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White: Brock Lesnar didn’t return to the UFC because of new WWE deal, not new PPV model

Dana White has dismissed claims that Brock Lesnar didn’t make his UFC return due to the promotion’s new PPV model being exclusive to ESPN+.

Instead, the UFC president explained to ESPN that Lesnar didn’t return to the UFC as he secured a better deal in the WWE.

“That’s not why Brock Lesnar didn’t fight,” White said when asked if Lesnar turned down the UFC’s new pay-per-view model. “Brock Lesnar got a better deal is basically what happened for Brock.” (Transcription via MMA Fighting)

It looked like a fight between Lesnar and UFC heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier was going to materialize when the WWE superstar confronted Cormier in the cage following his title win at UFC 226 last year.