Brock Lesnar out of UFC 131 after illness returns

Reported by Ernest I Aguilar

Brock Lesnar is out of the UFC 131 event and the match against Junior Dos Santos was canceled as the diverticulitis illness that almost put Lesnar out for good in 2009 has returned.

"Former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar has diverticulitis again," said UFC President Dana White. "He spent all day yesterday over at the Mayo Clinic and he's gone through a bumper to bumper of tests. This thing acted up on him again, he's got some serious choices to make in the next couple of weeks on whether to fight this thing or take the surgery."

If Lesnar opts for surgery he will be out of action for more than a year. "I'll tell you one thing: I'm not retiring," Lesnar said.

"This isn't the end of my fight career. I have a strong faith that there's a solution to every problem. I just gotta find the right solution to fix this problem. I love this sport and I love what I do. This isn't the end of Brock Lesnar."

Lesnar also thanked the UFC, White and apologized to Dos Santos but said he's been dealing with the symptoms for the past three months and couldn't train for the fight.