UFC legend Daniel Cormier has shed new light on why his once highly anticipated octagon showdown with Brock Lesnar never took place. Speaking with Demetrious Johnson, Cormier stated the fight fell apart because WWE intervened with a more lucrative offer to keep Lesnar with the company.
The potential fight was set to be a massive event, particularly around the time Cormier fought Derrick Lewis in New York. However, according to Cormier, Lesnar chose the surer and easier payday.
“So, Brock actually came, and then WWE paid him more to stay. He could make money going out there and doing nothing but suplexes, or go fight me in an octagon—which, that s** is real. And I’m real and I’m gonna try to kill him. Yeah. Right. So, it’s like, yeah, he made the best choice.”
The hype for a potential clash began after Cormier’s victory at UFC 226 in 2018, which led to a memorable in-cage confrontation with Lesnar. The possibility of the crossover super-fight generated immense interest, but it ultimately dissolved when Lesnar re-signed with WWE.
When asked about the possibility of the two ever facing off in a WWE ring instead, Cormier immediately dismissed the idea, citing Lesnar’s current standing with the parent company, TKO Group Holdings. Cormier claimed that Lesnar is effectively blacklisted due to recent controversies.
“I mean, Brock is on the ban list right now. Oh, dude. Brock got in so much trouble. You know he tried to hold me up and s**. You know what Brock did? Bro is in so much trouble.”
Brock Lesnar has been absent from WWE programming since he was implicated in Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon. With Cormier’s confirmation of Lesnar’s status and the financial reasons the original fight was canceled, it appears the dream match is permanently off the table.