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USADA confirms Brock Lesnar back in drug-testing pool, eligible for UFC return in January

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And now everyone knows exactly when Brock Lesnar can make his return to the UFC.

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, in a statement received today by MMAjunkie, detailed Lesnar’s situation, announcing that the former UFC heavyweight champion re-entered its drug-testing pool on July 3.

“After receiving notice of his intent to compete in the UFC, Brock Lesnar re-entered the testing pool on July 3,” USADA said. “With six months and four days remaining on his period of ineligibility, Lesnar will be able to compete on or after January 8, 2019, should he remain in compliance with the UFC Anti-Doping Policy.”

What this means is Lesnar is officially unretired and back in the UFC – as if that wasn’t clear enough over the weekend.

On Saturday night at UFC 226, Lesnar sat cageside to watch the heavyweight title headliner between champion Stipe Miocic and 205-pound title holder Daniel Cormier. After his first-round knockout victory over Miocic to become dual champion, Cormier implored Lesnar to step inside the octagon so they could face off. What ensued was a scene out of a pro wrestling feud.

Before they could even exchange words, Lesnar shoved Cormier, and the two men had to be separated by security while shouting at each other. Later that night, UFC President Dana White said the promotion plans to have Cormier defend the heavyweight title against Lesnar at a location and date to be determined.

“We’re definitely going to make that fight,” White said.

Brock Lesnar and Daniel Cormier at UFC 226. (Associated Press)

Lesnar (5-3-1 MMA, 4-3-1 UFC) hasn’t had an MMA bout since defeating Mark Hunt at UFC 200 in July 2016. That result was later overturned to a no-contest after Lesnar failed a pair of drug tests by USADA, which handed Lesnar a one-year suspension. Lesnar later retired and returned to WWE, where he’s currently the pro-wrestling company’s Universal champion.

Even as Lesnar remained out of the UFC, he was the subject of some big callouts. Cormier himself said during the build-up to UFC 226 that he would look forward to a “green panty night” with a victory, a reference to making a lot of money from pay-per-view buys.

If Lesnar can stay clean for the next six months and four days, Cormier will get his wish. But Cormier, who’s long been outspoken against fighters caught for using performance-enhancing drugs, said he’ll ask for whatever measures are necessary to ensure Lesnar is clean.

“I’m not going to fight him if he’s not clean,” Cormier said. “We’ll do USADA testing, and we’ll do other testing. We’ll do testing above USADA to make sure this man’s clean, because I’m not going to fight him if he’s cheating. I’ve done that on a number of occasions already (with others). I don’t want to fight him if he’s dirty, man. Do it the right way.”

For complete coverage of UFC 226, check out the UFC Events section of the site.

Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.

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