Brock Lesnar to retire, UFC eyeing Daniel Cormier vs Stipe

Former UFC double champ Daniel Cormier will not be facing Brock Lesnar in their much anticipated matchup anymore because the WWE superstar has retired from MMA yet again, says UFC President Dana White.

"He told me he's done, he's retired," White told ESPN. "We're going to move in another direction with Cormier."

Instead, Cormier (22-1) is slated to rematch Stipe Miocic (18-3) at UFC 241, which will take place in Anaheim, California. While nothing has been finalized yet, both parties have unofficially agreed to fight each other, according to ESPN.

Cormier initially defeated Miocic to become heavyweight champion at UFC 226 in July 2018, after knocking out the Cleveland native in the first round. Prior to that, Miocic had defended his title a record three consecutive times, and he's been chomping at the bit to get that last one back.

"I'm ready," Miocic said. "I've been ready. And I'm going to take back what's mine."

Lesnar has not been active in MMA since his last win at UFC 200, which was all the way back in July of 2016. That win over Mark Hunt was his only one since 2011, and it was later overturned to a no-decision after Lesnar tested positive for the anti-estrogen agent, clomiphene.

He was suspended for a year and subsequently retired from MMA for a second time in February 2017. Lesnar had reentered the USADA anti-doping program and was looking to make another run in the UFC, but instead will now call it quits.