During a time not so long ago, boxing was the king of all combat sports, and anyone who wanted to prove their mettle one on one would have to do so in the ring. However, boxing has now taken a backseat to MMA, and folks looking to test their toughness would need to appear in the cage and withstand a full-body attack.
Enthusiasts of UFC usually take a look at UFC betting odds before a fight night, such as (-115) Martin Buday vs (-105) Jake Collier, or Stephanie Egger(-310) vs Irina Alekseeva(+245). Because these are professional fighters, it can be easier to determine who has the best chance of winning. In recent years though, there have been athletes newer to MMA who have also stepped in the cage, and it can be difficult to grasp how well they are likely to do.
We’ll take a look at three athletes who were stars in different sports before they elected to enter the octagon.
Deron Williams
While basketball does involve a fair bit of contact at the rim, it’s still primarily a sport that is predicted on unrestricted movement and activity. Of course, MMA is the complete opposite, which may make any potential transition for a former basketball player difficult. However, former NBA All-Star Deron Williams decided to make the jump from the court to the mat, and his journey has been interesting to watch.
Despite the long road Williams had to endure to get to fighting fitness, he has turned some heads. He wasn’t viewed as a novelty when he decided to enter the world of competitive fighting, as seasoned UFC veterans were impressed by how well Williams fared in his training encounters. It hearkens back to Williams’ childhood in Texas, where he was a wrestling star before he ever made a name for himself on the hardwood.
Williams only ever competed in one fight, which we will go more into below. It seems like he could have had a little bit more success in the octagon had he stuck with the sport, but may not want to subject himself to continued punishment. Still, he handled himself nicely in an arena that he was not previously accustomed to.
Frank Gore
While basketball players may seem like an unlikely choice to successfully compete in MMA, football players seem tailor made for the sport switch. Football is a collision sport, where 200 to 300 pound men are lunging at one another at high speeds. Former NFL running back Frank Gore knows all about that, spending 16 years playing professional before calling it a career.
Running back is one of the most physically demanding positions on the field, but Gore’s durability was never in question. He found a way to suit up throughout the course of the season, and this trait made him a prime candidate to be able to withstand the punishment of competitive fighting. It seemed like whoever he stepped on to the mat with would be in big trouble considering his background.
As it turned out, Williams and Gore went head to head in their new sports, and it was Williams who came out on top, to the surprise of many. With that said, Gore has not given up on his pursuit of combative competition in his post prime. He has remained in the spotlight as a boxer, and hopes that he will have more success in that realm.
Greg Hardy
Not surprisingly, another football player has taken his talents to the world of MMA, but he took a very different road to get there. Greg Hardy was well on his way to becoming one of the most feared defensive ends in the NFL, posting back to back double-digit sack seasons in 2012 and 2013. In his mid 20’s, it seemed like Hardy would be able to serve as a legitimate pass rusher for many years to come.
However, Hardy’s personal life unraveled, as he was involved in a domestic violence incident. The NFL decided to take action against Hardy for his off-field decision making, as they suspended him without pay for conduct detrimental to the league. Hardy was never quite the same after this revelation, and hoped to revive his athletic life in a different sphere, perhaps with a fan base that wasn’t familiar with his previous work.
Unlike Williams and Gore, who dabbled in MMA, Hardy decided to jump in with both feet since his NFL career was on life support. To date, Hardy(who goes by the nickname “Prince Of War” in UFC) has competed in 12 fights, going 7-5 in those events. He had some solid success when he first entered the circuit, but has lost his last three fights via knockout, so he will look to bounce back if he enters the octagon again.
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