Shawne Merriman is open about the day he thought he should fight with Randy Couture.
The NFL legend, who has built up a reputation for his explosive power and a relentive will to win, is just as passionate about MMA as football.
The former Linebacker, who owns Lights Out Sports TV, works together with Signature Punch Promotions, ICS (Influencer Crossover series) to organize a huge boxing match between Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson and Rashad Evans, on April 12, in the Put in Albuquerque,
The most important event will mark a huge milestone in the combat sport trip of the natural athlete.
Wow: 'People thought I was crazy' … Randy Couture reveals the UFC victory that meant the most to him
Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Shawne Merriman did not want to fight against Randy Couture
When the chance came for Shawne Merriman to try MMA, he seized the chance.
Although the gifted sportsman was a natural force on the football field, the idea to go with Randy Couture Non-Teen was unmistakably an impressive idea.
In an exclusive interview with Bloody Elbow, Merriman said that his craziest MMA memory is: “Probably the first day I met Randy.
“Jay Glazer from Fox Sports had seen me in his gym that hit mittens. My uncles were professional boxers, so of course I grew up with boxing.
“He walks towards me and says:” I think you should do MMA, because I think it will help you in football. “I said,” Okay, certainly, text me an address. “
“The next day I walked into the gym and Jay Glazer is on my left and Randy Couture is on the right. So in my head I think Jay is trying to let me fight against Randy Couture.
“I look back to Jay and I said,” Listen, there is no way I fight against Randy Couture today. “
“He still competed; He had just won a belt in 44 years old, so Randy was in peak condition. This is when I found out that it didn't matter how much I did on the football field, regardless of how many weights I have lifted, it didn't matter.
'Randy threw my A – left and right. I just couldn't understand leverage and his skills. I am not going to say that it humiliated me, because I did not walk by thinking that I was better than anyone, but I saw how difficult this sport was.
“Then we came to the ground and we started to do a number of groundwork, again he is so competent, I left the gym that day and felt defeated.
“I sent Randy on the way back to San Diego and said: 'What time do you get to the gym tomorrow? Because when I'm done training for the chargers, I'll come back. So that was really my introduction to MMA. '
It is no surprise that Merriman did not like to go against each other with 'The Natural'. After all, Couture is a man who has once defeated a hunter 100 pounds heavier than him.
In the end, however, the training session could not have worked better for the former Buffalo Bills star, with the time he spent with the two-weight UFC champion, who changed his life forever.
Why Shawne Merriman thinks Rampage Jackson vs Rashad Evans is the combativals of Khalil Mack vs Micah Parsons
Merriman simply can't wait for the confrontation between Rampage and Evans, with the match-up between two ex-PUC kings, which records his imagination.
After they have proven their assets in the cage without a doubt, the idea that the couple of strokes are exchanging in the ring is unmistakably an intriguing prospect.
That is why the football star, who is often compared to Alistair Overeem, had an interesting way to sell the fight to NFL fans.
With the help of his promotional skills, Merriman explained why Rampage vs Evans is the combativival of Khalil Mack vs Micah Parsons.
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