This Week’s MMA Birthdays: Brock Lesnar Turns 36

Brock Lesnar held the UFC heavyweight crown for nearly two years. | Photo: Sherdog.com

Brock Lesnar will celebrate his 36th birthday on July 12.

One of the most physically imposing figures ever to compete in mixed martial arts, the 6-foot-3, 265-pound South Dakotan was a four-time collegiate All-American wrestler and 2000 NCAA national champion at the University of Minnesota. Lesnar left World Wrestling Entertainment and entered MMA in 2007, rising to the top of the heavyweight division in just four professional appearances -- a victory over hall of famer Randy Couture catapulting him to the Ultimate Fighting Championship title.

Diverticulitis -- a condition in which small pouches form in the wall of the colon and become inflamed or infected -- led to a premature end to his MMA career. Lesnar underwent surgery in May 2011 to remove roughly a foot of his colon after a second bout with the ailment. Seven months later, he retired following a technical knockout loss to former Dream and Strikeforce champion Alistair Overeem at UFC 141.

Those in MMA celebrating a birthday the week covering July 7-July 13:

JULY 7

Jason Brilz (38)
Pat Barry (34)
Eliot Marshall (33)
Stav Economou (27)
Patricio Freire (26)

JULY 9

Renato Sobral (38)
Tim Credeur (36)
Gerald Turek (34)

JULY 10

Pete Williams (38)
Gleison Tibau (30)
Brock Jardine (28)

JULY 11

Josh Clopton (32)

JULY 12

Keiichiro Yamamiya (41)
Brock Lesnar (36)
Carlos Eduardo Rocha (32)
Mitch Whitesel (32)

JULY 13

Dave Strasser (44)
Hidehiko Hasegawa (35)
Jonathan Goulet (34)
Rina Tomita (29)

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