Maccarinelli 'keen on UFC switch' (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/7775062.stm)

Enzo Maccarinelli is interested in leaving boxing and joining the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), according to UFC UK president Marshall Zelaznik.

Last week Maccarinelli, a former WBO cruiserweight champion, reportedly said he would be confident of knocking out British UFC star Michael Bisping.

"We were contacted by Enzo's representatives about the possibility of Enzo moving over," said Zelaznik.

"But the UFC is not the place for a novice mixed martial arts fighter."

Watch - BBC Inside Sport: Ultimate Fighting Championship (http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/sol/newsid_7030000/newsid_7035300?redirect=7035313.stm&news=1&bbram=1&nbram=1&nbwm=1&bbwm=1)

The UFC is the world's foremost brand within the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA), with competitors combining boxing, kickboxing, jiu-jitsu, wrestling and other disciplines while fighting in an octagonal "cage".

Last week, the 28-year-old Maccarinelli revealed that discussions had taken place between himself and UFC supremo Dana White.

"I'd never rule out putting a pair of the little mitts on and going in the cage," he told The Sun's website.

"I do enjoy the UFC and the sport of MMA in general. I'm quite a big follower of it but boxing will always be my number one."

And Zelaznik said the idea of the Welshman appearing in the UFC's reality TV show The Ultimate Fighter, the winner of which is handed a UFC contract, had been "floated".

"Enzo would not have the skills that would allow him to succeed in MMA. It would be like a world-class sprinter entering the Decathlon"
Marshall Zelaznik, UFC UK president Marshall Zelaznik

However, Zelaznik said Maccarinelli did not possess the "well-rounded skills to be successful in MMA", let alone the tools to beat seasoned mixed martial artist Bisping.

Zelaznik said: "Enzo's boxing career speaks for itself - he is very impressive. We were all surprised to learn that Enzo also trained between boxing bouts in both kickboxing and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which are two of the many skills vital for any well-rounded MMA fighter.

"[But] with no wrestling experience and only keep-fit type training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Thai boxing, he would not have the skills that would allow him to succeed in MMA.

"As boxing fans, we would love to one day see Enzo competing in our great sport. But Enzo would really need to focus a lot of energy on the nuances of the MMA ground and striking game before we would ever see that image realised.

"If you understand the sport of MMA, you understand that any boxer, no matter how good, would not be able to effectively compete in the Octagon. It would be like a world-class sprinter entering the decathlon.

"Marcus Davis, one of our top welterweights, was once ranked inside the top 10 light-middleweight boxers in the world and he will tell you boxers in MMA are like fish out of water."

Maccarinelli, who lost his WBO crown to David Haye in March, defeated Matthew Ellis on his heavyweight debut on Saturday after a series of cruiserweight opponents pulled out.

Now alot of guys get on Brock Lesnar for being in MMA. But this IMO is more of a freak show if it comes off, which I doubt.

Why?
UFC is full of some of the best MMA fighters around
He knows **** about it.

Lesnar only had one tool of MMA when he made the switch (wrestling), Maccarinelli will only have opne tool (striking). So why can't he make the switch?

Lesnar only had one tool of MMA when he made the switch (wrestling), Maccarinelli will only have opne tool (striking). So why can't he make the switch?

Mac has boxing as his tool not all around striking. the adjustments he would have to make for kicks and takedowns as well as the extremely diverse grappling techniques are far too much for him.

MMA was and still very much is the avenue of grapplers rather than strikers IMO. Lesnar's grappling resume is far and away more successful than Mac's boxing career. Lesnar was a beast as a wrestler and as an athlete was diverse since he played football as well. Mac's boxing career has been built on winning a vacant alphabet title, defending it against **** competition (barring Braithwaite) and then getting KTFO by David Haye.

Plus you have to look at both guys as athletes. When you compare the two it is quite obvious that Lesnar is far and away the better athlete.

Lesnar only had one tool of MMA when he made the switch (wrestling), Maccarinelli will only have opne tool (striking). So why can't he make the switch?

Wrestling is arguably the best base skill to have to transfer to MMA with. Lesnar can basically control where the fight goes against every single fighter in the UFC (well, maybe not Carwin or Velasquez, but we'll see). If he's facing a better striker, he can put them on their back, or if he's facing a better submission guy he can keep the fight standing. Maccarinelli would have one realm in an MMA fight he could dominate, but every other fighter would have atleast enough skill in wrestling or bjj to get the fight to the ground and finish it there, even other fighters known for almost purely using striking in MMA.

Unless he has insane natural wrestling ability, he'd lose.

Enzo would be better off than Brock's hype train (Which will soon be deflated) IMO, for the simple reason that Enzo is used to taking damage and shots to the face, he isn't a *****.

I can't see Enzo doing any good in MMA. Sure, he'd be a superior striker to most but how would he react when he gets taken down?

that would be a bad idea

I think give the guy a chance. For all we know he is a good wreslter and jitsu guy. A lot of assumptions going on here, when no-one really knows his background outside of boxing.

At least save all the negativity until we know a bit more.

The fact he is comsidering a switch shows he doesnt have the heart to be a great heavyweight...

I think give the guy a chance. For all we know he is a good wreslter and jitsu guy. A lot of assumptions going on here, when no-one really knows his background outside of boxing.

At least save all the negativity until we know a bit more.

Well even though he's apparently been doing BJJ, the level of BJJ in the UK isn't high. Fighters in the states/brazil roll with high level black belts on a daily basis, and we just don't have that here. The level of wrestling is even worse.

It's not an unfair assumption to predict that he won't have good BJJ/wrestling.

