Five Opponents For Brock Lesnar To Fight At UFC 200

The madness of last night’s (Saturday June 4, 2016) UFC 199 event has still not set in. The middleweight championship changed hands yet again as Michael Bisping knocked out Luke Rockhold in a massive upset, and then of course there were the ground breaking announcements made during the event. Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz 2 was confirmed for UFC 202, much to the dislike of the featherweight division, and also Brock Lesnar made a special appearance.

OH. MY. GOD. ???? #UFC200https://t.co/ffhsOYIRvz

— UFC (@ufc) June 5, 2016

The chilling promo for UFC 200 blew everyone’s minds, including UFC commentator Joe Rogan. It seems that Lesnar’s UFC return is quite possibly the best kept secret in the promotion’s history. So what are we to make of this? According to a report on Sherdog, Lesnar’s UFC return is a ‘one off opportunity,’ as he’s still bound by contract to the WWE.

So many questions arise in the wake of this huge news, but most relevant is whom Lesnar will face in his return to fighting. Does the promotion go with a top level heavyweight, knowing that name value alone will bring in the big pay-per-view numbers at UFC 200, or do they look at a more ‘winnable’ fight for the 39-year old pro wrestling superstar? Although he’s tied to the WWE, that’s not to say the wrestling entertainment promotion wouldn’t sell out his employ for the right number.

On to the five possible opponents for Brock Lesnar to fight at UFC 200…

Cain Velasquez

The hard hitting Mexican heavyweight first won the belt with a brutal destruction of Brock Lesnar at UFC 121. The overmatched wrestling ace got beat down hard, eventually succumbing to a bloody barrage of punches and hammerfists at the end of round one.

The loss marked the beginning of the end for Lesnar as a fighter. After taking 14 months off for stomach surgery, the gigantic heavyweight was made to look tiny by Velasquez’s beating, one that must still hurt to this day.

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Shane Carwin

Another former opponent of Lesnar’s, but one the pro wrestler beat this time. Shane Carwin made his name as one of the scariest knockout artists the UFC has ever seen, but also like Lesnar retired following two straight losses. Now ‘The Engineer’ has said he’s serious about a UFC comeback, and has called out Lesnar for his return fight:

For everyone blowing up my phone, yes I would take this fight @UFC 200. I would love to knock Brock out. Any time, any place

— Shane Carwin (@ShaneCarwin) June 5, 2016

Lesnar famously submitted Carwin at UFC 116 after taking a flurry of punches that could easily have seen the fight called off. It’s likely both parties would happily dance again on July 9.

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Mark Hunt

Heavyweight wrecking machine Mark Hunt has confirmed he’s asked for the rematch with Junior dos Santos at UFC 200, but Brock Lesnar is one man you’d change plans for. The fan pleasing knockout artist Hunt is coming off back-to-back knockout wins over Frank Mir and Antonio Silva.

The problem with this fight, at least in terms of Brock Lesnar, is the one punch KO factor, and Lesnar was notorious for really not liking getting hit.

Wild card and dream fight awaits…

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Wildcard-Josh Barnett

So here’s an interesting match that perhaps doesn’t follow the common trail of thought. Although he’s coming off a loss, Josh Barnett‘s high calibre reputation would make a good selling point.

I could do retweets all night but one thing is clear, people want to see me lock up with Brock Lesnar. Talk him into it @HeymanHustle. @ufc.

— Josh Barnett (@JoshLBarnett) June 5, 2016

There’s a chance he’d be perceived as ‘beatable’ but it wouldn’t be a foregone conclusion either way.

Dream fight time…

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Dream match-Fedor Emelianenko

Long considered the greatest living heavyweight on the planet, arguably the best there ever was in MMA, Fedor Emelianenko was one half of a fantasy fight that never came to fruition. MMA fans craved Fedor’s presence in the UFC more than ever when Lesnar was champion, then the Russian legend retired after somewhat losing his touch.

Yes he’s booked in to fight Fabio Maldonado in a pointless Rizin event this month, but if Michael Bisping and Nate Diaz can win fights on two weeks notice, the consensus GOAT Fedor could surely be talked in to UFC 200.