• UFC

Lesnar hit by diverticulitis, replaced by Carwin at 131

Dana White has confirmed Brock Lesnar is out of UFC 131 © UFC

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Lesnar targets January return to the Octagon
  
• News: Silva raises doubts over Lesnar withdrawal
  
• News: Barry slams Lesnar doubters after UFC 131 withdrawal
  
• News: One of us is getting knocked out - Dos Santos
  
• Profile: Brock Lesnar

UFC president Dana White regretfully announced on Thursday night that Brock Lesnar is once again suffering from diverticulitis, meaning he has pulled out of his UFC 131 clash with Junior Dos Santos.

Lesnar has suffered from the serious disease once before, but this time White admits the former UFC heavyweight champion may need surgery. Lesnar did however rule out the possibility of retirement from MMA.

"I dodged the bullet two years ago; I didn't have the surgery but this is an illness that never goes away," he said. "I've been battling with it and it will be in my colon for the rest of my life. I was able to go through two training camps with it without it hurting my fitness too much. But now it is back, I've got another infection and a CT scan shows that my gut is seriously inflamed. It's not as serious as last time, but now I am in a situation where I can't get my body 100% to where it needs to be to fight in a No. 1 contender spot.

"I felt the symptoms three weeks ago. I thought 'No, it can't be' but I knew what it was. I was having to skip days of training just to rest. I am depressed and angry. I wanted nothing more than to beat Dos Santos and get my shot at my belt and Cain [Velasquez]. I wanted nothing at all more than that, but then this happens and I have to put my family and my health first.

"My immune system is fighting an infection in my own body rather than helping me recover from training. I have to push my body to my limits, and that has made this thing become active again. I believe that I've not been more than 85% in my two fights back since this happened the first time.

"It won't be fair to myself, my family to get into the Octagon without being 100%. My health and family are No. 1 but I am choked up about it. I wanted to fight, but I am in a fork in the road. I am waiting on a number of tests, but we will make the best decision to go forward with. I am sick and tired of being sick and being tired. I have done everything I can with diet and clean living, but this thing keeps flaring up.

"I have controlled this with antibiotics for two fights. This time though, an infection took hold. I tell you one thing: I am not retiring. This isn't the end of Brock Lesnar in the Octagon or my fighting career. I want to state this is not the end, far from it. I promise you that."

As a result, Shane Carwin will step in to face Dos Santos at UFC 131.

"I was training and my phone was blowing up so I looked over and saw some missed calls from Dana and Joe Silva," Carwin wrote on his personal website. "I reached out to my manager to see what was going on and he informed me that we are taking Lesnar's spot for 131.

"Junior is a serious fight and not the type of fight that you would normally take on a 30-day notice but I have a dream to chase and I do not have a lot of time to chase it. This is an opportunity to put myself in contention for the title. I know my coaches will have me ready so I have everything to gain.

"My manager said, 'This is where you belong' and I am going to make sure I do everything I can to prove him right.

"I hope Brock is able to recover. I look forward to facing him again one day."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.