Look at any of the athletes in the UFC betting online markets, and you will discover that most specialize in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a martial art based on grappling, ground fighting, and submission holds. While being able to punch, kick, and strike with power and accuracy is a sure-fire way of stopping opponents in their tracks, being able to dominate a foe and dictate the pace of a fight is where jiu-jitsu and, to some degree, wrestling comes into its own.
Over the years, many UFC fighters have appeared ringside at WWE events. Some have even stepped into the ring, but who has enjoyed the most success? Have any former wrestlers excelled in the UFC and made a name for themselves in the elite-level combat promotion while being revered in wrestling circles? You can bet your bottom dollar that they have.
Dan Severn
You younger readers are forgiven if you are unaware of Dan “The Beast” Severn, a former professional wrestler and retired mixed martial artist. Severn stands 6ft 2in and weighs 253 pounds, so it is easy to see why people call him the Beast.
Severn started an amateur Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling career in high school, where he gained a reputation for being a formidable wrestler. His wrestling talent was such that the Arizona State University Wrestling Hall of Fame inducted him at the end of his collegiate career.
Unsurprisingly, Severn embarked on a professional wrestling career, competing in the UWF International in Japan, the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), and the then-World Wrestling Federation (UFC). Severn also competed in the early days of the UFC back in 1994, becoming the first-ever UFC Triple Crown winner. He was the first man to compete in the UFC and WWF simultaneously, and he held UFC and NWA titles at the same time, too.
Severn was a prolific MMA fighter who entered the ring in 127 matches, ending his career with a 101-19-7 record. The UFC inducted Severn into its Hall of Fame in 2005.
Ken Shamrock
Ken Shamrock made his WWF debut during an episode of Monday Night Raw in February 1997. Wrestling fans’ first real glimpse of Shamrock came at WrestleMania 13, where he refereed a submission match between Bret “The Hitman” Hart and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.
Shamrock was involved in many feuds during his time in the WWF, including Bret Hart, The British Bulldog, Vader, and most famously, The Rock. He eventually departed the WWF in 1999 following another running feud, this time with Chris Jericho. During his time with the WWF, Shamrock was a one-time Intercontinental Champion, World Tag Team Champion, and the 1998 King of the Ring.
Although Shamrock looks back at his professional wrestling career with much love, his heart was always with MMA and the UFC. He was part of the newly formed UFC, although he initially signed up thinking the UFC was wrestling and not MMA. He only realized his error when he saw Gerard Gordeau knock out Telia Tuli in the first fight! Shamrock won his first bout but lost to eventual UFC 1 champion Royce Gracie in his second fight.
Shamrock became the first UFC Superfight Champion, defeating the aforementioned Dan Severn at UFC 6 before losing it to Severn at UFC 9.
Shamrock is regarded as a UFC pioneer and one of the charter members of the UFC Hall of Fame.
Brock Lesnar
Brock Lesnar is one of combat sports’ most prolific athletes. He is currently the only person in history to have won the primary heavyweight title in WWR, UFC, Inoki Genome Federation (IGF), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW).
Lesnar signed with the World Wrestling Federation in 2000 but did not make his debut until March 18, 2002. Despite being a newcomer, he became the WWE Undisputed Champion after defeating The Rock at SummerSlam. It only took Lesnar 126 days after his debut to become champion, the second-fastest in history behind Ric Flair (113 days).
Lesnar left the now-WWE after WrestleMania XX in 2004, citing burnout, injuries, rigorous travel schedules, and an addiction to alcohol and painkillers as his main reasons.
The man mountain competed in Japanese promotions from 2005 until 2007, when he became an MMA fighter. First competing in the Hero’s promotion, Lesnar switched to the UFC in 2008 in a one-fight deal. Although Lesnar lost that fight, the UFC offered him a new contract.
He defeated Heath Herring in his second UFC battle and became the UFC Heavyweight Champion with a TKO victory over Randy Couture. Lesnar successfully defended his title against Frank Mir and Shane Carwin before Cain Velasquez knocked him out at UFC 121. Lsenar lost his comeback fight 14 months later. He returned to the UFC in 2016 but was disqualified after providing a positive drug sample after his fight with Mark Hunt at UFC 200.
Lesnar returned to the WWE twice before retiring and was meant to compete again in 2024. However, The Wall Street Journal named Lesnar one of the parties in the Vince McMahon scandal, and he has since been removed from the WWE.
Ronda Rousey
Ronda Rousey was the first American woman to win an Olympic medal in judo when she captured the bronze medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Rousey enjoyed another first when she was involved in the UFC’s first-ever female fight at UFC 157, defeating Liz Carmouche with an armbar in the first round. Rousey successfully defended her UFC Women’s Bantamweight title six times before losing to Holly Holm at UFC 193 in November 2015. She returned 13 months later and faced Amanda Nunes in a championship bout, but Nunes knocked her out in the first round, enough for Rousey to hang up her gloves.
While competing in the UFC, Rousey made sporadic appearances in the WWE, becoming a full-time wrestler in 2017. She won the Raw Women’s Championship in August 2018 and held it until April 2019.
In January 2022, Rousey won the Women’s Royal Rumble match before becoming the SmackDown Women’s champion the following month. Rousey retired from WWE in June 2023, returned in July, but retired for good in October.
