3. Pro-Wrestlers
UFCWhen looking at various MMA forums online there seems to be a high correlation between those that watched wrestling as a youth or are still watching and those that watch the UFC. Perhaps this is why a few who suffer from severe ignorance believe MMA is all acting although with larger-than-life characters like Chael Sonnen, maybe theyre not be blamed. If you are a fan of wrestling, there are several recognisable faces in the world of MMA. Ken Shamrock, who you will remember from the late 90s for his rivalry with The Rock and part in The Corporation storyline, began his career in MMA and was a coach alongside Tito Ortiz on The Ultimate Fighter Series 3. More notably, however, is the part Brock Lesnar played in the UFC. When Lesnar decided to take up MMA the dollar signs must have been gleaming in the eyes of UFC president Dana White as they signed him after just one professional MMA fight. Obviously, Lesnar is a HUGE draw and would have made them a lot of cash but the preferential treatment he received reflected badly on the company. His debut was the co-main event of a card and he lost yet he was given a title fight after winning his next fight. Despite it leaving a sour taste in many fans mouths theres no doubt that Brock Lesnar bought in a wider audience stemming from his days in the WWE. Other wrestlers to have had stints in MMA include Batista and Bobby Lashley. The ability to see how a wrestler would fair in a real fight is of huge interest to ex and current WWE fans. Fighters like Frank Mir, Cain Velasquez and Alistair Overeem proved that despite Lesnars gigantic size, superior technique would normally prevail. Though ex-WWE fighters made people watch the UFC it was the skill of the fighters who beat them which turned them into fans.