He has turned up at UFC events, most notoriously in a stare-down with Brock Lesnar, and in the later years of his career, began to incorporate MMA submission holds in his pro wrestling arsenal. Unfortunately, due to age and his body breaking down, we'll never see The Undertaker in the octagon - but how cool would it have been to see him appear just once? The Undertaker was awarded his black belt in jiu-jitsu by Rolles Gracie in 2011, and had the following to say to Ariel Helwani: "I make no secret that I like mixed martial arts. Over time Ive got to know a few of the UFC guys. Okay I dont like Brock Lesnar but me and Rashad get on okay, you know." Now, you can take the Lesnar comment as a work, but the rest is very legit. Taker's black belt did cause a stir among MMA fans, however, as he was awarded it in only a year - a very quick time for someone to obtain a belt, even with a grappling background. How would Taker have fared in a real MMA bout? Who knows, but had he started at a younger age, he could certainly have had potential if he could have made weight.
Primarily covering the sport of MMA from Ontario, Canada, Jay Anderson has been writing for various publications covering sports, technology, and pop culture since 2001. Jay holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Guelph, and a Certificate in Leadership Skills from Humber College.
