• UFC

Lesnar return scheduled for July 3 in Las Vegas

ESPN staff
March 1, 2010
Brock Lesnar dominated Frank Mir at UFC 100 © UFC
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Brock Lesnar's first UFC heavyweight title defence since he survived a serious intestinal disorder will definitely come against the winner of Frank Mir and Shane Carwin, Espn.co.uk understands.

Lesnar had been slated to fight Carwin at UFC 106, but bouts of mononucleosis and diverticulitis left him fighting to save his mixed martial arts career. As a result, Carwin's attention was turned towards a meeting with former heavyweight champion Mir at UFC 111.

Carwin, Mir and Cain Velasquez, the latter of whom knocked out Antonio Minotauro Nogueira at UFC 110, are all considered to be contenders to Lesnar's crown, but Espn.co.uk understands Velasquez's next fight will not be for the title.

The UFC are planning a July 3 comeback for Lesnar at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, unless Lesnar himself feels he needs a further month to recover from his recent illnesses. His opponent will either be Mir, who recently apologised for claiming he wanted to kill Lesnar, or undefeated knockout machine Carwin.

Mir has a 1-1 record against the champion, having caught Lesnar with a kneebar in their first encounter, only to then concede a second round stoppage in the rematch. Carwin is 11-0 in his MMA career and is coming off a spectacular knockout victory over Gabriel Gonzaga.

Should both men inflict lengthy medical suspensions on each other at UFC 111, Velasquez would then be promoted to number one contender. For now, it appears the AKA fighter's next opponent is more likely to be the winner of Gonzaga v Junior Dos Santos.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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