Recovered Lesnar claims he’s ready for UFC return

Even as he was dominating Frank Mir in July to solidify himself as the undisputed heavyweight champion of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Brock Lesnar was not at full strength.

“I didn’t know what was going on,” he said. “I was suffering for almost a year. I had stomach pains here and there, and flulike symptoms. It left me 60 to 80 percent all last year.”

Lesnar’s health further declined as he prepared for a November title defense against Shane Carwin. The pain got worse, and he was forced to drop out of the fight.

Lesnar was diagnosed with diverticulitis, an intestinal disease that threatened his career.

But on Wednesday, the former professional wrestler announced that because of a “miracle,” he is fully healthy and will return to action in the summer.

“I know the whole heavyweight division is back on their toes again,” he said on a conference call.

No date for his comeback bout has been announced, but Lesnar is expected to fight the winner of a March 27 bout between Mir and Carwin.

Lesnar’s illness reached a critical level while he was on a hunting trip in Canada after he had withdrawn from the Carwin fight. The 32-year-old said he woke up in shock and delirious, sweating with a 104-degree temperature.

He was taken to a medical facility three hours away but quickly determined the care at that facility was lacking. So Lesnar, in ”excruciating pain,” had his wife drive him to Bismarck, N.D.

Lesnar spent 11 days in a hospital there, unable to eat. He lost 40 pounds through the ordeal.

He was sent home and told he would need to return for colon surgery, a diagnosis supported by a second opinion from doctors at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.

Lesnar took antibiotics and changed his lifestyle to help the healing process.

“What got me (sick) was a total protein diet. Not enough fiber. I totally changed my diet, got on some natural medicine and did a lot of praying,” he said.

The changes worked.

Lesnar said he was given a clean bill of health by a panel of doctors during his last visit to the Mayo Clinic on Jan. 5.

He said his recovery stunned doctors.

“You’ve got a winning lottery ticket,” he said he was told.

Lesnar said if he would have had the surgery, he would have been out at least a year and probably would have retired.

Instead, he said he has found a new outlook on life.

“Everybody has got life-changing experiences, and this is one of them for me,” Lesnar said. “I believe things happen for a reason. It gave me a different perspective on life and my family. I have to make some changes.”

Those changes obviously don’t include scaling back on the trash talk.

Lesnar said he doesn’t think he beat Mir “as bad as (he) could have,” and called the Las Vegan a “stalker.”

The two have split their two fights and might get a chance to meet for a third time.

Lesnar said he has no concerns that continuing his fighting career could trigger more health problems.

“I don’t dwell on the past. I never have. I’m the kind of guy that puts my head down and I just go,” he said. “There’s no looking back.”

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509.