Doctors Advising Lesnar To Retire?

A few weeks ago we heard a rumor floating around MMA circles that Brock Lesnar’s recovery from his second bout with diverticulitis might not be going as well as was being reported. While the UFC has targeted a late 2011/early 2012 return for the former heavyweight champion, we had been tipped off that it might not happen that quickly, or even at all.

Apparently that wasn’t just idle gossip.

While publicly UFC president Dana White has been telling people how Lesnar’s recovery has been amazing, things may not be so rosy. A story has surfaced claiming that more than one doctor has advised Lesnar that he shouldn’t compete in MMA anymore because of the stress training and fighting has put on his body. That falls right in line with what we’ve heard.

Though Lesnar claims he feels as good as ever and is ready to return to the ring, we’re not sure what to believe on this one. He could just be trying to convince himself of that fact. It might be hard for a guy like Lesnar to come to grips with his career coming to an abrupt end, especially since he’s currently the highest-paid MMA athlete in the world.

For a while now the popular rumor has been that Lesnar would fight former Strikeforce heavyweight champ Alistair Overeem when he finally signs with the UFC (which should be shortly). That would be a hell of a return bout for Lesnar, and would definitely draw an incredible amount of interest from even non-diehard fans of the sport.

That said, diverticulitis is no joke, and this last round of it cost Lesnar almost 12 inches of his colon. If his long-term health is in danger from fighting, he may need to retire for good.

It’s not like he doesn’t have other options as well. The WWE would love to have him back and would likely tailor a schedule to him that could help him remain healthy.

If doctors are really telling Lesnar he needs to retire, he should think of his family and do what is best for them.