“Linebackers three times your size hitting you,” Dana White makes case for Patriots legend Julian Edelman to have great MMA career under ‘different circumstances’

Dana White praises Julian Edelman's resilience and athleticism, envisioning he could've had a successful transition to MMA, reflecting on the shared traits of elite athletes across UFC and NFL platforms.

“Linebackers three times your size hitting you,” Dana White makes case for Patriots legend Julian Edelman to have great MMA career under ‘different circumstances’

Dana White on Julian Edelman (Image via: IMAGO, Instagram)

UFC CEO Dana White is a big fan of the NFL. He is very close friends with consensus NFL GOAT Tom Brady. Brady has shown up at numerous UFC events and even at Power Slap. White recently appeared on the Games with Names podcast hosted by Julian Edelman.

Edelman was a wide receiver for Brady’s New England Patriots and has won 3 Super Bowls. Moreover, he was also a Super Bowl MVP in his final Super Bowl triumph with the Patriots. Nonetheless, on the podcast, White praised Edelman. This is what White said about Edelman’s MMA potential.

You were one of these fast, small guys, cutting across the middle, wide open, with linebackers that were three times your size hitting you. And uh, so you know, I think you would have done damn well in the UFC.
Dana White via Games with Names podcast
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White’s praise for Edelman came after the former wide receiver pondered whether he could’ve done well in MMA. Dana White had no reservations about Edelman as he believed he could’ve done well if he had trained in MMA instead of American Football in his youth. White went on to state the success football players have had in the UFC, citing Ovince Saint Preux as an example. Saint Preux was a successful linebacker when he was in college.

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Two-time UFC light heavyweight title challenger Dominick Reyes also had a successful collegiate career in American Football. However, he went undrafted at the NFL draft due to his average speed. As for NFL players who competed in the UFC, there are Greg Hardy, Austen Lane, and Matt Mitrione.

Dana White and his family are forever grateful to Tom Brady

UFC CEO Dana White has a very close relationship with former NFL quarterback, Tom Brady. Even after retirement, White and his family remain big fans of Brady. White revealed why that was on his appearance on Julian Edelman’s podcast.

Tom Brady is friends with Dana White
Tom Brady is friends with Dana White (Image via Imago)

White appreciated Brady due to the run of the New England Patriots from 2001 to 2019. Fans and analysts have assigned the name Tom Brady-Bill Belichick era as the most prosperous one. The Patriots supporters were in the seventh heaven, and so was Dana White. Brady bagged 4 Super Bowls in that span, and interestingly, Edelman bagged a Super Bowl MVP in their final Super Bowl run.

Nonetheless, the Brady-Belichick era was a source of entertainment for White and his family. White revealed that everybody in his family was a Patriots fan. Even though his children were born and brought up in Las Vegas, they were hardcore Patriots fans. Interestingly, White also revealed that he always reminded Brady of this gratefulness.

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