It's unfair to make assumptions about his Jiu Jitsu level when comparing him to entry level UFC fighters, those of which mainly consist of High School/College Wrestling white boys with no submission skills what-so-ever who think laying on top of opponents will jettison them into the Top 10 P4P list. (COUGHCOUGHCOGUCHGBrockLesnarCOUGBHGCHAHCGAGCOUGOC OUGH).

I'd take Jiu Jitsu over Wrestling any day of the week.

I wouldn't be so sure about that. I think it's quite common now to see good BJJ black belts be completely nulified by better wrestlers who have good submission defense.

I wouldn't be so sure about that. I think it's quite common now to see good BJJ black belts be completely nulified by better wrestlers who have good submission defense.

I like how you added Submission defense, that's something that entry level wrestlers (COUGH and Brock Lesnar COUGHCOUGH) don't possess. My argument is in a combat situation, I choose Jiu Jitsu over Wrestling because Jiu Jitsu is superior on the ground. A Wrestler does not work off of their back, a Jiu Jitsu practitioner does.

I like how you added Submission defense, that's something that entry level wrestlers (COUGH and Brock Lesnar COUGHCOUGH) don't possess. My argument is in a combat situation, I choose Jiu Jitsu over Wrestling because Jiu Jitsu is superior on the ground. A Wrestler does not work off of their back, a Jiu Jitsu practitioner does.

I'm sure Erik Paulsen is helping out Lesnar with his Sub Defense. Brock also rolls with Caprido. I wouldn't be surprised if Brock knew a lil sub defense from his WWE days.

I'm sure Erik Paulsen is helping out Lesnar with his Sub Defense. Brock also rolls with Caprido. I wouldn't be surprised if Brock knew a lil sub defense from his WWE days.

Even Erik Paulsen can't make someone mentally tough. Why can't we all just admit that Lesnar is a hype train? We had such an easy time doing it to Kimbo. RACISM?

I like how you added Submission defense, that's something that entry level wrestlers (COUGH and Brock Lesnar COUGHCOUGH) don't possess. My argument is in a combat situation, I choose Jiu Jitsu over Wrestling because Jiu Jitsu is superior on the ground. A Wrestler does not work off of their back, a Jiu Jitsu practitioner does.

I don't know about that. When you have fights like Frankie Edgar beating Hermes Franca by controlling the fight with his wrestling, and not getting submitted inspite of being a bjj blue belt at the time, it appears to me that wrestlers with comparatively inferior overall grappling skills are capable of stiffling bjj black belts. Same goes for Griffin/Guida vs Aurelio.

I'd disagree about Lesnar not having submission defense, or at the very least an intermediate degree of defensive grappling ability. I thought the fact Herring couldn't reverse or sweep him was impressive. And Mir is not necessarily the best example to use when talking about his submission defense. Very very few fighters are as explosive off their backs as Mir is, and that is effectively what caught Lesnar. I don't think Nogueira or Werdum could have pulled off that kneebar, even though they are probably just as good submission artists in MMA as Mir is. If Nogueira gets past Mir, I expect him to have a hard time with Lesnar, and I'm as big a Minotauro fan as there is.

tsktsk don't compare kimbo 2 brock, brock actually fought good competition and won, while kimbo fought hand picked fights that ended in some fishy fashion.

now back 2 the topic, if this maccarinelli has a good base in boxing i'd say give him a chance if he wants 2 take it serious an get into a good camp.
which weight division does he fight in anyways :lol1:

I'd be interested to see him give it a go, but i wouldn't expect him to do too much. Kinda reminds me of another boxer, Jeremy Williams who's dabbled in MMA. Williams was a high school state champion wrestler and holds a black belt in judo. He's now 5-0, fighting most recently on the Hose-Baroni under card in March:
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Clearly he's a work in progress, but he does seem to have improved a lot over past fights. I wonder when/if he'll be back in action.

As said before, wrestling is the best art to have if you've only trained in one art. You can control where the fight takes place, and that's a huge advantage.

A guy who is a great boxer or a BJJ Black Belt who has not cross trained will not do well in the UFC, where the fighters all have years of MMA experience. If he is serious, he needs to cross train (especially in the US or Brazil) and fight in the smaller shows to get experience. In terms of smaller shows, he can basically pick and choose his opponents, as the smaller shows would kill to have a top-level boxer on their cards.

Once he establishes himself as a legit MMA fighter by winning, the UFC (or Affliction, etc) will come calling.

Well even though he's apparently been doing BJJ, the level of BJJ in the UK isn't high. Fighters in the states/brazil roll with high level black belts on a daily basis, and we just don't have that here. The level of wrestling is even worse.

It's not an unfair assumption to predict that he won't have good BJJ/wrestling.

If he comes and trains BJJ at my gym he'll be rolling with Roger Gracie among others like Goran Reljic and occasionally Renzo Gracie. Roger is the best pure grappler of the past 4 years.

I just believe that Mac isn't exactly an all round good athlete which is why I don't see him making too many waves in MMA. I mean if you look at a guy like GSP who is quite possibly the best wrestler in the 170lb division, though he has never done wrestling in his life prior to training in MMA. The fact that he is a naturally gifted athlete plays a huge part in how good his wrestling is.

"The guys in the UFC couldn't make it in boxing, so thats why they go to the UFC." - Floyd Mayweather


I don't see Enzo with much success in mma. He's not that great of a boxer in my opinion. I don't think he has the athleticism to adapt easily to the ground game. He could probably make some noise is a lesser company than the UFC fighting someone like Kimbo.