It’s been 14 years since UFC 141, when Brock Lesnar announced his retirement from MMA. Lesnar made the announcement after his 1st round TKO loss to Alistair Overeem in the main event.
The former UFC heavyweight champion had a quick rise in MMA. He transitioned from WWE and joined the MMA leader after only one professional fight. Lesnar, then 34, walked away as one of MMA’s biggest pay-per-view draws, surpassed only by Conor McGregor years later.
What made Lesnar’s run so impressive was that he consistently fought top heavyweights despite his lack of experience. Before UFC 141, Lesnar dealt with health issues related to another bout with diverticulitis, which ultimately cut his career short.
Lesnar thanked the UFC for giving him the opportunity and congratulated Overeem for his win. The former heavyweight champion said he had promised his family that he would retire if he lost to Overeem. Although he planned to continue his career, Lesnar revealed that it would have been extended only by one more fight.
“I’ve had a really difficult couple of years with [diverticulitis] and I’m going to officially say tonight was the last time you’ll see me in the octagon,” Lesnar said post-fight . “I promised my wife and kids that if I won tonight, I would get a title shot and then retire. But if I lost tonight, [I would retire].”
Dana White Weighed In on Brock Lesnar’s Retirement After UFC 141
Dana White also shared his thoughts on Brock Lesnar announcing his retirement after losing to Alistair Overeem at UFC 141 . He praised Lesnar for his strong tenure with the promotion, which saw him defeat former champions and become one himself.
Lesnar won the heavyweight championship after defeating Randy Couture at UFC 91. He successfully defended his title twice, securing wins over Shane Carwin and former rival Frank Mir .
During the UFC 141 post-fight press conference , White said he wasn’t surprised by Lesnar’s decision to retire.
“[Lesnar] brought a lot of excitement to the heavyweight division. What that man accomplished in a short amount of time with one fight is amazing,” White said. “I get it. [The retirement announcement] doesn’t shock me, but I didn’t know [about it].”
He added:
“When [Lesnar] retires, he retires under contract,” White said. “I’ve had a great relationship with him and I don’t know, we’ll figure it out. No big deal. I’ve never had a situation with a guy where we haven’t done the right thing.”
It didn’t take long for Lesnar to resurface, as he returned to WWE four months later to a loud ovation.
Lesnar Returned at UFC 200
After four-and-a-half years away following his loss to Overeem, Lesnar capitalized on an opportunity and returned at UFC 200 . He was still under contract with WWE . However, the pro wrestling giant approved, allowing the former heavyweight champion returned to the octagon for the historic card.
Lesnar faced veteran heavyweight Mark Hunt in the co-main event. For Lesnar, the fight gave him a chance to find closure in his career. He felt much healthier than he did at UFC 141 and didn’t want to have any regrets.
Lesnar used his wrestling to control Hunt throughout the fight and earned a unanimous decision win. Despite being linked to a heavyweight title bout against Daniel Cormier , UFC 200 ultimately ended up being his final fight.
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