Top UFC Fighters Who Were Professional Athletes in Other Sports
By Ali Hammad September 17, 2025 09:23
The UFC is a very high-stakes sport where talent and athleticism mean everything, but the athleticism doesn’t necessarily always come from your traditional background. Some of the biggest stars in MMA have made a name for themselves in completely different sports. The range of sports is very wide, and it can be anything from the NFL to WWE. These athletes brought their athletic ability into the cage, in hopes of finding success in the UFC.
This list includes some of the biggest names to have fought in the UFC, who were professional athletes in other sports.
Brock Lesnar - WWE
There has been no one who has entered the UFC with more crossover value than American heavyweight, Brock Lesnar. Before transitioning into MMA, Lesnar had already made a huge name for himself in the WWE. Known for his monstrous physique and freakish strength, Lesnar was automatically a fan favorite upon joining the UFC.
When Lesnar made his UFC debut in 2008, critics said he didn’t belong. He silenced them very quickly. In just his fourth MMA fight, Lesnar defeated fellow UFC legend Randy Couture to become UFC heavyweight champion. Plenty of sports betting promos circulated this contest, with Lesnar being the slight favourite going into the octagon.
Although his UFC run was brief, Lesnar’s success proved that elite athletes can be a real threat in MMA.
Greg Hardy - NFL
Greg Hardy had made a name for himself in the NFL, known as a dominant force with size and strength. Hardy was a whopping 280 pounds and was 6”5. Not only was he a freak of nature in terms of size, but he was also extremely quick and agile. He enjoyed periods at both the Carolina Panthers and the Dallas Cowboys during his NFL stint.
But off-field issues cut Hardy’s UFC career short, and he made the switch to MMA. Despite having next to no combat sports experience, Hardy quickly rose through the regional scene thanks to his athleticism and knockout power. Hardy earned himself a UFC contract in 2018 and competed in the promotion for many years.
While he may not have achieved his goal of becoming champion, Hardy’s story remains unique - going from the NFL to the UFC is a rare career trajectory that not many have replicated.
Holly Holm - Boxing
Before shocking the world by knocking out Ronda Rousey in 2015, Holly Holm was already an established name in the world of boxing. With the nickname “The Preacher’s Daughter,” Holm had acquired multiple world titles across three weight classes and finished her boxing career with an impressive record of 33-2-3.
Not only was she world champion, she was also named Ring Magazine’s Female Fighter of the Year twice and was considered one of the best female boxers. Many believed her transition into MMA was too big a risk and would end badly. But she seamlessly made the switch, with her world-class striking and championship-level mindset.
As mentioned, Holm produced one of the most iconic moments in MMA history when she defeated Rousey at UFC 193, and to this day, she is the only fighter to win major world titles in both MMA and boxing.
Henry Cejudo - Olympic Wrestling
Henry Cejudo had cemented himself in the history books long before he started his MMA career. In 2008, at 21 years old, Cejudo became the youngest American wrestler to ever win a gold medal in the sport of freestyle wrestling.
After reaching the top of the wrestling world, Cejudo had his sights set on MMA. However, MMA was already full of high-level wrestlers, and fans expected him to be the same as the rest. He believed he had a point to prove, and in 2018, he won the UFC flyweight title. Cejudo won the title by defeating the all-time great Demetrious Johnson, who had previously won his last 12 title fights in a row. This was not enough for Cejudo, as he then made the jump to bantamweight and won the title there, becoming a two-division champion.
Cejudo then branded himself as “Triple C,” Olympic champion, flyweight champion, and bantamweight champion. He will go down as one of the most decorated athletes in combat sports history.
Alexander Volkanovski - Rugby League
Before he dominated the featherweight division, Alexander “The Great” Volanovski was laying people out on the rugby field. He grew up in Australia, a country that is famous for its rugby ability. Volkanovski played semi-professional rugby as part of the front row. He was often out-sized in that position, as he stands at 5'6".
During the peak of his rugby career, he weighed over 210 pounds. This weight was well above his eventual UFC fighting weight of 145 pounds. Volkanovski walked away from rugby in his early 20s to pursue a career in MMA.
This proved to be an excellent decision as he captured the featherweight title in 2019 by defeating Max Holloway and went on to become one of the greatest fighters in sports history.
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