Former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar was inches away from a superfight with former PRIDE star Fedor Emelianenko back in 2012, according to colorful pro wrestling personality Paul Heyman.
Appearing on Monday’s edition of Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, Heyman - who manages Lesnar in the WWE – explained that a scrap between Brock and Fedor was essentially ready to go before tragedy struck Emelianenko’s family.
“Fedor’s father passed away and Fedor lost all desire and motivation to fight,” Heyman said. “[Brock was] ready, willing, able and already starting pre-training camp.”
Furthermore, despite being 37 years old and surviving two bouts with the stomach disease diverticulitis, Heyman says a return to the Octagon isn’t out of the question for Lesnar.
“If a change of circumstance happens, and it’s a no-brainer to get Brock back into the cage, I’m sure it’s something he would consider. At this moment, it’s not a topic of conversation because things are going so well in WWE.”
Despite only competing in a handful of times a year as a part-time wrestler, Lesnar is one of the highest paid athletes on the WWE roster – though his contract is up in the spring.
Following a quick, one-sided TKO loss to Alistair Overeem at UFC 141 in December 2011, Lesnar told UFC color commentator that "tonight was the last time you’ll see me in the Octagon.”
Is it feasible to think that could Lesnar embark on a comeback to the world of mixed martial arts in 2015?