8 Athletes We Want to See Try MMA

Image via Complex Original

Height: 6'11''

Weight: 270 lbs

Projected Class: Heavyweight

Allen Iverson. Terrell Owens. Stan Ross from Mr. 3000. These are just a few superstar athletes who dominated their respective sport at the cost of alienating teammates. Simply put, they craved the spotlight—Owens and Ross more so than A.I.—and it was their selfish attitudes that (arguably) prevented them from winning the “big one.” DeMarcus Cousins has been characterized as being cut from that same me-myself-and-I cloth, due to his tendency for developing poor relationships with teammates and coaches. Oh, and he’s got a pretty short temper too.

Although Boogie is turning into an MVP-caliber player on the court (he averaged a beastly 27 points and 12 rebounds last season, numbers that rival Shaq in his prime), his temperament and personality would perhaps serve him better in the cage. Let’s also not forget Cousins’ incredible agility, mobility, and footwork for his size. Can you imagine seeing a 6’11’’, 270-pound bear of a man saunter around the Octagon, then, faster than you can say George Karl, overwhelm his opponents with a combination of quick feet, a 7’6’’ wingspan, and brute power? I’m not sure Julius Randle would want any part of that fight.

Height: 5'5''

Weight: 155 lbs

Projected Class: Bantamweight

Serena Williams is the GOAT. She’s dominated her sport for nearly 20 years and has won a grand slam title in three different decades. That’s on some Tim Duncan ish right there. 

Serena is known for her power game, crushing opponents with her lightening quick serve and smacking winners left and right. Her skill, unparalleled drive to be the best, pure tenacity (which has been there since she was a kid and sometimes gets her into trouble), and remarkable fitness has propelled her to becoming the best tennis player of all time. There, I said it.

Many of those characteristics would make Serena a really intriguing mixed martial arts fighter. There’s also her incredible physique, which she’s worked years and years to sculpt (often not receiving the proper credit for doing so). Would she try to develop a muay thai fighting style? Make a killing in the ground-and-pound game? Or perhaps she'd be a submission specialist? Either way, witnessing Serena fight in a combat sport like mixed martial arts would be must-see television.

Height: 5'11''

Weight: 198 lbs

Projected Class: Middleweight/Light Heavyweight

When he’s not scoring touchdowns or receiving some serious shade from Lena Dunham, Odell Beckham Jr. is fighting kicking nets. And losing. Although, he did mend the relationship with his wiliest foe, offering a hand in marriage and embracing the net the following week.

It’s been a wildly up-and-down season for the Giants star wideout. In Week 6, he had 222 yards and two touchdowns, including the game winner, and he recently became the fastest player in NFL history to reach 3,500 receiving yards. In Week 4, he was fined $24,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct, thanks in part to Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes taking him off his game. Fortunately for the Giants and their fans, it seems that Beckham’s play on the field is overshadowing his antics.

That being said, OBJ’s bone-headed plays and overly flashy end-zone celebrations still draw the ire of many—including his opponents and even Giants fans—who would love to see Beckham get “kicking netted” by a professional fighter. What better place for that to happen than in a cage where punches, roundhouse kicks, and rear-naked chokes are legal? Plus, Beckham does have some “fighting” experience (see: his tussles with Josh Norman), and revealed just a few weeks ago that football is no longer fun. Really, there’s no better time for Beckham to make the jump to MMA. 

Height: 6'3''

Weight: 200 lbs

Projected Class: Middleweight/Light Heavyweight

When Russell Westbrook steps onto a basketball court, he becomes a man possessed. His quickness, explosiveness, and athleticism make him one of the game’s best and most exciting players, but his inability to consistently harness that power (particularly down the stretch of games), and turn it into positive outcomes for his team makes him a wild card. Perhaps it’s his unpredictability and reckless abandon that prompted Kevin Durant’s departure from OKC.

Regardless of why KD bolted (no pun intended), Russ is now the definitive leader of the Thunder. And you can bet he’s angrier and more vengeful than ever before. Just look at his 32.0 points, 9.9 assists, and 9.7 rebounds per game numbers thus far in 2016-17. When Westbrook is attacking the basket like a mad man and punishing the rim with his ferocious dunks, you don’t want to be in his way.

Drop Westbrook and his untamed, almost violent offensive style of attack into the Octagon, and what do you get? Someone who would, pound-for-pound, be the strongest, fastest, and most athletic fighter in the welterweight or middleweight class division. His technique may never become the most refined, but you'd still much prefer not being locked in a cage with the WestWolf itching to pounce.

Height: 6'4''

Weight: 245 lbs

Projected Class: Heavyweight

Football player, baseball player, SEC Network analyst, man of faith, inspiration, all-around good guy. Tim Tebow has proven he can be and do anything—including smack a homerun on the first pitch of his minor league baseball career—short of reviving someone from the dead. Oh wait. He has done that. Twice. In the last five months. He apparently prayed with an entire section of a plane for an elderly man that fell unconscious (and then regained consciousness), and stuck by another man who was having a seizure at a Fall League game until he regained consciousness.

