Atlanta Falcons to train with elite UFC fighters

The Atlanta Falcons are adding mixed-martial arts (MMA) cross-training to the mix this year. With UFC 201 taking place in Atlanta next weekend, multiple big-name UFC fighters will be cross-training with the Falcons this coming week.

Among the names listed are a pair of winners of The Ultimate Fighter in Kelvin Gastelum and Julianna Pena. On top of that, they have current UFC heavyweight Derrick Lewis on board.

Though, the best fighters coming in to train with the Falcons are two-time welterweight champion Matt Hughes and the current UFC bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes.

There have been many positive overlaps when MMA and football are combined. The Falcons saw some of this during the 2012 season when they had their defense do some MMA training before the season.

Starting middle linebacker Paul Worrilow has already been trying to improve his tackling using wrestling training. But the overall scope of what the Falcons can learn through MMA training is more than just tackling or a good workout to maintain cardio.

They will likely learn better leverage working with strong Jiu Jitsu practitioners like Nunes and wrestlers like Hughes and Gastelum. Boxers and kickboxers like Lewis and Pena will only help the interior linemen get stronger with their punch off the line. The Falcons should have been doing MMA training all along as a team.

Head coach Dan Quinn has always been a believer of boxing and MMA training as a way to help football players develop requisite skills to be the best in the NFL.

And he’s shown this offseason, he’s not afraid to do everything it takes to get his team to win by bringing in Navy SEALS as motivation back for mini-camp in May (via CBS Sports).

Considering Quinn is friends with Brian Stann — one of the UFC’s best announcers — it isn’t a shock that the Falcons would be bringing these fighters in.