UFC 200: Brock Lesnar to face Mark Hunt in MMA return
Former UFC heavyweight champion was last in octagon in 2011
Brock Lesnar's opponent for his comeback fight at UFC 200 will be veteran heavyweight Mark Hunt.
The UFC announced the matchup Monday. The bout will take place in Las Vegas on July 9
Lesnar is returning to mixed martial arts after an absence of nearly five years from the octagon. The 38-year-old professional wrestler became the UFC heavyweight champion in November 2008 after beating Randy Couture.
He defended his title twice, but lost the belt to Cain Velasquez in 2010. Lesnar struggled with diverticulitis and other health issues before leaving the UFC in 2011.
Lesnar went back to the WWE in 2012 after consecutive losses, but announced last weekend that he wanted to fight again in the octagon.
Lesnar (5-3) accepted a formidable test in the 42-year-old Hunt (12-10-1), who has stopped his last two opponents with first-round knockouts.