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07th Jun 2016

Brock Lesnar (understandably) considered underdog for UFC comeback

How will the five year absence affect him?

Darragh Murphy

Brock Lesnar’s return to the Octagon is one of the MMA stories of the year.

The former UFC heavyweight champion is one of the fiercest competitors ever to compete in the UFC, with his freakish athleticism leading him to a championship belt in just his fourth professional outing.

Lesnar returns to action in a one-off fight against the knockout-loving Mark Hunt in the co-main event of UFC 200 and the WWE superstar’s absence from MMA is a cause for concern for many.

UFC 100 - Frank Mir v Brock Lesnar

The 38-year-old hasn’t fought since 2011, when he was stopped in the first round by Alistair Overeem.

That, his second consecutive defeat (coupled with a battle with diverticulitis) resulted in Lesnar’s decision to hang up his gloves.

Since Lesnar’s last fight, Hunt has knocked out five of the toughest heavyweights walking the planet and the bookies’ odds on their UFC 200 clash understandably favour ‘The Super Samoan.’

While the opening betting lines initially leant towards Lesnar, that quickly changed as people saw the value for money on Hunt.

The line has now settled at Hunt as a 1/2 favourite while Lesnar has come out to 8/5, according to BestFightOdds.com

Odds on knockouts and round finishes have not yet been released but the smart money would be on this to be over within the opening five minutes as these men have dynamite in their hands.