Chael Sonnen doesn’t see ‘The Beast Incarnate’ vs ‘The Predator’ as an impossible fight to put together.
Brock Lesnar, the former UFC heavyweight champion, appeared to step away from professional wrestling earlier this month following WrestleMania 42.
He placed his gloves in the ring at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium, marking 15 years since he first retired from MMA. Lesnar returned once more for a fight against Mark Hunt, though that bout ended in controversy after he failed a drug test.
The 48-year-old’s final chapter inside the cage didn’t end well, but ‘The Bad Guy’ isn’t convinced that the no-contest with Hunt in 2016 will be how things wrap up for good.
Sonnen was recently discussing what’s next for Ngannou when he was asked if Brock would be open to that kind of fight. He told Michael Bisping:
It remains highly unlikely that we’ll ever see Francis Ngannou vs Brock Lesnar. Both men have spent time away from their respective sports, and while they may have once competed at elite levels of MMA and pro wrestling, respectively, it’s a big ask to expect them back now.
Chael Sonnen backs Lesnar to return for a big-money fight with Francis Ngannou
Brock Lesnar may not have had a long career in the UFC, but he did face some notable opponents during his time in the Octagon.
He became champion by defeating Randy Couture at UFC 91, doing so in just his fourth professional fight. Alongside that win, he also picked up victories against Frank Mir, Shane Carwin and Heath Herring.
With Netflix preparing to host its first event on May 16 – which already includes veterans like Ronda Rousey, Nate Diaz and Francis Ngannou – Sonnen said there’s a number that could bring ‘The Beast Incarnate’ back for a bout against his fellow ex-UFC champ.
“I’m here to tell you right now, there is a dollar amount,” Sonnen said on his YouTube channel. “I don’t know that sum. $25 million would be very close. There is a dollar amount where Brock Lesnar will fight on Netflix against Francis Ngannou.
“He just has to be given the opportunity,” he continued. “When somebody says they’re retired, it just means ‘I don’t have opportunities in front of me right now.’”
The former UFC title challenger elaborated on why he believes Lesnar might consider returning to fighting following his apparent exit from WWE.
“Does he want to be known as the guy that used to be a pro wrestler? … That would certainly get you more notoriety and more attention, (more than) being an undefeated NCAA champion, two-time NCAA finalist, Big 10 champion.
“It would get you more attention, but it wouldn’t be the same purity of that attention. It wouldn’t be as sincere or as organic.
“And then, where does MMA fit into it? … I just wonder how he sees himself, I really do. I wonder if Brock is going to come back now that he’s got all this time on his hands.”
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