Mr. Tebow certainly has the magic touch. But we figure, since Tebow made the jump from football to baseball (remaining a saint no matter what he’s doing), wouldn’t the next logical sport for him to try be mixed martial arts? Tebow has the physique, quickness, athleticism, and persistence (boy, does he have persistence) to do it. Plus, he’s played an inherently violent game his entire life. If this whole baseball thing doesn’t work out, Dana White should give Tim Tebow a call. Bring Tebowing and prayer hand emojis to the Octagon.

Height: 6'8''

Weight: 250 lbs

Projected Class: Heavyweight

LeBron James isn’t known for his tendency to fight (in fact, his natural instinct could very well be to flop in a fisticuffs situation), but imagine squaring off against a guy that’s 6’8’’, 250 lbs that's being paid to destroy you. LBJ’s speed, size, and ability to attack the rim make him more of a brick wall with legs than a basketball player. Once he starts running downhill, there truly is no stopping him. And that would make him deadly in the Octagon.

People have fantasized about LeBron throwing on pads and a helmet to suit up for the Browns over the years. Watching The King play tight end (or quarterback, or both—as in, he could throw the ball to himself because LeBron can do anything) for a game would be a sight to see. But MMA gloves and trunks would also be a good look for LeBron.

The only concern is that LeBron’s the ultimate team player. His innate desire to share the ball and make teammates better are characteristics built for a sport like basketball, not fighting. They’re what make LeBron the most unselfish king of all time. While his physique, condition, and determination are ingredients for success in mixed martial arts, would his “we over me” mentality fail him? Regardless, who wouldn’t tune in to watch LeBron James, the greatest basketball player on the planet, throw a few punches (or get punched himself)? 

Height: 6'2''

Weight: 230 lbs

Projected Class: Heavyweight 

Perhaps our biggest crime as modern day sports fans is overlooking Mike Trout. The Angels’ outfielder was your prototypical five-tool baseball player coming out of the minors, but he’s one of those rare athletes that actually exceeds the hype. And it’s not just scouts who love Trout. Baltimore Orioles’ all-star center fielder Adam Jones once called Trout the “white Bo Jackson” for his tendency to rob homeruns on a consistent basis and display a unique mix of power, speed, and skill. Others have deemed Trout this generation’s Mickey Mantle or Ken Griffey Jr. In his first full five years in the MLB, Trout has made the All-Star team each year and placed no worse than second in MLB MVP voting.

For an athlete that has as much talent as Trout, why doesn’t he receive the same attention that a LeBron James or Odell Beckham Jr. gets? Perhaps it’s the sport he plays. Perhaps it’s the team he plays for, which has always been mediocre. Or maybe it’s because baseball players aren’t recognized for being “super athletes” in the way that basketball and football players are. Having Trout exchange his baseball mitt for MMA gloves would demonstrate Trout’s remarkable, five-tool athleticism in a way that may not be as apparent on the diamond.

Trout is a once-in-a-generation ball player, and at 25 years old, is already on his way to Cooperstown. Plus, he has proven to be proficient in multiple sports. He was a star high school basketball player and just earlier this spring, defeated NBA all-star Draymond Green in a game of H.O.R.S.E.

When will the collective sports world start putting respek on Trout’s name? It’s unclear. But if he hopped into the Octagon, you know he’d finally get some shine.

Height: 5'8''

Weight: 151 lbs

Projected Class: Featherweight/Lightweight

Sure it was said only active professional athletes would be featured on the list, but exceptions had to be made for this guy (who only retired a year ago). You’d be hard-pressed to find another athlete that sports fans all over the world would like to see get absolutely cold-cocked more than Floyd Mayweather Jr. Too bad he’s really, really good at boxing.

Floyd finished his career with a 49-0 record, and is undoubtedly, undisputedly one of the greatest of all time. But he’s also brash, egomaniacal, and ostentatious. Not to mention, he flaunts his wealth and is verbally and physically abusive to women. Basically, he's the sports world’s version of President-elect Donald Trump. 

UFC Featherweight and Lightweight Champion Connor McGregor and Mayweather have exchanged barbs and even teased a fight for months, planting seeds for a potential dream match. Whether it would take place in the Octagon, a boxing ring, or a parking lot is anyone's guess. Although the bout seems highly unlikely to actually materialize, fans are salivating to see some kind of physical confrontation between the two. Given how much we know Floyd values that cheddar, if enough cash is thrown in his direction, who’s to say he doesn’t step into the cage? And with rules allowing for kicks, submission holds, and takedowns, we may just witness Floyd get a little taste of his own medicine. Oh, and it’d be fun to see Connor absorb some punishment, too.