Euro 2016: Wales look to Gareth Bale for inspiration against England in battle of Britain

Chantilly: Wayne Rooney's England and Gareth Bale's Wales meet in Lens on Thursday with their Euro 2016 ambitions on the line and fears that their followers could spoil the day.

With England at risk of disqualification after fan violence erupted in Marseille at the weekend and amid provocative comments from Welsh star Gareth Bale, focus in the build-up has been on anything but football.

Gareth Bale could be the deciding factor between both teams in the Euro 2016 tie. AFP

But with the neighbours' first meeting at a major tournament looming, thoughts have turned to the pitch, where Wales manager Chris Coleman believes England's tactical tinkering could give his side an edge.

"If you're looking at England from afar, it's either going to work for them or it's not, the fact that they've played different formations," he said on Wednesday.

"So we look at that. Maybe they're not settled or maybe they're a bit more settled than we think they are."

While Wales's 3-5-1-1 system has been a staple since the start of the qualifying campaign, England manager Roy Hodgson has seemed caught between using a 4-3-3 formation and a 4-4-2 with a midfield diamond.

The 4-3-3 got an outing in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Russia in Marseille, but withEngland's failure to kill off the game having come back to bite them in injury time, change could be afoot.

Bale, who set the tone for his team's 2-1 win over Slovakia with a stunning free-kick, has been the Welsh antagoniser-in-chief, accusing England of arrogance and saying that none of their players would get into the Wales team.

However, Coleman described the pre-match sniping as "irrelevant" and his words were echoed by Hodgson, who said: "Talk is talk and action on the field is action on the field."

More used to doing battle on the rugby pitch, England and Wales are facing off in a major football championship for the first time and the results of the opening round of games have put the Welsh in the driving seat.

Victory will take them into the last 16 and leave Hodgson's men clinging on for dear life in Group B, but despite the high stakes, Wayne Rooney says England will go about their task calmly.

British Invasion

Asked what the mindset for the game will be, the England captain said: "The same mentality as we had for Russia. We're preparing for every game the same.

"We're not going to prepare differently because we're playing Wales and we know a lot more of their players as they play in the Premier League.

"It's the same preparations for this game, whether it's Wales, Russia or Slovakia. We're doing our job professionally, preparing well, and it's down to us as players now.

"We've done all our work on the training pitch. Now we've got to go out and do it on the pitch."

Both Hodgson and Rooney have pleaded for the fans travelling to the small industrial city of Lens to behave and there will be 2,400 security personnel on the streets, in addition to an alcohol ban.

The Football Association and Football Association of Wales have both urged fans without tickets not to attend, but despite the Stade Bollaert-Delelis holding only 35,000 fans, between 40,000 and 50,000 British supporters are expected to descend on the city.

Coleman hopes that goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey will be able to play after missing the Slovakia game due to a back spasm, which saw 22-year-old Liverpool reserve Danny Ward handed his first start.

Joe Ledley and Hal Robson-Kanu are both pushing for starting roles after coming off the bench against Slovakia, the latter scuffing in a raucously celebrated 81st-minute winner.

Raheem Sterling's place may be under threat for England after a poor display on the left flank against Russia.

England's inability to build on the lead given to them by Eric Dier's free-kick, meanwhile, could open the door for Daniel Sturridge or Jamie Vardy to come into the team in attack.

Roy Hodgson avoids Gareth Bale’s bait and focuses on crunch Wales match

It is not difficult to imagine the reaction if England’s most important player – say, Wayne Rooney – had ushered in this match by boldly announcing that none of the Wales players, Gareth Bale included, was good enough to get into Roy Hodgson’s team. Imagine the accusations of arrogance if Rooney declared Wales did not play with the same national pride. And then, when the opposition manager questioned the need for those type of comments, if Rooney had grinned knowingly and made it clear he was perfectly happy to have burrowed his way under the opposition’s skin. Or to quote Bale: “It’s good that they bit.”

