Morning Report: Dominick Cruz ‘would be shocked’ if Brock Lesnar made it through USADA for fight with Daniel Cormier
The biggest news in MMA is that, once again, Brock Lesnar is back. Or at least, Brock Lesnar is trying to come back. Whether he actually makes it back into the cage is up for debate and, at least one major MMA analyst thinks it is unlikely.
On Saturday evening at UFC 226, Lesnar was called into the cage to confront the newly minted heavyweight champ champ, Daniel Cormier. Lesnar went full professional wrestling, shoving ‘DC’ and cutting a promo on him, setting up a huge Pay-Per-View fight down the line. The only issue is that, Lesnar has to be in the USADA testing pool for six months before competing again and thus is not eligible to return until January and some people think he won’t make it that long without failing another drug test.
“If he makes it to the fight I’d be shocked,” UFC commentator, analyst, and former bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz told the Scott & BR Show on 1090 AM in San Diego (per MMA Mania). “And I just mean that because USADA is the toughest anti-doping system there is on planet Earth, and that guy is absolutely doping. Period. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. And he’s not been in mixed martial arts, so of course he’s been doing that stuff. How they’re going to get him to be clean on fight night is beyond me.”
Lesnar has had a tumultuous history with USADA. When Lesnar returned to the UFC at UFC 200 after a five year layoff, he was granted a special exemption from their returning fighter policy, allowing him to compete on only a month’s notice. He then famously failed both out-of-competition and in-competition USADA tests for the banned substance clomiphene. He was suspended for one year and fined $250,000. Lesnar retired from MMA once again and returned to the WWE.
If Lesnar can keep his nose clean though, all indications are that he will once again get the opportunity to fight for the UFC heavyweight title, a remarkable feat as Lesnar has not officially won a fight since 2010 when he unified the UFC heavyweight and interim heavyweight titles with a comeback win over Shane Carwin at UFC 116.
MUST-READ STORIES
Dreams. Daniel Cormier tells Yoel Romero to ‘keep dreaming’ about 205 lb. title shot.
Beef. Brendan Schaub issues fiery ‘last warning’ to Dana White in feud.
Risks. Frankie Edgar says Brian Ortega not fighting at UFC 226 could cost him title shot.
$$$. Nick Diaz ‘embarrassed’ Daniel Cormier wants fight with Brock Lesnar’s ‘cheating ass.’
Brock. Junior dos Santos: It’s ‘almost certain’ Brock Lesnar won’t be clean for UFC return.
VIDEO STEW
226 Rewind.
The daddest man in the universe.
Remix!
The UFC has to be paying TMZ if Blagoy is somehow getting on there.
Chael says DC is never going back to 205 and should vacate the belt.
Mark Hunt teaching physics.
Unifying belts.
LISTEN UP
The MMA Beat. Discussing UFC 226, Brock Lesnar, Brian Ortega, and UFC Boise.
Obviously Fight Talk. Previewing UFC Boise and discussing the UFC’s new WWE era.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
I actually really want to see this fight.
Hey @yoelromeroMMA here’s the difference between you and me: You’ve missed weight in your last two fights and I’ve won two belts in my last two fights. You’re also 0-2 in your last two title fights, boi #keepdreaming. And hey, get Malki off your Twitter. It’s embarrassing.
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) July 13, 2018
I see a lot of people commenting on @YoelRomeroMMA post in regards to accomplishments so I took the opportunity to post this. Wrestling will not be a problem against @dc_mma pic.twitter.com/Pci9fsrQPE
— Ibrahim Kawa (@Abraham_kawa) July 12, 2018
Fire.
You know what is cool? Air someone else’s dirty laundry while in a feud with an entirely different person.
@danawhite I tried to be cool. #Icandoyourjobyoucantdomine pic.twitter.com/F1TbxVMhxB
— Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) July 12, 2018
At what point do we count Nick Diaz as a keyboard warrior? It’s been 3.5 years since he’s fought . . .
Beef.
Hey @JamesVickMMA remember looking over at the wrestlers working their ass off and thinking how stupid they were? Doing the shit they were doing in their dumb tights. All while you were trying to get that ball through the hole. Now you know, I was getting ready to fuck you up
— Justin Gaethje (@Justin_Gaethje) July 12, 2018
actually I went to a small school and we didn't even have a wrestling team. But yes please try and wrestle me so you can gas out the first 2 mins instead of the first 5. You're cardio is a joke no one has been able to hold me down and you'll be no different.
— James Vick (@JamesVickMMA) July 12, 2018
Al is the best.
Too much time on instagram too much time bashing EMPLOYEES past and present... ship sinking help us all ari gold save yourself
— Al Iaquinta (@ALIAQUINTA) July 12, 2018
I can swim BUT ’ll chill on the beach I’m safe you’ll allllll drownnnn
— Al Iaquinta (@ALIAQUINTA) July 12, 2018
Cheer you on from the shore
— Al Iaquinta (@ALIAQUINTA) July 12, 2018
Whittaker’s coaching staff for TUF.
Big jump up.
Khabib getting itchy.
Unfortunate.
Cormier is in trouble.
Update: I'm going for my intro to BJJ introductory class Monday night. pic.twitter.com/g7WOkJbAz6
— Jon Jones (@jonjones) July 13, 2018
Shit. https://t.co/6dfQrO2pRo
— Daniel Cormier ⌨️ (@danielcormier) July 13, 2018
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Jeremy Kennedy (11-1) vs. Danyel Pilo (10-1-2); Brave 14, Aug. 18.
Mickey Gall (4-1) vs. George Sullivan (17-6, 1 NC); UFC Lincoln, Aug. 25.
Iuri Alcantara (36-9, 1 NC) vs. Cory Sandhagen (8-1); UFC Lincoln, Aug. 25.
Belal Muhammad (14-2) vs. Elizeu Zaleski (19-5); UFC Sao Paulo, Sep. 22.
TODAY IN MMA HISTORY
2002: Matt Hughes stopped Carlos Newton in their rematch at UFC 38 to retain his welterweight title. This was the first UFC event to be held in the United Kingdom.
2013: Cris Cyborg stopped Marloes Coenan to become the inaugural Invicta FC featherweight champion.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Busy weekend ahead. Bellator double header and a UFC event is a lot of fight action. Keep it locked to MMA Fighting to stay up to date on everything going on.
Thanks for reading and see y’all Monday.
EXIT POLL
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