Could Anthony Joshua be UFC heavyweight champ with 1 year mma training?

[Hornett]

Considering how little skill is required to be a top heavyweight. Would Anthony Joshua or even Deontay Wilder have a possibility of becoming champ if they cross trained a bit of mma?

They are both better athletes then all the UFC heavyweights. They also have superior cardio, hand speed and punching power.

 

[PrideUltimate]

A punchers chance

 

[Hornett]

A punchers chance

Pretty much all the chance Ngannou has. Wilder and Joshua are like better versions of Ngannou in MMA lol

 

[IndyCovaHart]

Jarrell Miller

2020 UFC HW champ.

You heard it here first.

 

[Portland8242]

Nope. That's not nearly enough time to learn the art of grappling, elbows, kicks, and knees.

 

[piropiro]

With 2-3 years of very focused mma training ... quite probably yes in the current talent pool. But he would earn 10% of his boxing income, so it would make absolutely no sense.

 

[Hornett]

Nope. That's not nearly enough time to learn the art of grappling, elbows, kicks, and knees.

It’s heavyweight. Look at Ngannou or Derrick Lewis they are hardly an expert at those things

 

[Mahkor]

Ngannou is about to get his seco d tittle shot with 4 years trainning so sure why not.

 

[Thenewguysnm1]

No
These are all the things he needs to develop
Boxing defence with smaller gloves
Kicking defence
Takedown defence
Clinch work
Distance management
Stance change due to the fact a traditional boxing stance would get that leg destroyed
Etc
Ngannou has been training for years and has lost multiple times

 

[Kwic]

Nope. That's not nearly enough time to learn the art of grappling, elbows, kicks, and knees.

Elbows and knees wouldn't be a factor at all since all they would do against a real world class boxer is shoot, shoot and shoot. Maybe kick once, and shoot.

 

[Thenewguysnm1]

It’s heavyweight. Look at Ngannou or Derrick Lewis they are hardly an expert at those things

Ngannou has submission wins

 

[Slatersan]

If anthony joshua trained with elite wrestlers on takedown defense for a year he could beat a lot of people. Stipe and dc would still be able to beat him for sure though. Thats basically how junior dos santos became champ and his boxing is no where near the level as joshua.

(I know junior was a “black belt” in bjj but we all know thats not true)

 

[KPMGANZ]

Nope

 

[Ideanudge]

Pretty much all the chance Ngannou has. Wilder and Joshua are like better versions of Ngannou in MMA lol

Wilder throws as wild as Francis, and Francis has the benefit of having thicker grappling friendly body. Wilder would get his small legs taken under him.
AJ doesn't take punches well and shells up, what is a terrible habit in mma since the little gloves pierce through the guard and surprise boxers and kickboxers alike.

 

[Hornett]

With 2-3 years of very focused mma training ... quite probably yes in the current talent pool. But he would earn 10% of his boxing income, so it would make absolutely no sense.

Took Ngannou 2-3 years of focused training and he is a top contender. I think it would take Wilder and Joshua a third of that time

 

[BiC Fist]

Considering how little skill is required to be a top heavyweight. Would Anthony Joshua or even Deontay Wilder have a possibility of becoming champ if they cross trained a bit of mma?

They are both better athletes then all the UFC heavyweights. They also have superior cardio, hand speed and punching power.

Absolutely. The only thing you need to survive in the UFC's HW division is good hands, pencil legs and a smidge of takedown defense.

 

[Fluffernutter]

USADA?

 

[Post 2 Decision]

It’s heavyweight. Look at Ngannou or Derrick Lewis they are hardly an expert at those things

Don't let the DC fight fool you, Lewis has sneaky good TDD

 

[ZOD66]

Joshua is gas out machine

 

[AndrewGolota48]

By that time Greg Hardy would have several years of experience. How would a D-level athlete boxer possibly have a chance against an A-level NFL lineman?