Roy Hodgson says England will do their talking on the pitch against Wales

 

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Someone can always be counted on to crank up hostilities before these occasions and, as Rooney noted, goodness knows what England’s players might have encountered had Craig Bellamy still been around. Bellamy, Rooney recalled, was the only player in all his Premier League years who deliberately set out to wind up the opposition. “Maybe Jon Walters a bit, too,” England’s captain said.

“They’re the only two who would speak to players and try to intimidate players. I’ve played against Ashley Williams many times, and many of the others Welsh players, and never had it in the Premier League. So I doubt it will happen now.”

That was the point when he was asked to explain Bellamy’s “verbals” in detail and Hodgson, sensing his player might talk himself into trouble, came out with a stage whisper. “Do not go down that route,” came the message.

This has been the theme from England’s camp this week: say nothing disrespectful, avoid anything potentially inflammatory and, above all, don’t get too sucked in by the headlines generated by the opposition’s star player. Jack Wilshere temporarily strayed off-message when he cheerfully announced the two sides did not like each other but that was an exception, and it has been unexpected, to say the least, that Bale has led the mischief-making.

It has certainly been a break from the norm when, at the risk of sounding slightly cruel, Bale’s interviews are notable usually for the speed at which they descend into blandness. The world’s most expensive footballer has seemed delighted, triumphant even, to have drawn a response and Hodgson could be forgiven for suspecting it has been a strategic attempt to make the occasion even spikier than might normally be expected.

The theory – or at least the suspicion – is that it is deliberate and Hodgson, in turn, has recommended his players avoid the mud-slinging. The England manager has been irritated by Bale’s remarks, whatever he says about rising above it, and admitted he and his players “would be very ashamed” if they fell into the trap.

The truth, however, is very different from how Bale presents it when a combined England-Wales XI would, by common consensus, feature only one Welsh player: Bale himself. Chris Coleman’s side are confident, emboldened by their own togetherness and giving the impression they are enjoying themselves, in a way that is seldom seen of England sides in tournaments. Wales have the added incentive of qualifying for the knockout rounds if they follow up their win against Slovakia with another victory. They will be strong in the tackle, quick to the ball and willing to give absolutely everything, as might be expected of a nation playing their biggest game since the 1958 World Cup. And yet, which impartial observer could realistically agree that, individually, they have the better players?

This is what should encourage Hodgson to think of the possibilities if his own team play anywhere near the point of maximum expression. England’s defence has been considered vulnerable in this tournament, yet Joe Hart is a superior goalkeeper to Wayne Hennessey and Chris Smalling and Gary Cahill operate at the level of Manchester United and Chelsea. Wales have two centre-backs, James Chester and Ashley Williams, who play for West Bromwich Albion and Swansea City respectively and a third, Ben Davies, who is Danny Rose’s understudy as left-back at Tottenham Hotspur.

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 Gareth Bale shares a joke with his Wales team-mates as they prepare before their crucial ncounter with England. Photograph: Joe Giddens/PA

Bale has the ability to trouble the world’s most accomplished defences but it is also worth considering the other players who are officially listed alongside the Real Madrid player as forwards. Hal Robson-Kanu’s winner against Slovakia in Bordeaux was his third goal in 32 caps. David Cotterill plays for Birmingham City, Sam Vokes is at Burnley and Simon Church could not get into the MK Dons side last season that finished second from bottom of the Championship. Church eventually left on loan for Aberdeen but, as it stands, will begin next season in League One.

That Robson-Kanu does not have a club at the moment, having ended his long association with Reading last season, makes his goal last Saturday one of the more endearing stories of the tournament. Yet the Wales squad has plenty of unlikely heroes. Jonny Williams was on loan at MK Dons when they went down to England’s third division. Chris Gunter plays for Reading. Dave Edwards, once Joe Hart’s landlord in their days at Shrewsbury Town, is on the books at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Wales have a back-up goalkeeper, Owain Fon Williams, who earns his living at Inverness Caledonian Thistle and a reserve winger, George Williams, who has his own Milton Keynes links, starting his career in the same youth team as Dele Alli. Williams is nicknamed “Georginho” and finished last season at Gillingham, on loan from Fulham.

