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Figure 1 The entertainment aspect of wrestling can be very alluring - Source: Pexels
There is a common misconception that any athlete can cross over between all the major fight sports and excel. But we have seen time and time again that wrestlers who think they can box, or MMA fighters who believe they have what it takes to become an elite wrestler, find it is not always so easy to switch disciplines.
The very best seem comfortable giving a different fight sport a go – and that should be a sign that it is not the easiest move to make. An elite fighter or wrestler is elite for a reason, and much of it is to do with the dedication and time they are willing to put in to being the best. Only the best of the best end up winning championships and titles in a range of different disciplines.
There has been a trend for UFC fighters to cross over into the wrestling arena in recent years, however. Wrestling skills have always been very important when it comes to the octagon, with many champions who feature in the best UFC sportsbooks using wrestling techniques to overcome their opponents. But why do so many UFC fighters then enter the wrestling ring? What is the specific skillset that allows them to compete in both?
In this article, we will take a look at why wrestling is so important to MMA fighters – and how they can then use those skills in the wrestling ring as well.
Wrestling at the Core of MMA and UFC
Unsurprisingly, wrestling is considered a base skill when it comes to MMA. All the best UFC fighters use wrestling skills to control fights and dictate how the bouts will go. Although these may not be quite the same wrestling skills that you are used to seeing inside a WWE ring, the core components are still there.
In UFC, wrestling is used to subdue opponents and control where the fight is taking place. Wrestling skills can also keep heavy punchers at bay and restrict and frustrate those kinds of opponents. The different kinds of wrestling moves used in MMA than WWE, for example, show why not all UFC fighters are successful when they leave the cage.
Making the Move to Wrestling
There is a long history of UFC and other MMA fighters who have transferred their skills from the octagon to the wrestling ring, however. Big names in both the men’s and women’s sports have made the move to the more entertainment-led wrestling arena, and many times it is because of the surrounding culture.
UFC and other MMA has sold itself on the back of sheer power and raw fighting, but wrestling incorporates a wider range of styles and personalities – and that can be attractive to a UFC fighter. Many wrestling organizations have decades of exposure as well, so the attractions for any fighter making the switch are obvious.
Safety Awareness
Not all UFC fighters can successfully switch to wrestling, but there has been a steady line of elite characters over the years. One of the more potentially surprising aspects of why the conveyor belt has been so successful is that many of these MMA fighters have an innate awareness for their own safety and the safety of others.
Wrestling can be brutal, but there is always more of an entertainment aspect to bouts. UFC tends to maintain a serious edge all the time. Fighters know that they need to keep as safe as possible, and that can be used in wrestling to protect themselves and their opponents when it comes to incorporating high-impact moves.
Boot Camp Conditioning
One of the attractions of pro wrestling is that the athletes can come from all kinds of backgrounds and use their own particular body shapes and strengths to their advantage. There is a long history of big wrestlers being able to subdue opponents who may look fitter and healthier, but cannot compete in the wrestling ring. That’s not to say highly-conditioned fighters are not well-loved in wrestling, however.
UFC fighters have to be at the very highest levels of fitness and conditioning to be able to compete in the octagon. So, when they make the move to the pro wrestling ring, they will usually be the fittest and leanest. There will always be a fan base for these kind of fighters, and MMA boot-camp-style conditioning gives these fighters an advantage.
Flair for Entertainment
We have touched on this already, but it really cannot be overestimated how attractive the entertainment aspect of wrestling is to MMA fighters. During their UFC careers, these fighters are required to remain focused on being the baddest and hardest to rise through the ranks and win titles. Wrestling allows them to change things up.
It usually pays for former UFC fighters to lean into their MMA characters, as that always goes down well with a wrestling crowd. But there is also a chance for them to widen their range and include more entertainment-focused skills to their repertoire. Wrestling provides an outlet for more charismatic fighters, and that can be hugely attractive to those who may have felt stifled in a stricter MMA setting.
Figure 2 Not all MMA wrestling techniques translate so well to pro wrestling - Source: Pexels
The Allure of Wrestling
Fight sports seem to go in cycles when it comes to popularity. For decades, boxing was the number one show in town, but these days wrestling and organizations like the UFC provide a different style of fighting that goes down well with the general public. The crossover between the different styles proves that there is a demand for all of them, and the best athletes are able to span the divides.
Wrestling will always be attractive to those UFC fighters who want more entertainment in their lives. They will soon find out that wrestling is not a soft touch after a career in the MMA cage, but it might give them something different – and that is why some of the very best UFC fighters continue to become good pro wrestlers.
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