Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby may only be in the league a few more years if UFC boss Dana White gets his way.
During a rough period in Raiders history, defensive end Maxx Crosby has been one of the very few bright spots for the team. After being a fourth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the pass rusher made an immediate impact by posting 10 sacks in his rookie season.
Over the next six years, Crosby has become one of the franchise’s greatest pass rushers and is currently third on their all-time list. However, over his seven years with the team, he has only been a part of one winning season. If the 28-year-old ever got fed up with football enough that he wanted to leave the sport altogether, it seems he has a spot waiting for him in the UFC.
Dana White ‘convinced’ Maxx Crosby can be a UFC champion
“[UFC CBO] Hunter Campbell and Dana, they’re hilarious. They are fully convinced by the year 2030, or 2031, I’m going to be the heavyweight champion,” Crosby said in a recent interview with CBS Sports. “I’m that type of person where, I’m never going to put a limit on what I do.
“I live one life, and there are certainly some things I want to accomplish and things I want to do. I truly don’t know… But if it makes sense at the time and if it’s in my heart and soul that I want to go out there and compete, it might just happen. I love fighting.”
The Raiders star is a well-known fan of fight sports and is a part owner in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. He has done MMA training in the offseason for years and often spars with pro MMA fighters at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas.
A career in the NFL is far more lucrative than one in the UFC. However, in fight sports, there are many heavyweights who are top stars in their late 30s and early 40s. Considering the level of athlete Crosby is, a jump to MMA could definitely be a possibility in five or six years. Furthermore, White doesn’t throw around compliments often. If he believes Crosby can succeed, it should be believed.
