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MMA fans take pride in the fact that their sport of choice is all about real fighting. People are actually trying to submit or knock out one another, and there aren’t predetermined outcomes or planned spots, much less an objective of keeping everyone safe. Indeed, particularly in its early days making headway, UFC leaned into its image of violence and danger.
Things have shifted over time, however. UFC still presents a legitimate sport, but a more polished one with more refined rules, sold to a wider audience. Additionally, the sport is now geared towards building toward big fights and selling storylines that get them there alongside pushing the athletic credentials of the fighters involved.
In short, UFC has had its moments of feeling a lot like WWE.
To be fair, there’s still a significant divide between MMA and pro-wrestling, but the flagship promotions of each endeavor have their similarities, and there have been times when UFC more overtly seems to be tapping into the WWE ethos. This article takes a look at four times when that dynamic was clearly at play.
#4 Israel Adesanya channels The Rock
Israel Adesanya has turned heads for not only his talent as a UFC fighter but the showmanship he has espoused, which make him come across as a relatable star. Yes, UFC 234 saw him add an important bullet point to his resume in defeating legend Anderson Silva, which elevated his professional fight record to 16-0. But what may have been even more captivating was the build to the Silva fight, in which he channeled The Rock.
Adesanya capped his Open Workout performance in advance of UFC 234, by straight up delivering the People’s Elbow to his sparring partner. While there are those wrestling throws, strikes, and holds that believably translate—or were even derived from—MMA, the People’s Elbow is considered over the top even by pro wrestling standards. In using it, Adesanya was openly highlighting the ways in which his entertaining persona derives from the world of sports entertainment.
3. UFC 229 gets out of control
Conor McGregor is a lightning rod for attention and has, with good reason, drawn comparisons to WWE performers over the years for his outspoken demeanor. The fact that he is one of the best fighters of his generation, of course, only pushes his celebrity further.
Things went next level in advance of UFC 229, though, and his collision with Khabib Nurmagomedov. The WWE-like antics started in the build—not only in the war of words that had become somewhat characteristic for McGregor but in McGregor and his entourage interrupting a press conference and later attacking a bus of other fighters.
Khabib vs McGregor was one for the ages, in which Nurmagomedov got a measure of revenge by picking up the victory. A brawl followed, however, that transcended sport as the two UFC fighters’ respective camps got into it with one another in a scene that seemed stripped straight from the world of WWE.
#2 Brock Lesnar storms the cage
Brock Lesnar had a successful career in UFC, but the general perception was that he was done with MMA after seeming to transition fully back to the WWE Universe, and as his age seemed to catch up to him at over forty.
Lesnar made a surprise appearance at UFC 226, however, that included him storming the Octagon to shove champion Daniel Cormier. The informal callout from a long-gone legend to a current UFC champion, in and of itself, felt a lot like pro wrestling. Additionally, Dana White could be seen reassuring parties close to the situation to let Lesnar go, suggesting that this was less of an impromptu confrontation than an at least partially planned publicity stunt. Rarely has UFC gone so far as to openly stage a confrontation, but it would appear that, at a minimum, White and Lesnar were in on pre-planning this moment that was designed to generate some buzz.
#1 The Undertaker stares down Brock Lesnar
While a number of WWE Superstars have crossed over to the world of UFC over the years, none may be more odd or unresolved as The Undertaker who showed up in the front row for UFC 121.
The Dead Man never fought in the Octagon, and it didn’t seem so out of left field for him to attend the event given that he’s known to be an MMA fan, and has added offense like the Hell’s Gate Gogoplata to his repertoire, inspired by real jiu-jitsu. The appearance was notable for a momentary standoff with Brock Lesnar, who had fought that night, which many read as a sign of a real-life beef between the two, dating back to their WWE days.
According to relatively recent reporting from The Wrestling Observer, years later, this may have been less a matter of UFC going into WWE than UFC vs.. WWE. The Observer suggested that Vince McMahon sent The Undertaker there to build to a match between The Phenom and Lesnar at WrestleMania 27. Dana White purportedly put the kibosh on that idea, and Lesnar wouldn’t end up returning to WWE until over a year later. They would have their WrestleMania match in New Orleans at WrestleMania 30.
