8 Big Name MMA Fighters Who Tried Out Pro Wrestling

2. Tim Sylvia

wikimediaSome guys will just take a pay check any way they can. That's not necessarily a knock on anyone; you have to make a living. Tim Sylvia seems like the type of guy who needs to fight for a living. He was at the top when guys weren't making a ton of money. He never got Tito money, and he never even came close to GSP or Anderson Silva money. Over the course of his UFC career, he made under a million bucks from fight purses. Now, even close to a million seems like a lot, right? Keep in mind that Sylvia fought 13 times under the UFC banner, and was the heavyweight champion. He beat Andrei Arlovski twice. He has wins over Brandon Vera, Jeff Monson, and Ricco Rodriguez. And while there are bonuses and sponsorship money, UFC fighters have to pay their coaches. And their sparring partners. And in some cases, travel expenses (the UFC has a plus two policy, but most fighters travel with more than just two companions, given they need guys in their corner and may wish to bring family). So is it any surprise that Sylvia turned to pro wrestling? He would fight Josh Barnett in 2011 under the Inoki Genome banner. It wasn't great. Barnett has a knack for wrestling - Sylvia doesn't. Despite that, when fans petitioned Dixie Carter to sign Sylvia for TNA Wrestling, Sylvia endorsed the movement.