What noncombat sport's athletes transition well into MMA.

[Mystic Mac Miller]

You can't boxing or wrestling or BJJ since they are combat sports.

However, what sports have athletes that could transition well into MMA?

 

[capnlarge]

I guess pro wrestlers and American football players have done ok. Although, these are violent sports, so maybe not what you're looking for?

 

[D 1 Wrestler]

I don't think the sport matters much it's more of they have a chin or not if they have no direct combat experience

 

[Hellowhosthat]

Table tennis players.

 

[VonSupervillain]

I'm just thinking of sports that require similar physical demands and attributes to those of combat sports...Rugby, maybe?? They sort of seem like better conditioned, tougher, and P4P stronger football players.

Although, combat sports, especially striking sports, are so unlike any other conventional sport. Being good at any particular non-combat sport doesn't guarantee any sort of success in combat sports.

 

[Mystic Mac Miller]

I guess pro wrestlers and American football players have done ok. Although, these are violent sports, so maybe not what you're looking for?

I don't think pro football players transition that well into MMA. IMO, football rewards you for small explosive plays but not for going the distance. I can easily see them gassing out.

 

[capnlarge]

I'm just thinking of sports that require similar physical demands and attributes to those of combat sports...Rugby, maybe?? They sort of seem like better conditioned, tougher, and P4P stronger football players.

Alex Volkanovski played rugby

 

[capnlarge]

I don't think pro football players transition that well into MMA. IMO, football rewards you for small explosive plays but not for going the distance. I can easily see them gassing out.

Well, these guys are HW, so stamina not much of a concern. There have been some NFL players that have done OK like Matt Mitrione, Brendan Schaub, Herschel Walker etc.

 

[NicholasJBasile]

Rugby and soccer tend to translate well it seems

 

[Corrado Soprano]

Lebron James would be heavyweight champion with 6 months of takedown defence training.

 

[ALLVALLEYCHAMP]

Pickleball 100%

 

[Human Bass]

Lebron James would be heavyweight champion with 6 months of takedown defence training.

He needs feet surgery first

 

[RockyLockridge]

WWE has brock, CM punk and jack swagger

yaknow i feel like jack swagger could have been a decent fighter if he got started earlier.

 

[MMA_AZ]

Ballet

 

[sph1nx]

football (soccer) and basketball give you insane footwork, hands-eye coordination, balance and sense of "rhytm" in motion

look at jose aldo (soccer), conor mcgregor (soccer), anderson silva (soccer) omalley (both)

also breakdancing / dancing will help (adesanya)

 

[PEDRO IVO RUSSO MIRANDA]

Volkanovski and Zac pauga are former football players.
I think gane does basketball before muay Thai, then go to MMA

 

[sph1nx]

Volkanovski and Zac pauga are former football players.
I think gane does basketball before muay Thai, then go to MMA

forgot about gane!!!!

gane is actually insane





my favourite athlete ever

 

[Tyler Durden]

Lebron James would be heavyweight champion with 6 months of takedown defence training.

Lebron absolutely does NOT have that dog in him. He would jump out of the cage with any adversity.

 

[PeterGriffin]

Ice Hockey. Tremendous cardio and stamina, durable, and already are used to taking big hits and punches. Most don't care about teeth until they retire.

Steve Bosse was doing alright and was looking forward to his fight with Cannonier, but he was pretty pissed at the UFC for shafting him and hasn't fought since.

 

[Corrado Soprano]

Lebron absolutely does NOT have that dog in him. He would jump out of the cage with any adversity.

I feel like 99% of UFC fighters don’t have that dog in them except for Izzy.