WWE superstar Brock Lesnar has put on a storied career in mixed martial arts. Now the former UFC heavyweight champion has decided to reveal how he gained the interest of UFC President Dana White for his shot in the world’s most famous mixed martial arts promotion.
Lesnar stormed through the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) during his MMA career, going on to form a heated rivalry with former champion Frank Mir and winning the heavyweight title for himself. With that in mind, there was a time when Dana White would not return to the fighter’s phone calls.
Speaking to ESPN Sports Center, Lesnar revealed how he got his foot in the door with the UFC.
“I was on the road and I was injured and I was the champion and I didn’t want to quit. I had a no-quit attitude. Vicodin and vodka were my closest friends — and my closest enemies.”
“I had to get out of the wrestling business back then to save my life. I just wasn’t happy. I wasn’t happy at the time. I felt like a caged animal. I didn’t want that. I still had a competitive nature inside me. I had a calling to go back and compete again.”
“The next thing I know, I got a phone call saying, ‘Are you interested in fighting?’ I said absolutely. I gave it a one-fight shot with a company out of Japan and then decided I wanted to be in the UFC.”
“Dana White wouldn’t take my phone calls. I win my first MMA fight, Dana White won’t take my phone calls from my lawyers and manager and so I said fine. Randy Couture was fighting Gabriel Gonzaga for the heavyweight title so I said buy a ticket and we’ll go to the show.”
“I bought a ticket, sat in the stands, watched the whole show and at the end of the show, I jumped the guard rail, escaped a few security guards, ran up and tapped Dana White on the shoulder and introduced myself and that’s where the ball got started rolling.”
