Cagewriter - UFC

Making the move from the football field to the Octagon is a tough feat but three former National Football League players gave it a go at the Seattle tryouts for The Ultimate Fighter 10. The UFC is wisely trying to beef up its heavyweight ranks with another cast of big men on the reality show. According to MMAMania Marcus Jones, Rex Richards and Herbert Goodman all tried out.

Jones was the No. 22 pick by Tampa Bay in the 1996 draft. He was selected three slots after Marvin Harrison and four picks before Ray Lewis. After a six-year career, Jones, now 35, has made the transition to full-time MMA fighter. He certainly has the size at 6-foot-6 and 280 pounds.

Richards, an All-Big 12 lineman at Texas Tech, played with the Indianapolis Colts. He's cut down from 350 pounds to around 275 since he started fighting. He is 6-1 with his only loss coming against the UFC's Shane Carwin. Cage Writer did a profile on Richards last month and his goal is to get down under the 265 pound limit.

Goodman was a running back/return man for Green Bay in 2000-2001 and 2003. He also played in NFL Europe. He's fighting at light heavyweight and already has a 9-6 record.

Former NFL wide receiver Johnnie Morton tried MMA back in 2007. He was knocked out in 39 seconds. Former Steeler and Jet lineman Carlton Haselrig also had three professional MMA fights in 2008. Michael Westbrook, the former Redskins, has also dabbled in MMA and now beats up civilians on MTV.

The former football players were a small sample of the 250 fighters who tried out for TUF 10. The UFC's last attempt at fielding a heavyweight cast came back in 2005. The only legit heavyweights from a size standpoints were Brad Imes, Dan Christison and Kerry Schall. Rob MacDonald, Tom Murphy, Mike Whitehead, Keith Jardine, Seth Petruzelli and Rashad Evans all wound up down at light heavyweight once the show ended.

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  1. /
    1. Posted by / Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:11 pm EDT

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    where was lashley / out
  2. B Mane
    2. Posted by B Mane Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:12 pm EDT

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    you forgot Michael Westbrook on your list of NFL players in MMA.
  3. Ron Santo s Legs
    3. Posted by Ron Santo's Legs Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:16 pm EDT

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    please never include Cade McNown in any photographs on this site EVER again
  4. LB #31
    4. Posted by LB #31 Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:18 pm EDT

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    Sounds like a good thing for UFC's HW-class to me. Not to take anything away from technique, skill, and experience, but size, strength, speed, explosiveness, and general athleticism are also extremely important in MMA. You'd be hard pressed to find any champion MMA fighter, boxer, wrestler, etc. who isn't partly successful simply because they're better athletes than their competition. Even though these three ex-NFL players weren't so successful in the NFL, we know that they must be pretty damn athletic to even get to that level at all. They're arguably more athletic than Lesnar, who impresses everyone with his combination of size, strength and speed.
  5. Derek L
    5. Posted by Derek L Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:34 pm EDT

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    who do u think the coaches will be
  6. LB #31
    6. Posted by LB #31 Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:18 pm EDT

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    Dr. Doom (cool pic by the way): try actually reading the article before you comment. Three ex-NFL guys went to the try-outs for TUF 10. That doesn' t mean that the UFC is going to choose them for the show instead of the other 250 people that were there. Even if the UFC did choose them for the show, they wouldn't technically be UFC fighters because they wouldn't be getting paid by the UFC to fight. In order to become fighters in the UFC, they'd have to beat the "real MMA fighters who train for years in BJJ, Wrestling, Mauy Thai and Boxing to perfect their technique" in order to win a UFC contract. It doesn't matter who has put in more time. It matters who wins. Just like it should be.
  7. B.A.
    7. Posted by B.A. Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:01 pm EDT

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    They mention Mike.
    "Michael Westbrook, the former Redskins, has also dabbled in MMA and now beats up civilians on MTV."
    mfdoombr - you mean like Lesnar did before he got a title shot ? What was his record before the title shot ?
    I wouldnt put it past Dana "ntsk " White to do something low down as that.Its no diffrent how he sucks up to a fighter in a big fight the then they lose and you see him slobbering all over the other fighter who won.
    once a nutsack always a ntsk.
  8. Mr.Brooks
    8. Posted by Mr.Brooks Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:21 pm EDT

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    #5 You are correct about Bisping. I see the same thing, I even suspect your correct about the method to grow the UFC in the UK. Nothing he can do to stop Hendo from giving Bisping a beating though..
  9. B Mane
    9. Posted by B Mane Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:12 pm EDT

