UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic discusses the return of Brock Lesnar

Stipe Miocic earned the “Baddest Man On The Planet” title last month in Brazil, this after he KO’d Fabricio Werdum in the main event of UFC 198, thus becoming UFC heavyweight champion.

Earlier this morning on ESPN’s SportsCenter it was announced that former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar would be returning to the octagon at July’s blockbuster UFC 200 event to square off with former title challenger Mark Hunt.

TMZ caught up with Miocic to get his thoughts on the return of Brock Lesnar, here is what the heavyweight champ had to say:

“Oh it is great. You know I think people like Brock, he brings a big crowd. Umm, you know it is awesome. He gets to fight at UFC 200, such a big card. I’ll be there watching so I am excited to watch.”

Stipe, who holds a win over “The Super Samoan”, was asked to give his prediction for the Lesnar vs. Hunt bout:

“You know Brock has been out of the game for a while. And Mark, even though he is getting older, he is still evolving. And you know in this sport if you take some time off guys will evolve real fast, and Mark, that guy has winner or quitter in his hands so umm we will see what happens. Maybe if Brock can get him to the ground then it is a different story, but I know Mark has been working on that. Brock has to keep his hands up because he does not want to get clipped with any of those punches.”

The reporter asked Miocic if his previous statement meant he was picking Hunt by knockout to which Stipe replied with the following:

“No, no, I never said that. But I wouldn’t be surprised.”

TMZ asked Miocic if he felt that Brock could still be as dominant as he once was in his return:

“I think he is a big force. He is a big man that moves well, umm, I mean anything can happen man it is a fight. That is the best thing about our sport. You never know what is going to happen. You wear those small little gloves and anything can happen.”

Miocic was asked if he would be interested in a future fight with Brock Lesnar, he replied with the following:

“Yea, I mean listen I’ll fight anyone. I don’t really have a choice now haha. It is really whoever the UFC wants me to fight. I never did before. I just want to fight the best guys. If that is Brock then that is fine.”

As for how a fight with Lesnar would play out, Stipe gave the following answer:

“I am going to win. You will see me with my hands raised and know how I did it. But I would definitely win that fight.”

Would you like to see Stipe Miocic and Brock Lesnar square off in the future? Who do you think would win? Sound off PENN Nation!