Roy Hodgson has no plan to man-mark Gareth Bale in Euro 2016 ‘derby’

 

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Equally Hodgson merely has to remind his players of last season’s Premier League title race to recall what can happen when a talented side with an unbreakable spirit is written off, or patronised, or not taken seriously enough. Leicester City have shown how reckless it would be for England to regard Wales as anything but highly motivated, dangerous opponents.

England have fallen into that trap before. Every time England have taken on the Republic of Ireland in the past 30 years they have been billed as the more likely winner. This includes Euro 1988, the 1990 World Cup, a couple of qualifiers for the European Championship in 1992 and the friendlies of recent years. Every time “You’ll never beat the Irish” has been the soundtrack.

Is it true, as Bale says, that Wales have more passion for their shirt? The only time to answer that will be the end of the match but one certainty is that Coleman’s players will be extremely pumped up.

“The spirit is brilliant,” Coleman said. “The camp is prepared. Belgium were third in the world when we played them and we got over that massive hurdle. That was the turning point for this team, when we realised we could be a threat up against anybody. We know the threat we carry now. On our day we feel we can beat anybody, whether it’s England or anyone else.”

Google Doodle goes to the birds for bird-watcher Phoebe Snetsinger By the time of her death, Snetsinger had seen 8,398 species of birds.

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Passionate and dedicated birder Phoebe Snetsinger, born in 1931, remains one of the world's most prolific. At the time of her death, in 1999, she had seen 8,398 species of the estimated 10,000 known species in the world, more than anyone else in history at the time. On June 9, 2016, she would have been 85, and Google is remembering her life with a special Doodle.

Snetsinger's interest in birds was piqued in 1965, when she spotted a Blackburnian Warbler, but she didn't become truly dedicated until 1981, when, at the age of 50, she was diagnosed with terminal melanoma, with just one year to live. Rather than spend that time at home, Snetsinger took herself to Alaska to search for birds.

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When she returned home, she found her cancer was in remission. Using money inherited from her father, advertising magnate Leo Burnett, Snetsinger devoted her life to traveling the globe looking for birds, taking copious notes that helped reclassify subspecies as species. When she visited Kenya, she saw over 500 birds in just three weeks.

Her new life was not without cost. She was injured several times, and one injury, a broken wrist, crippled her arm permanently. During a trip to Papua New Guinea, her guide was beaten and Snetsinger herself gang-raped by five men. On her final trip, to Madagascar, the van she was in crashed and rolled, killing her instantly. She was 68.

The Google Doodle includes five birds significant to Snetsinger: the blackburnian warbler, the red-shouldered vanga (the last bird she ever documented), the village weaverbird, the eastern bluebird and the red-capped manakin. Her adventures are documented in her memoir, "Birding on Borrowed Time."

Google doodle June 9 2016: who is birdwatcher Phoebe Snetsinger?

Today Google celebrates the birthday of prolific bird watcher Phoebe Snetsinger who would have turned 85.

Snetsinger made it her life's mission to document the world's birds, travelling across the seven continents and surviving shipwrecks and earthquakes in the process.

Phoebe Snetsinger saw and documented more than 8300 species of bird.

By the time of her death in 1999, aged 68, she had documented more than 8300 species of birds. There are about 10,000 known species according to experts.

She started bird watching in May 1965 when she spotted a Blackburnian warbler through a neighbour's binoculars. But her hobby turned into an all-consuming obsession when she was diagnosed with melanoma aged 50.

Told she only had one year to live, the bored housewife from Missouri in the United States decided to travel to Alaska to watch birds. She returned home to find the cancer in remission.

Armed with binoculars and a telescope, she scoured the globe to study birds, using the fortune inherited from her father Leo Burnett, an advertising magnate.

