Brock Lesnar to represent Canada in UFC return

MANILA, Philippines – Brock Lesnar will not be donning America’s red, white, and blue at UFC 200 on July 9 as he chose to represent Canada in his highly-anticipated Octagon return.

This change was revealed on the UFC store website as Lesnar’s Reebok fight kit was decked out in Canada’s colors and had the country’s signature maple leaf imprinted. 

Lesnar, a 38-year-old native of Webster, South Dakota who currently lives in Maryfield, Saskatchewan, has not yet released a statement regarding his Canadian representation. 

Brad Wall, the premier of Saskatchewan province, already expressed support for Lesnar when the world’s largest mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion publicly revealed the heavyweight’s comeback bout during the broadcast of UFC 199 over a week ago.

Fighting out of Maryfield, Saskatchewan and making news worldwide, @BrockLesnar. All the best at #UFC200 my friend. https://t.co/ecHvGHU9s0

— Brad Wall (@PremierBradWall) June 7, 2016

Lesnar (5-3), who was last seen in action when he suffered a technical knockout loss to Alistair Overeem in December 2011, is set to face Mark Hunt in the co-main event of UFC 200.

The 6-foot-3 behemoth had 7 matches over nearly 4 years in the UFC, but his MMA career was interrupted by diverticulitis, a common digestive disease which involves the formation of pouches within the bowel wall. 

Lesnar knocked out Randy Couture to capture the world heavyweight championship in November 2008 and successfully defended the belt twice before losing the gold-plated strap to Cain Velasquez in October 2010. 

In the other corner, Hunt (12-10-1) is coming off a first-round knockout victory over Frank Mir last March and is riding high on a two-fight winning streak.

UFC 200, which takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, is headlined by a light heavyweight championship rematch between Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones. – Rappler.com