10 Pro Wrestlers Who Could Have Been Stars In The UFC
3. Ken Patera
Ken Patera is a name wrestling fans don't hear much these days. For whatever reason, unlike other stars from his era, the powerhouse out of Portland, Oregon has become something of a forgotten man.
Patera was a former Olympic weightlifter who became the first American to clean and jerk over 500 pounds, a feat he accomplished back in 1972. The former Intercontinental champion was an incredible athlete who in high school competed in sports like wrestling, (American) football, and track and field. In fact, he was one of the United States top track and field athletes during his college days at Brigham Young University.
Despite being a powerlifter who weighed over 300 pounds at various points, Patera was far from a lumbering big man. In truth, he was quite explosive in the ring at times.
True, he doesn't have the type of combat sports pedigree that others on our list possess. That being said, if an MMA trainer taught a man with Patera's natural athleticism and freakish power to throw a proper punch, he could have been one scary individual inside a cage.
Of course, MMA wasn't a viable sport when Ken Patera was in his physical prime, so it wasn't a realistic option for the former Olympian.