In Kenya alone she saw 500 different bird species.

Snetsinger saw birding as "intricately intertwined with survival". In the pursuit of her dream, she suffered life-long injuries, including a crippled arm.

While she was near an isolated lagoon in Papua New Guinea she was gang-raped by five men.

One of the last birds she saw was the small and stocky red-shouldered vanga in Madagascar.

She was travelling to another birding site when the van she was in flipped, killing her instantly. She was 68.

Google's animation features Snetsinger watching several birds, including the blackburnian warbler, which sparked her passion, and the red-shouldered vanga.

"Today, we celebrate the courage of Ms Snetsigner, and the beauty of life - however hidden it may be," said Google.

Kimbo Slice dies at age 42

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Professional mixed martial artist Kimbo Slice died Monday at age 42, Bellator MMA announced.

"We are all shocked and saddened by the devastating and untimely loss of Kimbo Slice, a beloved member of the Bellator family," Bellator president Scott Coker said in a statement, calling Slice "a charismatic, larger-than-life personality that transcended the sport."

"Outside of the cage he was a friendly, gentle giant and a devoted family man," Coker said. "His loss leaves us all with extremely heavy hearts, and our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Ferguson family and all of Kimbo's friends, fans, and teammates."

There was no word on the cause of Slice's death.

Slice had been hospitalized earlier Monday for undisclosed reasons near his home in South Florida, according to Coral Springs police, who had been dispatched to his residence to prevent a potential gathering outside. They said no foul play was suspected.

Slice, birth name Kevin Ferguson, was a former backyard brawler and Internet sensation. A heavyweight at 6-foot-2, 225 pounds, he had a 5-2 professional record with four TKOs.

He was signed to Bellator MMA and scheduled to headline Bellator 158 on July 16 in London against James Thompson.

He last fought at Bellator 149 on Feb. 19 in Houston. He defeated Dhafir Harris, aka Dada5000, in a three-round decision. The result was later changed to a no-contest by the Texas commission, after Slice tested positive for anabolic steroids and an elevated testosterone ratio.

Kimbo Slice was "a charismatic, larger-than-life personality that transcended the sport," Bellator president Scott Coker said. Robert Laberge/Getty Images

Slice also previously fought for the UFC.

"He carried himself as a true professional during his time in our organization," the promotion said in a statement Monday night. "While he will never be forgotten for his fighting style and transcendent image, Slice will also be remembered for his warm personality and commitment to his family and friends."

Slice was born in the Bahamas on Feb. 8, 1974, but grew up in South Florida. He played middle linebacker at Miami's Palmetto High and showed the potential to play in college before Hurricane Andrew caused Palmetto High's season to be cut short and his scholarship offers vanished. He flunked out of college at Bethune-Cookman University and was homeless for a brief time. He worked as a limo driver, bouncer and bodyguard before rising to fame through his viral street-fighting videos.

He was not embraced by much of the MMA world as it attempted to go mainstream, with UFC president Dana White famously saying Slice would not last two minutes in the Octagon. However, due in part to his immense popularity, Slice's third professional fight, a fourth-round TKO against James Thompson in May 2008, aired on CBS, making it the first MMA fight on prime-time network television.

In 2009, the UFC booked Slice as a contestant on "The Ultimate Fighter" reality series. He ultimately fought for the UFC twice, compiling a 1-1 record, before taking a leave of absence from MMA to compete in professional wrestling.

In 2015, Bellator signed Slice and promoted him in a main event against MMA pioneer Ken Shamrock. Slice won the fight via TKO in the first round, after nearly being submitted by Shamrock in the opening minutes. The two Bellator events Slice competed in, Bellator 138 and Bellator 149, set new ratings records on Spike TV.

Slice made his professional MMA debut on Nov. 10, 2007, for the now-defunct promotion EliteXC, knocking out Bo Cantrell in just 19 seconds.

