Brock Lesnar overcame a lot of adversity to realize his dream as a UFC world champion.
It is known that 'The Beast Incarnate' came from a professional wrestling background. Brock Lensar made a name for himself in the WWE before deciding to switch sports and try MMA in 2007.
The 47-year-old, who was 29 at the time, scored a 69-second TKO victory in his debut.
It was enough to get him signed with the UFC, where he eventually became the defending champion after overcoming his late start and a very serious medical condition.
Brock Lesnar had the promotion's highest purse for years.
Brock Lesnar became a UFC champion despite a terrifying illness
In February 2008, Brock Lesnar suffered a submission loss in his UFC debut against Frank Mir.
The American bounced back by toppling Heath Herring across the Octagon in his second outing in MMA's premier promotion, ending in a unanimous victory.
The next time, he dropped MMA legend Randy Couture to take the UFC heavyweight title.
Lesnar avenged his defeat to Frank Mir at UFC 100 in July 2009. At the time, he appeared to be a man in his physical prime, but his second title defense against Shane Carwin was postponed as Lesnar battled a debilitating illness.
It was soon revealed that Lesnar had withdrawn from the fight due to the infection, which inflames the walls of the intestines.
The fan-favorite heavyweight battled the disease for a year before seeking medical treatment.
Later detection could have led to more serious health risks and even death. Following his emergency surgery for diverticulitis, doctors diagnosed him with glandular fever after discovering fecal matter leaking from Lesnar's colon into the rest of his body.
The surgery was a success by all accounts as Lesnar returned to the ring in July 2010 and defeated Shane Carwin.
Cain Velasquez took his belt a few months later. It wasn't until after that fight that Lesnar discovered that the diverticulitis had returned. In May 2011 he went under the knife again and eventually had a foot of his colon removed.
“I have a high pain threshold, higher than most guys, and I couldn't deal with it,” Lesnar wrote in his book 'Death Clutch'.
“It felt like I'd been shot in the stomach, and then someone poured some salt and Tabasco in there and stirred it all up with a nasty pitchfork.”
Brock Lesnar's MMA career is over
Lesnar returned for a fight with Alistair Overveerm, effectively ending his short career in MMA.
'The Demotion Man' sent him back to professional wrestling with a devastating body kick KO at UFC 141.
Lesnar returned to the Octagon five years later, defeating Mark Hunt by unanimous decision in July 2016.
However, his win was overturned to a no-contest when it was revealed that he had failed a drug test prior to UFC 200.
Lesnar hasn't fought since, but that hasn't stopped fans from dreaming of a possible comeback.
Rumors of his return became so widespread that he felt compelled to address them in 2022.
“That door is closed,” Lesnar told the New York Post.
“You know what, Dana White, the Fertitta brothers were exceptional to me.
'I'm too old. That is a young man's sport, and that door is closed.”
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