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MMA: How will the Octagon world remember Brock Lesnar?

Yahoo Sport's WWE blogger Ryan Baldi on what the future might hold after the WWE star reportedly failed a drugs test

MMA: How will the Octagon world remember Brock Lesnar?

Brock Lesnar made a triumphant return to mixed martial arts at UFC 200 on 9 July. The heavyweight behemoth mauled veteran striker Mark Hunt to claim a unanimous decision victory, almost five years after his last Octagon appearance.

But Lesnar’s celebrations were short-lived, after it emerged last week that the WWE star had been flagged for a potential anti-doping violation, relating to a test undertaken by the US Anti-Doping Association (USADA) in the weeks leading up to the fight.

The 39-year-old former UFC heavyweight champion has protested his innocence, asserting that he will “get to the bottom of this.”

It is not yet known what exactly Lesnar tested positive for, but if he is unable to prove his innocence, he will likely be subjected to a two-year suspension. The fact that he would be 41 years old by the time such a ban is served, means that we may have seen then end of Brock Lesnar as an MMA fighter.

So, if that is indeed the case, how will the MMA world remember Lesnar? What kind of legacy will the former NCAA Division 1 wrestling champion leave behind?

Firstly, there is Lesnar the fighter: a man who didn’t even begin to train in the sport until he was almost 30, armed with little more than an incredible natural athleticism and a college wrestling championship.

Although he was never the most technical striker, Lesnar knew his strengths and he played to them almost perfectly. He made the leap into the big-time by joining the UFC with only one professional fight under his belt, and became a world champion in his fourth.

The UFC heavyweight reportedly earned a $2.5 million purse in Vegas, which is more than double the previous record.
The UFC heavyweight reportedly earned a $2.5 million purse in Vegas, which is more than double the previous record.

With an overall record of six wins and three losses, Lesnar’s star burned brightly and faded quickly – although, who knows what could’ve been had diverticulitis not hampered the latter part of his career.

Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, there is Lesnar the superstar. The professional wrestler who decided to try his hand at “real” fighting, and was remarkably successful.

When Lesnar joined the UFC in 2009, he brought with him a legion of wrestling fans who were new to MMA; fresh eyes on the sport who became new fans.

Lesnar single-handedly raised the UFC’s profile to new heights. Without his influence, the UFC may never have secured its ground-breaking deal with Fox in 2011, and it’s unlikely that the company would’ve reached the level of being sold for $4 billion, as was the case earlier this month.

Although we may never see him in 4oz gloves again, the ripples of the Lesnar effect will be felt throughout MMA for decades.