He trained out of American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida.

No regrets: Brock Lesnar ready to return to UFC

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Brock Lesnar speaks with Hannah Storm about how many fights he could have in his return to UFC. (0:31)

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BRISTOL, Conn. -- Brock Lesnar isn't in his element right now. He's wearing a suit as he sits in a green room on ESPN's campus in between SportsCenter interviews, and he's trying to find a microwave to heat up a cup of vegetable soup. If he had it his way, he would be sitting on his tractor in his farm in Moosomin, Saskatchewan, but that would be too easy and Lesnar doesn't like doing things easily -- well, at least not yet anyway.

"I didn't want to be sitting on my tractor 20 years from now wondering, 'God, I wonder if I would have just fought one more time?'" Lesnar said. "So I'm going to take care of that speculation right now and when I'm sitting on my tractor 20 years and I can say, 'Now that was fun.' It takes some balls man. It takes some balls to live life to the fullest. Who in the hell would do this? I'm fortunate. I really am. It takes big balls to do this, but I've always stuck my neck out there. You just lay it on the line."

Lesnar had originally retired from mixed martial arts in March 2015 when he was contemplating a return to the UFC before eventually re-signing with the WWE. He had previously retired from the sport after losing to Alistair Overeem on Dec. 30, 2011, which was his last UFC fight. But Lesnar realized fairly quickly that he had closed the door too soon.

"When I made the decision I wasn't sure it was the right decision, but I was making the decision based upon a number of different evaluations at the time," Lesnar said. "Really, it was either fight in the UFC or fight in the WWE. There wasn't the option of both. That was a key factor. What am I going to do? I didn't want to juggle two careers anyway. It just felt right in this moment in my life to be involved in this one."

Lesnar, who is still under contract to WWE for another year and a half, didn't want to get into the specifics of his UFC deal and how he worked with WWE to allow him to fight Mark Hunt at UFC 200 on July 9 in Las Vegas. He did say, however, that his return has been in the works for months and he is happy with the resolution. After UFC 200, Lesnar will return to WWE and wrestle at SummerSlam on Aug. 21 in Brooklyn, New York.

"I think both companies see that it's not going to hurt," Lesnar said. "We're not going to devalue either one. It's actually win-win for everybody as long as I do win, and I have all intentions of doing so. I'm going to train to win. There are lots of risks, but without risks, there's no reward. I think the reward is bigger than the risk."

Brock Lesnar will fight Mark Hunt at UFC 200 in Las Vegas Getty Images

Of course it could easily turn into a lose-lose proposition if Hunt, who knocked out two-time UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir last March in the first round, knocks out Lesnar in the first round as well. It would effectively end any long-term comeback attempt and make it slightly harder to rebuild his "beast incarnate" persona before he headlines SummerSlam one month later. But Lesnar doesn't anticipate that being a problem.

"Is there going to be some ring rust? Are you out of your f---ing mind? Of course there is," Lesnar said. "But maybe Mark Hunt can knock it out of me in the first 10 seconds and then he's going to get his ass whooped."

If Lesnar does what he intends to do and takes care of Hunt impressively, it's hard to imagine his UFC return being a "one-off opportunity" as WWE described it in its news release. Lesnar didn't close the door on fighting another fight or going back to the UFC on a more regular basis after his WWE contract is up.

"It boils down to me -- if I want it or not," Lesnar said. "But let's worry about one thing at a time and knock on wood everything comes together and I get into the Octagon and I'm healthy and Mark's healthy and we can put on a good performance."

With this newfound partnership between WWE and UFC for at least one night, there is some growing optimism that this could be a sign of things to come in the future. Perhaps UFC stars such as Conor McGregor, who has hinted at joining WWE in the past, or Ronda Rousey, who got in the ring at WrestleMania 31 last year, could have their own "one-off" matches in WWE. Former WWE champion CM Punk, who left the company and signed with the UFC in 2014, is expected to make his debut in the Octagon later this year. Lesnar, however, scoffed at the idea of opening doors for others.

