So can Soccer Players make for good MMA fighters?

[andgonsil]

Actually a famous Paraguayan former soccer player is training MMA

Unfortunately he is 50 yo

Carlos Gamarra

 

[Boomb]

 

[Deleted member 110072]

I'm actually about 10 feet higher up in that clip.

 

[Post 2 Decision]

Zlatan would have absolutely wrekt some fools if he took up MMA instead of footy

Taekwondo black belt

6'5, 190 - 210
Could cut to 185

Probably kicks Alex Pereira's head off if we're being honest

 

[Bret 'The Hitman' Hart]

Soccer players are such pussies now... popular or not that sport is a disgrace these days




Hockey players are way tougher

 

[Post 2 Decision]

Soccer players are such pussies...

The problem is the sport rewards flopping

 

[ifindgifsforjackslack]

From my experience soccer players always came into rugby with really good ball skills, fakes, athleticism etc.



Ive always put it down to soccers focus on technique. It teaches you how to use your body disciplined instead of trying to rely on sheer athleticism.

Run as fast as you can, then run as fast as you can while dribbling a ball. One requires much more coordination. Ps I played soccer as a kid and sucked, and when I played other sports…








I sucked at them too

 

[Boomb]

I'm actually about 10 feet higher up in that clip.

Really?

 

[Sasha]

I'd love to see Ibra give it a go.

One of my favourite goals of all time.

I don't remember what TMA he's a black belt in (or equivalent) , is it TWD ? It was obviously partly, some kind of way to make him even more special for the storytelling, but it did gave him some VERY unusual agility and flexibility. He's also naturally big, powerful, and charismatic.
IIRC there's like 2 teams that won CL just the year after he left (at least inter and Barcelona), he really was unlucky. It doesn't mean much though, there are a few players, like Ronaldo (R9) that never won any C1 despite being world class, which zlatan obviously was.
His physical condition allowed him to score at a high level until recently, despite his age, really a one-of-a-kind player.
His kicking game could've helped in MMA but he really was more a loudmouth than a guy really interested in fighting. He just pretended and that was enough.

 

[DestinedAussie]

Most soccer players are pussies, mentally weak and made of glass based on what?

Khabib plays soccer. I guess his a pussy, mentally weak and made of glass. You got it spot on bud.

 

[empsim]

The athletic requirements probably carry over pretty well.

Speed, cardio, agility, coordination, balance etc.

 

[Ghostoftheville]

Based on the fact that it is not a game where

• Men wear helmets and shoulder pads
• Can be 300+ lb slobs but still be considered "athletes"
• Sit mostly on the bench because "it's time for the offense to go out and you play defense"
• 10% of the game is the actual game with 90% playing commercial break
• The prestige of the game comes from the fact that it is "American" and appeals to hicks in flyover states that think "Murika is the best" while half of their town is suffering from fetanyl overdoses

I don't even like the NFL, but I felt that one

 

[mmadeewana]

Dudes cry in pain when they fall on grass. What if they get leg kicked and start looking at ref to issue a card to thier opponent.. lol.

 

[Iroh]

Just came across this article to find that a lot of Brazilian UFC Fighters played World Football (Soccer as Americans call it) before joining the UFC. However, surprised to see that dudes like Kenny Florian and Conor McGregor played soccer as well.

I wonder if the balance, cardio, and footwork of soccer can transition over well into the Octagon compared to a lot of other sports out there, even the ones that get more physical. Your thoughts?

Oh and article in question

https://www.thesportster.com/ufc-fighters-played-soccer-before-mma/

Why are you surprised? It's the most popular sport in the world.

Also, I know a good few kickboxers here in Holland were promising soccer players before going the KB route.

 

[Ghostoftheville]

If you guys are telling me guys with legs like these guys cannot throw bombs you need to get your head checked

This reminds me of the women's 115 season of TUF. They brought in a couple of women Olympic soccer members to hang out with, so they decided to show the soccer player some basic strikes and were surprised at how effortlessly powerful the kicks were.

 

[Magrabie1988]

I've played a lot of soccer growing up , soccer doesnt help with fighting at all.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

Youll have outliers they can but overall nope. Most soccer players are pussies, weak mentally and made of glass too. Theyd struggle to get through a training camp. There's a reason the biggest and arguably greatest soccer player of all time Cristiano watches and idolizes MMA fighters, boxers even kickboxers.

It's literally the hardest sport to make it to the top in. The diving is just to gain a competitive advantage (as much as I hate it).

 

[I_IZ_BACK]

This reminds me of the women's 115 season of TUF. They brought in a couple of women Olympic soccer members to hang out with, so they decided to show the soccer player some basic strikes and were surprised at how effortlessly powerful the kicks were.

Please don't compare women football (it's not called soccer in 90% of the world) with mens football.

 

[Siciliansavage]

Ya they would easily dominate the ufc but get payed to much for soccer

 

[heSHurt]

It's literally the hardest sport to make it to the top in. The diving is just to gain a competitive advantage (as much as I hate it).

Diving is like eye pokes in MMA.