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NEXT MMA STARS WHO SHOULD MOVE TO PRO WRESTLING

Photo by Mike González / License 

CAPTION: MMA fighters don’t typically see moves like this when they are in the octagon. 

Professional wrestling and MMA are two worlds that have come closer and closer together over the years, as shoot fighters and pro grapplers have gone back and forth between the two disciplines on many occasions over the years. Now, as another big name MMA alumnus has entered the wrestling ring as a member of the WWE roster, it is worth taking a look at some other MMA stars who should give some thought to going from the octagon to the "squared circle".  

Conor McGregor 

This might seem like the most obvious choice, but Conor McGregor would be an incredible professional wrestler, especially since he already has the trash talk down. However, his press conferences and other interactions with opponents and the media could be too bombastic for wrestling, if we're completely honest. But with a set of guidelines as to what he can and can’t say, there is no doubt that there would be the potential for some compelling work from Conor if he were to change careers. 

Now, McGregor would need to figure out how to perform some actual wrestling maneuvers, as his strike-first offense in the octagon may not translate well to the world of wrestling. But the overall ability that McGregor has to compel the crowds with his verbal abilities makes him a natural choice to move into wrestling when his time as a fighter comes to an end. He could even recreate some of the more controversial moments from his fighting career in backstage segments, such as his infamous bus destruction, only in a controlled environment where nobody is in any danger. 

Jorge Masvidal 

When it comes to fighters with the personality and physical prowess that's needed to make an impact at WWE, Jorge Masvidal certainly qualifies. Masvidal is someone who has been known to give entertaining quotes throughout his time as a fighter, something that is essential in an environment like cutting a pro wrestling promo, where delivery is everything. 

Jorge Masvidal is quickly becoming one of the biggest stars in MMA after his record-setting knockout in his last fight. With the knee that won that fight looking like a finishing move straight out of pro wrestling already, Masvidal could be someone who could make it in the wrestling business after his upcoming fight against Nate Diaz. Stars like Daniel Bryan already make use of a devastating-looking knee strikes to finish matches, so there would be no problem using one that has already won professional fights in that context as well. 

Photo by Pixabay / License 

CAPTION: Professional fighters are no strangers to the combat they could see in a wrestling ring 

Daniel Cormier 

Daniel Cormier has had an interesting MMA career, in that he has gone from being a multi-division champion to someone who has suffered emotional losses at the hands of rivals, as well as everything in between. In a business that is filled with emotional storytelling the way that wrestling is, someone like Cormier could be interesting to have in the fold, because of the experiences that he could bring into a promotion that could be woven into storytelling. 

Cormier’s physical facility would make him a good candidate as well, as he has managed to get the best of some of the greatest fighters on the planet on a consistent basis throughout his career. He even nearly defended his heavyweight title against Brock Lesnar at one point. Granted, he likely would be forced to hope that Jon Jones wasn’t brought anywhere near the wrestling ring, or he could be in danger of taking a loss in the squared circle. 

There is also the fact that Cormier has served on panels and on MMA related studio programming in his career as well. That would make him a natural fit to do some of the panel work that companies like WWE have made common over the years. Whether breaking down the action for a kickoff show, or any of the other forms of behind the scenes programming that wrestling companies are putting out today, Cormier’s versatility would be an asset to any promotion lucky enough to have him. 

 

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