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The transition from professional wrestling to the UFC is more difficult than many people realize. A wrestler might be comfortable performing in front of an audience of thousands in wrestling, but once they step into the Octagon, the pressure overwhelms. Dan Severn, Kazushi Sakuraba, Brock Lesnar, and CM Punk are pro wrestlers who have all taken the leap into MMA coming from wrestling.
Dan “Beast” Severn should definitely be placed at the start of any crossover history. Dan Severn had a distinguished amateur record with national titles and was an Olympic alternate. Dan Severn was also twice an NCAA All-American. Dan Severn’s debut in the Octagon took place in 1994 and showed well the importance of wrestling in no-holds-barred fighting.
Dan Severn won UFC 5 and Ultimate Ultimate tournaments in 1995, and in 1996 he won the Superfight Championship after defeating Ken Shamrock. Dan Severn also became a star in NWA and WWF. It is evident that the success of this crossover could not be achieved without his amazing wrestling skills.
Kazushi Sakuraba began his professional wrestling career in Japan in 1993 for the organization UWF International. His style of wrestling was about grappling and submission techniques - a good base for the UFC.
Sakuraba won the heavyweight tournament at the UFC in Japan in December 1997 and later became one of the key players in PRIDE. Fighting and winning against the Gracie family, which had members in the PRIDE organization, brought him great popularity as a fighter and earned him the nickname of The Gracie Hunter. His tenure with the UFC was brief; he found great success in PRIDE, which then became his main preferred organization.
One of the most popular modern examples of professional wrestlers in the UFC is Brock Lesnar. The wrestler earned the title of NCAA Division I heavyweight champion and then made his WWE debut in 2002, where he became a champion in just six months. He left WWE in 2004, tried his luck in the NFL and mixed martial arts and made his first appearance in the UFC in February 2008.
Brock lost his UFC debut fight against Frank Mir. He won against Heath Herring, defeated Randy Couture and became the heavyweight champion. He then took revenge on Mir and won against him at UFC 100. Due to his health issues, he took a break from the UFC after losing to Cain Velasquez in 2010 and later returned for a fight against Alistair Overeem in 2011, which he lost.
He then retired from MMA before returning to the UFC at UFC 200 in 2016, where he fought Mark Hunt. He won by decision but the result was later overturned to a no-contest due to an anti-doping violation.
CM Punk, the former WWE champion, joined the UFC without any professional MMA background. Punk trained at Roufusport and made his debut in MMA by fighting Mickey Gall at UFC 203 in September 2016. Mickey Gall submitted him in the first round, showcasing the difference between training and experience.
He fought again against Mike Jackson at UFC 225 in June 2018. Mike Jackson was declared the winner in this fight by decision, but later on, the verdict was overturned to a no contest as Mike Jackson failed the test for marijuana use. If you’d like to do some UFC betting, bet responsibly and keep in mind that past results don’t determine future results.
Like Lesnar, Bobby Lashley is sometimes included in this category because he was a wrestler who entered into MMA. He achieved a very respectable MMA record of 15 wins to 2 losses in organizations like Strikeforce and Bellator, but never in the UFC. The same goes for Dave Bautista, a former wrestler from WWE who only had one professional MMA match in 2012. He won by TKO in the first round. This shows that a fighter can become part of the MMA world without ever stepping inside the octagon.
The most successful crossover stars had more than just fame. Severn and Sakuraba had extensive experience in grappling. Lesnar had excellent skills from his college-level wrestling, while Punk proved that popularity cannot compensate for experience.
It is not hard to understand why many fans like both wrestling and MMA. Even though there are certain common features between these sports, they both have their own criteria. It’s enjoyable to root for athletes who practice both sports and are ready to meet the challenges of both.
What former WWE wrestler won the title of UFC Heavyweight Champion?
Brock Lesnar won the title of UFC Heavyweight Champion after winning against Randy Couture at UFC 91 in 2008.
Was CM Punk involved in MMA before he joined the UFC?
No, CM Punk did not have any professional MMA experience when he joined the UFC, as he made his debut in UFC 203 in 2016.
Has Bobby Lashley fought in the UFC?
No, Bobby Lashley fought in other organizations like Strikeforce and Bellator and ended his career with a 15-2 record.
Did Dan Severn have professional wrestling experience before joining the UFC?
Dan Severn participated in professional wrestling even when he was an MMA fighter and became a very popular wrestler in the NWA and the WWF.
Which former professional wrestler had the most successful UFC career?
Brock Lesnar has been called one of the greatest crossovers. In 2008 he became UFC Heavyweight Champion by beating Randy Couture in UFC 91.
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