Brock Lesnar re-signs with WWE, leaves UFC for good

Former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar has announced he has re-signed with WWE, finally ending a ‘will-he-won’t-he’ question about a possible return to his UFC career.

It’s also a sign that Lesnar has given up on competing in the UFC again for good.

Lesnar told ESPN’s Michelle Beadle in a heartfelt announcement that he had been made an offer by the WWE that he couldn’t refuse.

“I’m officially closing the door on MMA… I re-signed last night with WWE,” he said. “We came to a conclusion last night… They made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.”

The 37-year-old Lesnar joined the world of MMA in 2007, fighting just once outside of the UFC before joining the promotion. He lost, controversially, on debut to Frank Mir, before winning his next four fights. That run included Lesnar unifying the UFC Heavyweight title twice, as well as defending that title. He was a huge selling point for the UFC, leading to record pay-per-view (PPV) sales for the company.

Injury and diverticulitis robbed fans of Lesnar in his prime, and he lost his last two fights before leaving the UFC to return to WWE. It appears he flirted with a return to the UFC – with the company likely able to offer huge bonuses given his PPV pull – but the WWE secured him and will work him into their narrative as they see fit.