CM Punk Back To UFC, Brock Lensar Done?
Punk back, but not Brock?
In an exclusive interview with TMZ, UFC President Dana White talks about the futures of both Brock Lesnar and CM Punk in the promotion - and at least one fighter, he believes, may be done in the octagon.
Surprisingly, that's former heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar. Lesnar, still tied in the history books for the most title defenses in the heavyweight division, came out of retirement this past Summer for a three round beatdown of slugger Mark Hunt. However, before the dust had even settled, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency had announced a pair for drug test failures for Lesnar.
Earlier this month, he reached a settlement with the NSAC to allow for a one year suspension from the sport and a $250,000 fine. With the suspension being retroactive to July, many felt Lesnar could be back next year.
Dana White, however, isn't one of them. Saying his relationship with Lesnar was "great", he stated:
I doubt it. I don't know how much longer he's got with WWE, I think his career is winding down, but he's a freak of nature, who knows, maybe he'll give me a call and say he wants to do it again. But I think he's ready to ride off into the sunset.
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About CM Punk, White was fairly uncertain. Punk's UFC 203 debut went about as bad as could be expected when he was quickly choked out by relative newcomer Mickey Gall. That said, Gall went on to beat UFC star Sage Northcutt in his next fight, and may actually have the makings of a star himself.
Punk, meanwhile, by some estimates, added several hundred thousand buys to the PPV event - and money talks in the UFC.
White was coy about his future, saying only that;
He and I have not figured that out yet, but we will. I don't know, I've got to talk to him and see how this thing works out for him. UFC is a dangerous place, it really is. It's a tough place to come in for your first couple fights. I give him all the credit and respect in the world for coming in and giving it a shot. It's a tough place to do it though.
Punk's camp recently hinted that they expect to see him back in the octagon sometime in 2017 - though exactly who the 0-1 fighter would face is the question.