8 Wrestlers You Didn't Know Competed In MMA
Some of these guys probably regret stepping in the cage.
Professional wrestling and mixed martial arts are inextricably linked. While the sport of MMA grew in popularity thanks to the rise of the UFC in the west, in Japan MMA developed organically out of strong-style pro wrestling events, that eventually dropped the predetermined outcomes to become sporting contests.
As MMA has steadily become more popular worldwide, the successes of Kazushi Sakuraba, Ken Shamrock, and more recently, Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley, have attracted many more pro wrestlers attempting to replicate their triumphs. This was recently demonstrated by CM Punk’s two unsuccessful forays into the sport, who proved that making the transition on the big stage is a recipe for disaster if you don’t possess a background in combat sports or at least some degree of natural fighting skills.
That hasn’t prevented many from trying, however. Some take to the ultra-competitive sport like a proverbial duck to water, while others appear completely out of their depth when making their first steps into the cage. Here are some of the pro wrestlers who pursued a career in the cage but never quite reached the heights they did in the squared circle.
8. Ludwig Borga (1-4)
Ludwig Borga's impact on pro wrestling in the USA is minimal at best. He was signed by the WWE in 1993 after finding some success in Europe and NJPW. As many non-Americans have found in the history of the WWE, Borga was instantly typecast as a foreign heel with an anti-American gimmick.
A brief feud with Lex Luger saw him reach the main event scene, but his time there was brief. The highlight of his time in WWE came as he was featured in the main event of Survivor Series 1993, teaming with Crush, Jacques Rougeau, and Yokozuna in a losing effort in the traditional elimination match.
After leaving the WWE in 1994, Borga set his sights on competing in combat sports, making his MMA and professional boxing debuts in 1994 and 1995 respectively. The Finnish heavyweight found success in the sweet science, finishing his career with a respectable 13-6 record, including winning the Finnish Heavyweight Title.
Unfortunately, Borga's MMA career wasn't as successful. After winning his debut by KO, Borga would lose his next four fights, getting stopped in every one. The final of these is especially notable as it makes him the only man on this list to have competed in the UFC as he was defeated by MMA legend Randy Couture by submission in under a minute and retired from the sport shortly afterwards.