USADA: Brock Lesnar returns from retirement, is able to fight in January

This past Saturday in Las Vegas, Brock Lesnar sat cage side at UFC 226 to watch Daniel Cormier’s heavyweight title win against Stipe Miocic. It was no coincidence, either. Lesnar is back.

According to a USADA spokesman first reported by MMA Fighting, the a former UFC heavyweight champion has come out of retirement, re-entering himself into the USADA drug-testing pool back on July 3.

Lesnar will be able to compete January 8, per the report.

“After receiving notice of his intent to compete in the UFC, USADA re-entered Brock Lesnar to the testing pool on July 3,” the USADA statement read. “With six months and four days remaining on his period of ineligibility, Lesnar will be able to compete on or after January 8, 2019, should he remain in compliance with the UFC Anti-Doping Policy.”

At age 40, Lesnar has been suspended by USADA since his UFC 200 win against Mark Hunt back in 2016. He tested positive for banned substance clomiphene around the time of that fight.

He has not competed in the Octagon since, retiring in December 2016.

This past weekend, after Cormier’s win, Lesnar and Cormier scuffled, hinting at a forthcoming fight. UFC President Dana White said he hopes a fight between the two for the UFC heavyweight will happen next year.

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