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    B.A.-
    Cofield added that sentence in after my comment but didn't acknowledge it in the comment section so maybe people will think he thought of it himself.
  10. BOSS
    10. Posted by BOSS Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:32 pm EDT

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    I cant wait to see my boy Hendo just run through bisbing when they fight.
  11. BearDown
    11. Posted by BearDown Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:23 pm EDT

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    Herbert "Whisper" Goodman -get all the info Cofield before you start using your soft little hands to type.
  12. cbritian
    12. Posted by cbritian Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:20 pm EDT

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    This is friggen retarded. I would not try out for UFC. Word of advice to those guys, you are better of getting your ass kicked at home.
  13. Carlos M
    13. Posted by Carlos M Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:13 pm EDT

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    I agree with # 5 just watching the previews it looks that way..and i cant stand bisping he has been fed all his fighters for him to win. he is an average fighter he has lost agaisnt Hamil and evans i dont know how he beat Leben. bisping is just a marketing tool for england he sucks and if her ever fights a quality apponent he will lose like always but they might give him a decision...
  14. Fighting Fatguys
    14. Posted by Fighting Fatguys Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:50 pm EDT

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    the greatest bears quarterback since the jay cutler era....frickn cade"made in the shade"mccown!
  15. LanceL
    15. Posted by LanceL Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:57 pm EDT

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    This is just one more representation of the long decent the UFC is takeing from its roots. 20 or so years ago (I forget when UFC started) it was a tournament style fight no gloves, no rounds, no judges, no weight classes and no belts (wwf knockoff cant find something better). I do believe there should be generalized weight classes maybe 3 but that is it 16 man tourny in 3 weight classes with 4 fights in 1 night. The previous winner gets zero advantage but to say every year he is the ultimate fighter. This new UFC is for people like NFL owners who dont want there fargile qb's getting beat up so they get the NFL to pass stupid rules to not allow it. This is a plea to Dana White love the competiton bring it back.
  16. MIZZI J
    16. Posted by MIZZI J Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:22 pm EDT

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    I tapped out due to a potato wedgie at KFC
  17. CLINTON C
    17. Posted by CLINTON C Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:16 pm EDT

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    Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz......ufc...zzzzzzzzzzzz. ultimately forgettable clowns.
  18. Greg R
    18. Posted by Greg R Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:36 pm EDT

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    #2--Did you read the entire article? He mentions Westbrook in the next to the last paragraph.
  19. Bum Diddy
    19. Posted by Bum Diddy Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:04 pm EDT

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    who cares if the brit's win tuf. let dana ruin tuf. they obviously won't be able to win against most the guys from america to begin with. you guys have to realize its entertainment. once anything gets big, you lose your longtime avid fans and get the general crowd in. that's what he's doing. a lot of us who followed it from the beginning might move on, stop watching, etc... but the millions more who will tune in because "they heard liddel was fighting" etc.. they bring in the money, because they are new blood. aits all abou the bottom dollar, not what we think (and pretty much know) what would be "best."
  20. Ralph W
    20. Posted by Ralph W Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:55 pm EDT

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    Not a big bisbing fan, but he did go the distance with the light heavy weight champ. Also with matt hamil who is a big 205. Henderson will probably grind out a 3 round decision. Everyone is fighting for 2nd at 185.
  21. Ditka Loves Sausage!
    21. Posted by Ditka Loves Sausage! Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:08 pm EDT

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    Guys who like to watch the UFC are straigh-up meat-head wanna-be wankers. Way too much testosterone! And im with you Clinton C.....zzzzzzzzz is right! Ive seen maybe 2 total fights - 1/2 the time its like watching wrestling! No thanks......
  22. Young 2e
    22. Posted by Young 2e Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:41 pm EDT

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    lmao at #3's comment... haahahahahaha
  23. thatsm
    23. Posted by thatsm Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:46 pm EDT

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    Another useless article...keep up the good work...anything with any substance ever written here? Good grief!
  24. fat_boi
    24. Posted by fat_boi Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:21 pm EDT

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    you should stick to what youre good at. youre in the nfl so stick with it. at least you know you have an income.. fighting is harder than most people think.
  25. Dick Hungwell
    25. Posted by Dick Hungwell Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:37 pm EDT

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    Mitch Berger, Punter 4 tha Steelers last year is gonna give it a shot, I here.

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