Fighters that come from a bodybuilding/fitness background?

[Ogata]

Are there any UFC fighters who were in to bodybuilding and just being general gym rats in terms of hitting the gym and cardio classes in regards to just living the fit life as oppose to being from a from of fighting style?

I always wondered if someone can make it to the UFC by being a fitness freak in terms of strength, cardio and just physical training who happened to pick up decent MMA skills on top of it.

 

[Corrado Soprano]

Roy Nelson

 

[HOV]

Pudz and Costa come to mind

 

[jeskola]

 

[RainyMonday]

Misha Cirkunov, Karlos Vemola, and Justin Wilcox come to mind

 

[Ogata]

Misha Cirkunov, Karlos Vemola, and Justin Wilcox come to mind

Justin was an NCAA champion and not some gym bro.

 

[Unfinished]

Conor looks like a Greek statue but I dont think he lifts weights that much.

 

[Huligani]

Ken Shamrock.

 

[RainyMonday]

Justin was an NCAA champion and not some gym bro.

From his wiki:

"Wilcox had been inspired to compete in mixed martial arts after seeing Koscheck on the first season of "The Ultimate Fighter" and began training in the sport himself. At the time, Wilcox was a professional bodybuilder, winning various contests while also running a gym in Pennsylvania, and weighed 205 lb."

Wilcox is probably the single best example of what you're asking for other than Pudz.

 

[Captain Insano]

Bodies don't win fights

 

[faustian]

Conor looks like a Greek statue but I dont think he lifts weights that much.

Yes the resemblance is uncanny

Spoiler

 

[Ogata]

From his wiki:

"Wilcox had been inspired to compete in mixed martial arts after seeing Koscheck on the first season of "The Ultimate Fighter" and began training in the sport himself. At the time, Wilcox was a professional bodybuilder, winning various contests while also running a gym in Pennsylvania, and weighed 205 lb."

Wilcox is probably the single best example of what you're asking for other than Pudz.

I mean fair point, I just thought that maybe there was some random dude who hits the gym super hard and with general MMA skillset was able to make it to the UFC as oppose to having a specific background.

 

[PalmStrike]

The Snowman

 

[TheMessiah]

Pudzianowski

 

[thewilks]

Best body builder eva

 

[mma fighter]

^^This^^ The New York Badass!

 

[jsbx45]

Mariusz Zbigniew Pudzianowski has done pretty well for himself considering his background I reckon. Guy can actually use those muscles. Jeebus he must strong AF.

 

[PabloMEX]

Best body builder eva

/thread

 

[thelovacluka]

Andrei arlovski

 

[JonJonesNeedle]

Hafthor Bjornson
Eddie Hall