Junior Dos Santos Says Brock Lesnar Likely Won’t Be Clean For UFC Return

The MMA world was turned upside down by the profane in-cage promo cut by Brock Lesnar after Daniel Cormier knocked out Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic in their title fight at UFC 226 on Saturday. The confrontation included Lesnar shoving a grinning Cormier, who was presumably thrilled as an avowed professional wrestling fan as well as by the prospect of a Lesnar-sized payday in his future.

However, it seems few within the sport other than Cormier are excited about the WWE superstar’s UFC return. Fox Sports MMA analyst and former UFC bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz did not mince words this week in saying that he would be shocked if Lesnar made it past the gauntlet of United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) drug testing. Now Junior dos Santos, a former champion and current contender in the heavyweight division, is echoing those sentiments.

“[Lesnar] didn’t stop fighting because he chose to,” Dos Santos told Brazilian media on Wednesday [h/t to MMA Fighting for the transcription]. “He failed a drug test for something he has always used, you can clearly see it. He was cut by USADA and now he returns like it’s something positive, but it’s not. He adds nothing to the sport. He’s a guy that cheats. The only benefit he brings is that people really like watching him, that big guy.”

While Cormier and the UFC are clearly eager for the return of one of the sport’s biggest pay-par-view stars, “Cigano” isn’t too keen on Lesnar. The two coached against each other on Season 13 of The Ultimate Fighter, with both men set to fight one another after the season finale in 2011. Lesnar was forced out of the bout due to recurring diverticulitis problems and was replaced by Shane Carwin at UFC 131.

Dos Santos (18-5) says he has learned a lot about PED use and abuse during his time in the UFC’s heavyweight division, as he himself dealt with a failed USADA test last year. However, “Cigano” was ultimately cleared of any wrongdoing by USADA in April after a lengthy investigation.

“I’ve learned that those who use those types of performance drugs can’t stay without them because they don’t produce testosterone the way they did, they don’t produce HGH the way they should, and many other hormones,” dos Santos said. “To compete at high level, these guys can’t do without it. I don’t know what will be his strategy, but it’s almost certain that he won’t be clean.”

Dos Santos looks to work his way back up the heavyweight ranks as he takes on Blagoy Ivanov on Saturday. Meanwhile, Lesnar just re-entered USADA’s drug testing pool this month in preparation for a UFC title fight against newly-crowned heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier. The earliest Lesnar can compete is January 2019.