It was expected that WWE-UFC superstar Brock Lesnar would return to the Octagon to challenge Daniel Cormier for the heavyweight title sometime in the new year. The wrestling powerhouse underwent USADA’s drug testing program and was tested five times in 2018. Lesnar is eligible to return to competition no earlier than Jan. 8 2019, but the former UFC heavyweight champion has one last obstacle to clear before he makes the walk to the cage.

Lesnar will not be able to challenge Cormier, at least not in Las Vegas, until he pays $250,000 to the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Lesnar was hit with a whopping quarter-million-dollar fine and 12-month suspension after he tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2016. His UFC 200 win over Mark Hunt was overturned to a No Contest (NC).

NSAC executive director Bob Bennett told Ken Pishna of MMA Weekly that Lesnar has yet to pay his fine and is thus ineligible to compete in Las Vegas.

“(Lesnar) is still suspended based on his fine,” NSAC executive director Bob Bennett told MMAWeekly back in July. “He is required to pay the fine or set up a payment plan with the Attorney General’s Office (to get cleared from the suspension).”

Lesnar’s last official win came in 2010 when he submitted Shane Carwin to retain his UFC heavyweight title. Prior to the Mark Hunt fight, Lesnar dropped two losses to Cain Velasquez and Alistair Overeem, losing both fights via first-round TKO.