5 NFL athletes who have fought in MMA
Here are some of the most popular MMA fighters who have had an NFL career.
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The NFL, also known as ‘The National Football League’, is an American football league prominent in North America. The NFL is popular all around the world, with millions of fans watching every week. The league is known to generate billions of dollars in revenue each year. Much like MMA, the NFL is a competitive sport that involves intense rivalries. The dedication that fans have for the respective teams is similar to a fighter’s fan base.
The clash between American Football and mixed martial arts is not very prominent. Both sports require a different type of training and strict discipline. There are instances of violence in the NFL. Players like Antonio Brown have been penalized due to attacks on other layers. In MMA, violence is accepted and glorified. Despite these differences, a couple of popular MMA fighters have taken part in the NFL before they stepped foot in the fighting realm.
With that being said, here are five NFL athletes who fought in MMA.
Herschel Walker
A former NFL player, Herschel Walker is a well-known personality in the league. Walker played for the Dallas Cowboys and soon established himself as a feisty running back. He’d previously played for the Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, and New York Giants. Herschel Walker is frequently cited as an example of an athlete who has effectively transferred from one sport to another. He held a sixth-degree black belt in Taekwondo before switching to MMA. Walker’s shift has been lauded by celebrities such as Joe Rogan.
Walker had a successful run in his mixed martial arts career. In 2010, a 47-year-old Walker decided to compete in MMA. The former football player took part in Strikeforce, a fighting organization. He fought rookie Greg Nagy for his MMA debut. Walker won the fight via TKO and emerged victorious in his debut. In his 2nd fight, the 47-year-old entered a heavyweight bout against Scott Carson. His takedown attempts at Carson were impressive in the fight. Walker was crowned the winner by TKO.
Greg Hardy
Greg Hardy is a prominent former professional football player with an impressive career run. He has taken part in MMA tournaments as well as professional boxing. Hardy rose to fame due to his NFL career. He played for the Dallas Cowboys as well as the Carolina Panthers. Greg Hardy was also arrested on domestic violence charges. He was suspended for ten games in the NFL. Starting with two wins and 0 losses as an amateur, he quickly rose to the top.
He made his UFC debut at UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw in 2019. Hardy lost via disqualification when he hit his opponent Allen Crowder with his knee while he was on the ground. He found success in his 2nd fight against Dmitry Smolyakov. This was a kickstart to his UFC career. After a successful journey in the UFC, the fighter currently boasts a record of 7 wins and five losses. Hardy has not re-signed with the UFC since.
Related: 10 best Muay Thai fighters in UFC history
Matt Mitrione
Another fighter who made a successful transition from American football to MMA is Matt Mitrione. He had a very short career in the NFL. He suffered brutal foot injuries and was unable to continue playing football. Matt had seven surgeries in total due to his injuries. In the NFL, he is known for his short ran stints with the San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings. But Matt made a successful transition into mixed martial arts.
He took part in ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ and the UFC. His debut met success, and he also went on to beat MMA legend Kimbo Slice via TKO. The fighter continued to knock out several of his opponents and make a name for himself in combat sports. He suffered his first loss against Chieck Kongo via unanimous decision. He went on to have multiple fight pull-outs. His contract with the UFC was canceled when he made derogatory remarks against transgender competitor Fallon Fox.
Brendan Schaub
Popular stand-up comedian and podcaster Brendan Schaub had a brief career in the NFL. Schaub attended the University of Colorado to pursue his full-time football career. Schaub went undrafted in the 2006 NFL Draft. But, the Buffalo Bills practice squad would sign the fighter turned-comedian. After a failed attempt at a football career, Brendan decided to transition into mixed martial arts. ‘The Big Brown’ fought in the heavyweight division.
Brendan Schaub competed in The Ultimate Fighter and gained notoriety among fight fans. Then, he was a contender in the UFC heavyweight division and immediately found success. The fighter won his matches against Chase Gormley, Chris Tuchscherer, and Gabriel Gonzaga. Brendan was in his prime when he beat MMA legend Mirko Cro Cop via TKO. After a couple of poor performances and a brutal loss against Travis Browne, Schaub decided to retire from MMA. Currently, he is a successful podcaster and stand-up comedian.
Brock Lesnar
Arguably the most popular fighter on this list, Brock Lesnar is a household name in MMA. After his WrestleMania XX match in 2004, Lesnar decided to pursue a career in football. Unlike most players, Brock Lesnar did not play football in college. The name value had given him quite an advantageous run in the NFL. The WWE star met success at the NFL Combine.’ Lesnar played for ‘The Minnesota Vikings. ‘Sooner, he had to withdraw from his NFL dreams due to several injuries.
Brock Lesnar’s shift to the UFC was the most successful venture for the former WWE star. Despite losing his debut, he continued to fight in the heavyweight division. Slowly but surely, Brock became a feared fighter in the division. He has wins over legendary fighters like Randy Couture and Frank Mir. Lesnar had a short run with the UFC. Despite that, his legacy in mixed martial arts has cemented him as a key figure in the combat sports world.
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Ritvik Malhotra
(1085 Articles Published)