Royce White to...the UFC?

[ca4cy]

 

[CubsClones1]

IMO if Royce was really serious about combat sports he should have chosen boxing. You don't have to worry about the wrestlers/bjj experts and at that size and especially in the heavyweight division you can get away without having much (if any) of an amateur career.

Deontay Wilder for example is one of the worst boxers I've ever seen in my life from a skills standpoint, yet he's considered the top 1 or 2 best heavyweights on the planet because of his power and chin. (he did have 30ish amateur fights).

Another local example would be Tye Fields from a decade ago. Tye was a local DSM guy who went from basketball to boxing and won a decent number of fights despite his raw boxing skills. He was a big guy who hit hard and he made a little bit of money along the way.

You are spot on sir, with both the Deontay Wilder & Tye Fields examples. Deontay Wilder is undefeated, knocked out every person he's ever faced (except in his last fight against Tyson Fury but the ref's 10 count in that last round seem awfully slow/generous to me) but is NOT a boxer. He's an athlete that has absolute insane power and can take a punch himself.

With Tye Fields, you're looking at another athlete who's just bigger and stronger than everyone else he faced on the local circuit (I attended 2 of his fights live). It didn't work out the same way for Tye as it did for Deontay Wilder when the level of competition was raised but I agree with your comparisons.

I'm in the minority here but I think Royce could actually make a nice little career for himself in MMA. If he was any other weight class other than heavyweight, I think it would be a different story, but like others have mentioned on this thread, the HWY division only has a couple true submission threats but the top 10 guys in the world are mainly strikers. With Royce's athleticism, if he can get his conditioning right and actually be able to take a punch (this will be what it all actually boils down to), then he can be successful and make a nice living in the sport.

 

[Dandy]

IMO if Royce was really serious about combat sports he should have chosen boxing. You don't have to worry about the wrestlers/bjj experts and at that size and especially in the heavyweight division you can get away without having much (if any) of an amateur career.

Deontay Wilder for example is one of the worst boxers I've ever seen in my life from a skills standpoint, yet he's considered the top 1 or 2 best heavyweights on the planet because of his power and chin. (he did have 30ish amateur fights).

Another local example would be Tye Fields from a decade ago. Tye was a local DSM guy who went from basketball to boxing and won a decent number of fights despite his raw boxing skills. He was a big guy who hit hard and he made a little bit of money along the way.

Plus there is a lot more money in boxing when compared to UFC/MMA. Daniel Cormier (#1 pound-for-pound ranked fighter) got like $4M to fight in UFC 230 but Conor McGregor got $30M guaranteed then another $70M from the sales purse to fight the #1 ranked boxer. And Mayweather got 3x as much as McGregor!

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

Royce needs a paycheck and can't wait 3 years for a decent income. I GOT IT: "The Return of the Prodigals" (or "STOP Mental Illness") - Royce White vs. soon-to-be unemployed David Irving in an MMA bout at Hilton Coliseum. We have such a long stretch between the end of hoops and the start of football season so this could help fill that gap. Maybe April, when it's warm enough to tailgate.

Warm up act could be Jok and Uthoff against 2 ex Cyclones in a 3pt shooting competition.

 

[oldman]

I think he'd be better served to try out as a tight end for the NFL (or lesser leagues). 6-8, 270 with huge hands and good conditioning might go a long way.

 

[mcblogerson]

So anxiety issues are triggered by flying but not stepping in a ring with a trained fighter hell bent on knocking you unconscious? Good one

 

[AgronAlum]

Looks like Royce will also be playing in the big 3 this year.

 

[jbindm]

Looks like Royce will also be playing in the big 3 this year.

I think we're to the point now that whatever he says he's going to do, believe it when you see it.

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

I would think that MMA training would at least help in rebounding.

 

[tyler24]

So anxiety issues are triggered by flying but not stepping in a ring with a trained fighter hell bent on knocking you unconscious? Good one

If he's anything like me... Real anxiety trumps the other anxiety. Plus anxiety will go away if you focus on something else anyways.

 

[ianoconnor]

Royce was interviewed on Ariel Helwani's show today:

 

[Cyforce]

Royce needs a paycheck and can't wait 3 years for a decent income. I GOT IT: "The Return of the Prodigals" (or "STOP Mental Illness") - Royce White vs. soon-to-be unemployed David Irving in an MMA bout at Hilton Coliseum. We have such a long stretch between the end of hoops and the start of football season so this could help fill that gap. Maybe April, when it's warm enough to tailgate.

Warm up act could be Jok and Uthoff against 2 ex Cyclones in a 3pt shooting competition.

I'd pay to see Jok do some drunk jousting on mopeds.

 

[Dandy]

Surely the talks Royce has had with UFC and Bellator are something like “go earn your stripes in the minors and then come talk.”

Look how it took Ben Askren to get to the UFC.

 

[SpokaneCY]

Looks like Royce will also be playing in the big 3 this year.

That's still a thing?

 

[SpokaneCY]

Surely the talks Royce has had with UFC and Bellator are something like “go earn your stripes in the minors and then come talk.”

Look how it took Ben Askren to get to the UFC.

I've had talks with Halle Barry. I expressed my never-ending love and she said "quit following me you crazy freak or I'll call the cops".

 

[Clonefan32]

Looks like Royce will also be playing in the big 3 this year.

I wonder if new additions means they have a guaranteed spot, because if he has to beat some of those dudes out for a spot he may be in trouble. If nothing else I suppose you wait until about Week 3 for a call when Lamar Odom doesn't show up.

 

[Dandy]