"There will never be another Brock Lesnar," he said. "You can make all the correlations you want to the people you just stated, but none of them have ever main-evented and sold pay-per-views and put asses in the seats like Brock Lesnar. There is nobody. That's why this is happening."

This, of course, is UFC 200, arguably the company's biggest pay-per-view event since UFC 100, which was headlined by Lesnar beating Mir to unify the UFC heavyweight championship seven years ago. Lesnar's return on a night as big as this for the UFC is no coincidence.

"It's a big event. I wouldn't want to return at UFC 192," Lesnar said. "What's the meaning in that? It's UFC 200. It's a milestone for the company and a milestone for the athletes, so why not be on that card? Life's all about timing. The timing for this is working out perfect. I don't know why or how, but somehow I always find a way where the timing is right and I land on my feet."

As much as Lesnar enjoys being in WWE and looks forward to putting on a show against whomever he faces at SummerSlam, there was something he said was missing when not being able to step into the Octagon. He missed training and competing for a fight that didn't have a scripted outcome.

"I missed the competition," said Lesnar, who lost his last two fights after multiple bouts with diverticulitis, an intestinal disorder. "That's the hardest thing for guys -- every athlete will tell you that after they leave sports. ... I had the surgery and it was removed and I don't have any diverticulitis in me. It's gone It has taken a number of years to feel good again. For Christ's sake it's been how many years since I've been in the Octagon? It's been a long time, but I'm back now."

Lesnar turns 39 next month, and his contract with WWE will expire not long after he turns 40 next year. He and his wife, Rena, who WWE fans will remember as Sable, have two sons. Turk turned 7 last week, and Duke turns 6 next month. Lesnar also has 14-year old twins, a son Luke and a daughter Mya, from a previous relationship. He has occasionally thought about retiring to his Canadian farm after his contract is up and enjoying more time with his wife, kids and tractors but concedes that's a decision he has not made yet and might not truly make even after he makes it.

"I don't know what's going to happen," Lesnar said. "I have a year and half left on my contract with WWE. My kids are getting older, and I've had a hell of a run. We'll see what happens. I'll never say never. Even when I retired I said, 'Man, I hope I'm not going to have to eat my words on that.' I don't really want it to be over and so here we are again."

Brock Lesnar to face Mark Hunt, calls self 'modern-day Bo Jackson'

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Brock Lesnar stops by SportsCenter to announce that he will be facing Mark Hunt at UFC 200 and breaks down how he matches up with Hunt. (1:36)

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Brock Lesnar will face veteran mixed martial artist and former professional kickboxer Mark Hunt at UFC 200 on July 9 in Las Vegas.

Lesnar, 38, announced the fight during a SportsCenter appearance on Monday. It will mark his first fight in the Octagon since December 2011.

In March 2015, Lesnar (5-3) announced he was "closing the door" on a career in MMA, but he admitted on Monday that he was never comfortable with that decision.

"I'm a crossover athlete. I'm the modern-day Bo Jackson, people."

Brock Lesnar

"It was the hardest decision for me to make," Lesnar told ESPN's Hannah Storm. "That decision has haunted me for the last 15 months. I figured I couldn't live like that for the rest of my life. I'm a big believer in living out your dreams and facing your fears."

The longtime professional wrestling star and former UFC heavyweight champion remains under contract with the WWE, but was "granted a one-off opportunity" to compete at UFC 200, according to a statement from the company. He is scheduled to appear in WWE's SummerSlam on Aug. 21.

Lesnar touted his credentials in both UFC and WWE. "I'm a crossover athlete. I'm the modern-day Bo Jackson, people," he said, referring to the professional football and baseball player. "I'm excited about it. I'm enthusiastic. I couldn't be more excited and honored to have the opportunity that both companies have faith in Brock Lesnar to allow him to step back into the Octagon," he said.

