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Some people reading this may be big fans of professional wrestling, whereas others may lean towards mixed martial arts. Whichever way you find yourself favouring, there's no doubt that the two industries have been aligned with one another for years now. Some fans don't like to admit that, but when you examine the evidence, the connections are there for all to see.
In many ways that's not a good or a bad thing - it's just a fact. There are certain alterations that can be made to both which would probably lead to a greater level of fan interest, but aside from promoting one another from time to time, they try not to interact in order to keep their hardcore supporters from voicing their outrage every two minutes.
We live in an age now where comparisons are always going to be made regardless of whether or not we want them, and as a result, we're left to examine five ways in which WWE and UFC are in fact similar.
#1 Booking
This may sound odd, but the concept of 'booking' is quite broad, and as such, can be taken in many different ways. When it comes to the leading promotions in pro wrestling and MMA, however, they're quite similar. Both of them aim to book the best possible matches, featuring the best superstars and the best fighters. They look at what the fans want to see, then they examine what's happening on screen, and they make the necessary adjustments.
Take Conor McGregor and Daniel Bryan as two prime examples. Both of them gained a great deal of momentum and popularity in a short period of time, UFC and WWE fed them certain opponents, that they knew would get them over, and they then both had their crowning moments - at UFC 194 and WrestleMania 30. The progression is the same, and while the results are more unpredictable in MMA, they go into it with the same kind of ideology.
#2 The Basics
The basics in both MMA and pro wrestling and relatively similar, even if people who have done both don't necessarily utilise all of the skills they've learnt from the other. For example: in the UFC, usually, you need to have some kind of 'character' or personality in order to gain popularity with the fans. They want to resonate with you and understand you, and being able to talk trash or promote yourself helps with that.
Which, obviously, is the basic requirement for a world-class professional wrestler. In the same manner, amateur wrestling is usually a key ingredient behind the success of some UFC champions. Just take a look at someone like Daniel Cormier who wrestled in the Olympics prior to moving into MMA, and has wound up becoming a future Hall of Famer courtesy of his glittering success.
Not every WWE star is a great amateur wrestler, but many of them understand it.
#3 Money Talks
Why did WWE take that deal with Saudi Arabia? Why did Dana White decide to play a role in Conor McGregor vs Floyd Mayweather? Money. It's what makes the world go round, and if enough of it is thrown into the lap of either company, they'll do everything in their power to make things work around it. We aren't criticising them for that, either, because that's one of the reasons why both are so successful.
One day there's a chance it could catch up to them, with WWE, in particular, suffering from the negative feedback stemming from Greatest Royal Rumble, but it's all a part of the business. There will always be another opportunity waiting right around the corner, and you can bet that they'll cease it one way or another.
#4 Crossovers
In the WWE right now there are a parade of superstars with MMA experience, and the number seems to be growing. Brock Lesnar, Ronda Rousey, Sonya Deville and Shayna Baszler have all followed in the footsteps of Ken Shamrock and Dan Severn in making the jump from one to the other. Of course, there are also stars who went the other way.
CM Punk decided to hang up his boots in order to try his luck in the octagon, which is a move that Lesnar himself initially made. Outside of the UFC, we've also seen Batista, Bobby Lashley and Jack Swagger give MMA a try, proving once and for all that you're always going to have guys who believe in themselves enough to cross over into something new.
#5 Determined Leaders
Dana White and Vince McMahon have been at the top of their respective fields for so many years now, and it's because they are ruthless in everything that they do. They will do anything to keep their brands in the number one position, and it's why they're not only great businessmen - but also great fans.
They still have the passion and desire required to keep pushing at the highest level, which is a commodity both men will likely always possess. They've had many interactions over the years as has been well documented, and you just know that there's a clear mutual respect between them. They may clash at times, but it's only because they're trying to protect what they've built up for so long.
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