Overview

• Cormier told Club Shay Shay the heavyweight title bout with Lesnar was close after their UFC 226 faceoff but ended when Lesnar re-signed with WWE.
• He said WWE paid Lesnar roughly $6–7 million a year, possibly up to $10 million, which he believes outweighed a UFC return.
• Cormier argued the matchup heavily favored him, citing Brock Lesnar’s reaction to strikes and referencing Cain Velasquez’s 2010 TKO and the lingering scar under Lesnar’s eye.
• UFC President Dana White has previously said the fight fell through because WWE offered the better financial package.
• After the plan collapsed, the UFC booked Cormier versus Derrick Lewis at UFC 230, and the long-discussed Lesnar bout is now off the table with Cormier retired and Lesnar working in WWE.