He faces a legitimate challenge in Hunt (12-10-1), who is coming off a first-round knockout over Frank Mir in March and is known as one of the UFC's hardest hitters. A New Zealand native, Hunt has nine knockout wins in his MMA career and fought for the interim championship in November 2014.

Lesnar, a former NCAA Division I wrestling champion, said he had no input in who his opponent would be.

"I've never turned down a fight in the UFC," Lesnar said. "Even when I was champ, I never turned down a fight. When I was fighting to be a champ, I never turned down a fight. If [UFC president] Dana White called me and said, 'You have opponent X, Y or Z, which do you want?' -- he never gave me those options.

"I'm a grappler at heart. [Hunt] is a heavy hitter. I think that's what the people want to see. The UFC ultimately culminated because we're going to put guys with opposing disciplines against each other. I think I match up very well. If Mark ends up on the ground, the fight's over."

Asked why White was willing to allow his return, Lesnar answered, "big business."

"I'm a prize fighter. Titles don't pay bills. I fight for money. I'm making money. They're making money. Everybody's making money. That's what this is all about," he said.

Former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar will face Mark Hunt at UFC 200 on July 9. Martin McNeil for ESPN

Lesnar won the UFC championship by knocking out Randy Couture in November 2008. He defended against Mir and Shane Carwin, but missed a year of competition in that time due to a bout with diverticulitis, an intestinal disorder. He's said the issue continued to plague him in his last three fights, in which he went 1-2.

"At the top of my career, I wasn't at the top of my game," Lesnar said. "I felt like I was cheated out of my career in the UFC. In my mind and in my heart, I never lost to a foe. I never lost to an opponent. I lost to diverticulitis. That was my opponent that beat me. A lot of other people might have other thoughts about that.

"I'm sitting here today and I feel 1,000 percent."

Lesnar said he didn't know if a successful return at UFC 200 would encourage him to fight again. Around March 2015, when he announced he was stepping away from MMA for good, he had been in contact with the UFC regarding a contract and was training at that time.

He jokingly said on Monday he only started training for the July 9 bout over the weekend.

"It may just be a tease, I don't know the answer to that question right now," said Lesnar on whether he'll continue to fight past UFC 200. "We'll cross that road when we get there. I've got a big [WWE] event after that event, SummerSlam."

UFC gives credentials back to MMAFighting.com journalists

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Ariel Helwani of MMAFigthing.com tells Scott Van Pelt about the events that took place from being escorted out of the arena at UFC 199 on Saturday to now having the ban lifted from getting credentials for future events. (1:52)

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A reporter who had his credentials revoked during UFC 199 on Saturday night has been reinstated by the promotion.

In a statement, the UFC said it spoke with the editorial team at SB Nation and decided to continue credentialing MMAFighting.com to cover live events.

"We respect the role the media plays in our sport and beyond, including MMAFighting's ability to report news," the UFC said in a statement Monday. "However, in our opinion, we believe the recurring tactics used by its lead reporter extended beyond the purpose of journalism. We feel confident our position has now been adequately communicated to the SB Nation editorial team.

"UFC's goal as the world's leading mixed martial arts promotion is to cultivate interest in its world-class athletes and events, and deliver for the fans. We will continue to introduce this sport and its athletes to new fans across the world, and we will do so by working alongside media across all platforms."

MMAFighting.com reporter Ariel Helwani said Saturday on Twitter that he was escorted out of the UFC 199 show in Inglewood, California, before the main event, along with photographer Esther Lin and video director E. Casey Leydon.

Helwani had reported exclusively earlier that night that Brock Lesnar would return to mixed martial arts for UFC 200 in July. He posted on Twitter that he only reported news, didn't do anything unethical and then was "told we're banned for life."

Later Saturday, the UFC made the Lesnar news official.

Helwani was recently removed from his role as a reporter for Fox Sports, the UFC's corporate broadcast partner. He is among the most prominent journalists covering the sport, with more than 375,000 Twitter followers.