticulitis, a disease of the digestive tract that could’ve taken his life — are a distant memory.
“I feel (expletive) awesome. Why does it matter? I’m here,” Lesnar said Wednesday to loud cheers.
“My health is behind me,” he added. “I’m sitting here at UFC 200, soaking it all in. I feel great, it’s good to be here, it’s good to be back. There’s nothing else to say. I’m here.”
