Brock Lesnar: Returning to the UFC by SummerOn ESPN SportsCenter Wednesday, Brock Lesnar appeared for the first time in front of public media to offer an official explanation of where he’s been for the past six months, as mysteries and rumors regarding his health swirled around the MMA community.

As Lesnar told SportsCenter viewers this morning, he has battled back from a nearly-debilitating illness that could have cost him not only his competitive stake, but also vital organs as a result of the trauma done to his digestive system.

Months ago, when asked about the condition of his promotion’s newest heavyweight star and by far its biggest sensation in years by Yahoo Sports’ Dave Meltzer, White only had a brief and obscure quip to offer, and little more.

“It’s bad,” he indulged. “It’s real bad. I am worried about it. I can’t really talk about it right now, but [Brock] is in rough shape.”

As Brock went on to steamroll Frank Mir in his rematch with him this last July, a showdown with Shane Carwin at UFC 106 was scheduled, win both Carwin and Lesnar looking unstoppable in their most recent outings, and fans finally having something pivotal to look forward to in the UFC’s heavyweight division.

One postponement at UFC 106 became another postponement at UFC 108. As Lesnar’s condition worsened, silence became deafening. Although it was eventually revealed that Lesnar was suffering from a case of diverticulitis, little else was known aside from Dana’s grim outlook on his condition.

Although White has anticipated openly that Brock could return to competition this year, the UFC president has been hesitant about issuing solid word, seemingly preferring that the word come from the mouth of the Heavyweight Champion himself.

Today, Lesnar appeared before the masses on national TV, which could’ve potentially catered more heavily to fans in the MMA demographic than it ever has before by way of the announcement made today. Brock spent a good ten minutes or so going into exacting detail regarding his time off.

"Unbeknownst to me,” Lesnar begins, “I was just feeling sick for the longest time throughout my training camp, preparing for Carwin. My training wasn't going well. I missed almost three weeks of my training camp… kept going to the doctor, couldn't figure out what the problem was. Finally, it was a Monday. I said to my trainer ‘I can't do this fight.’

"I went to the doctor and they diagnosed me with mononucleosis. That didn't sound right, I'm pretty sure I had it as a kid. I was devastated just to back out of the fight. I decided to get away, and take a trip up to Canada and do some hunting. I could either stay at home and sit on the couch and climb the walls or go to Canada and do something I would enjoy. So I got up there and still didn't feel right. Had a lot of severe stomach pain and one night I woke up in severe shock, had a 104 temperature, and felt like I was shot in the guts."

This is where Lesnar’s road took a fateful turn.

"I went to the hospital in Canada, and realized quickly that I had to get out of Canadian healthcare,” Lesnar jokes as he continues, “and get down to Bismark, to the United States, to Medcenter One. I take my hat off to this doctor there. They diagnosed me with diverticulitis, a severe case. I had a rupture of one of my diverticuli, which means I had a hole in my stomach."

Antibiotics were administered to the Champion, suddenly reduced to ailed incapacitation, as they struggled to bring the condition under control. Potential outcomes were considered, directly correlating with the severity of Lesnar’s infection. Part of his colon might have to be surgically extracted. He may have to live with a colostomy bag. Lesnar was astounded by the possibilities. Hopefully, he waited, resting while doing his best to urge an improvement in his condition.

"I was in the hospital for 11 days. No food, no water, fed intravenously, lost 40lbs. I got out of the hospital, went home and decided I wanted a second opinion," Lensar further revealed. "Went down to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Doctors in (both) the Bismark and the Mayo Clinic diagnosed and said I need surgery, I need my colon removed, but we can't until the swelling goes down. So I pretty much had it in my mind that I was going to have surgery."

Stunned by news that he’d have to endure a surgery that would drastically and tragically cut short the remainder of his athletic career, Lesnar’s true ethic shined through. He accepted the reality of his condition, and worked to make himself as able throughout its duration as possible. He meandered only briefly over the negatives, and like a true champion, did not settle for incapacity. Rather, he went to work.

"My answer was I have to have the surgery, but I didn't want to if I could beat the odds, and I was going to do everything in my power to do that,” Lesnar ratifies. “I had another check-up after the first of the year. I went home, I went back to the gym, got my weight back up. I put about 30lbs back on, went back into the doctor January 5th, and a miracle… they were dumbfounded. They couldn't find any signs of any problem in my stomach. It's a miracle to me."

"I actually had to go back to the doctor yesterday before I came out here to get another CT scan on my stomach cause I still can't believe it," Lesnar told analysts. He went on to relay that doctors have cleared him of any potential recurrence or complications as a result of this illness that may further inhibit his ability to compete.

"I've had 3 or 4 different opinions, I've had colonoscopy's done, the CT scans, and there's literally no sign of anything even existing in there," said the UFC Heavyweight Champion. "I believe that the mind is a powerful thing… every day I was put in a position… I had to view my life and the world in a different way, I had a different take on the world.

“When you have everything taken away from you and you're laying helplessly in your hospital bed,” Lesnar emotionally recalls, “not sure if I'm going to get back in the Octagon, something I've just grown to love to do… this is my life."

Both Lesnar and White stated that he was seen in the medical community as a complete miracle and a stroke of luck fell on him to help heel the condition and keep him out of surgery that would likely would have ended his fighting career.

"I've always been in control… of my life, in control of my surroundings… and for me to sit there for 15 or 30 days, not having control of anything, let me tell you. I've got to thank my wife and my family for sticking by my side, Dana and the UFC, and my sponsors. These people put everything on the line for Brock Lesnar."

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