UFC faces loads of questions following Daniel Cormier win, Brock ...
This week's podcast breaks down a tremendous UFC 226 event and the fireworks that concluded it
www.cbssports.comI don’t have live updates right now, but here’s what’s widely known about Brock Lesnar vs. Daniel Cormier in the past and the status as of mid-2020s.
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Historical context: After Cormier became UFC heavyweight champion at UFC 226 in 2018, talk of a Lesnar vs. Cormier fight heated up, with officials indicating the bout was likely but subject to Lesnar’s suspension and USADA pool rules. However, no bout between them actually took place at that time. This is based on contemporary coverage from outlets like ESPN and CBS Sports in 2018. [ESPN article on Lesnar-Cormier negotiations][CBS Sports recap of UFC 226 aftermath] [ESPN notes from UFC 226 moment]
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Later developments: Lesnar had been expected to return to MMA once his suspension and testing pool obligations were satisfied, with various reports suggesting a target around late 2018 or 2019, but scheduling and Lesnar’s WWE commitments paused or redirected those plans. Multiple outlets in 2018 documented the evolving timeline and impediments, including the UFC’s public statements about pursuing the matchup but not confirming a final date. [CBSSports 2018 update][411Mania report on January 2019 earliest return]
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2020s status: As of the mid-2020s, there has been little to no indication that a Lesnar-Cormier fight was imminent or officially finalized. Lesnar’s public activity has largely focused on WWE appearances, with occasional MMA nostalgia coverage but no official fight announcement or event slated between the two. Coverage through Bleacher Report and ESPN in the late 2010s and early 2020s notes limited movement toward finalizing the bout.
If you’d like, I can look up the very latest public-facing statements or news articles and pull a concise, up-to-date timeline with sources.