Five UFC Athletes Who Would Thrive in WWE – The world of the UFC and professional wrestling often overlap with one another with athletes from both sports making successful transitions between the two. The sheer athleticism, captivating charisma and ostentatious personalities of some of UFC’s top fighters would seem them thrive in WWE.
Which is something they may be asked to do in the coming months following on from the news of the recent merger between UFC and WWE. The move, which sees UFC owners Endeavour Group Holdings take a 51% controlling stake in WWE is seen as the logical next step in creating a global fighting brand to take on the likes of soccer in the global sports popularity contest.
Whilst all of that may be very interesting to business types, what we’re more concerned with is what the merger might mean for our favourite sport. That’s why we’ve decided to compile a list of 5 fighters who could effortlessly transition from UFC to WWE, read on to find out who they are…
Israel Adesanya
The Last Stylebender as he is known in UFC is fresh off the back of yet another octagon win after beating Alex Pereira at UFC 287. That win represented a cathartic tale of revenge as the 6 foot 4 Nigerian made up for his 2022 loss in which Pereira made a mockery of the UFC odds.
What’s next for Adesanya is the question on everyone’s lips. Will he choose more of the same in a sport where he has nothing left to prove, or will he make the move to professional wrestling? The latter is certainly a possibility as Adesanya has a soft spot for WWE.
At UFC 276 he walked out in the style of his favourite wrestler The Undertaker and in recent interviews has talked of his admiration for the sport.
(Demons weren’t the only thing that Israel Adesanya put to sleep in this bout.)
Conor McGregor
Irish fighter and notorious trash talker Conor McGregor is undoubtedly one of the biggest names in not just UFC and fighting, but in world sport in general. If anyone could make the move from UFC to WWE successfully it is The Notorious.
His ultra-gregarious personality, devastating quick wit and star quality would make him the most charismatic and divisive character in professional wrestling. Fighting wise, there isn’t really anyone better suited to transition from UFC to WWE than McGregor. His athleticism and ability on the canvas would make him a great competitor.
McGregor was rumoured to make a guest appearance WWE’s WrestleMania 35 in 2019, could 2023 be the year he turns rumour into reality?
Jon Jones
Talking of great fighters, what about Jon Jones? Widely regarded as one of the best fighters in UFC history, Jones’ dynamic striking, grappling and hugely unorthodox fighting style could see him thrive in professional wrestling.
His ability to adapt to any situation would also make him the ideal for telling stories in the ring, a highly prized asset in the world of scripted fighting. Jones has previously talked of his admiration for wrestlers so any move to tempt him to WWE would likely be greeted with open arms.
Jorge Masvidal
The WWE prizes personality and charisma and Jorge Masvidal has no shortage of either. Coming from a street fighting background, Masvidal is naturally abrasive and loves nothing more than getting in his opponents’ head with trash talk.
In the octagon he has shown a natural talent for showmanship and bravado which would transfer very well to the wrestling ring. His star power and ability to get crowds on the edge of their seats will surely have caught the attention of WWE organisers.
Paddy Pimblett
28-year-old Liverpool born fighter Paddy Pimblett made his fighting debut in 2012 but didn’t appear on the radar of fighting fans until late 2021 when he made his promotional UFC debut. Since then Pimblett has developed a cult following of fans in his native England and further afield.
Whereas other fighters prefer to develop an ultra-macho persona, Pimblett has gained his cult following through his ‘man of the people’ persona. In addition to that, he has also shown through his time in the UFC that he is a more than capable fighter.
If the WWE are looking for a big personality that can break the mould of what they’re used to then they need look no further than Pimblett. Although, if US audiences had difficulty in understanding Cheryl Cole on the US X Factor, God only knows how they would cope with Pimblett’s scouse brogue.
