Post by Jon Payne on Oct 3, 2008 2:42:31 GMT -5
Bo Jackson. Deion Sanders. Dave DeBusschere. All men who played-and succeeded in not just one but two professional sports. Now it's becoming more apparent that XWA Superstar Jon Payne may join that list, in two of the most physically demanding and increasingly popular sports of the 21st century, pro wrestling and mixed martial arts.
Weeks ago in his "Straight Shooter" blog, Payne stated he had an interest in entering MMA in some form. It would appear that the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has an interest as well. The1XWA.net has learned that as recent as the past Solstice in Las Veags, Jon Payne was in town not to compete at the PPV or to hit the casinos, but to talk with UFC President Dana White. The end results was Payne signing a deal that now puts him on the resurging heavyweight roster of the UFC, with his first fight to be scheduled sometime in late 2008-early 2009. Payne-an avid practicioner of the martial arts is more than exciting about stepping into the Octagon.
"UFC is the premiere promotion of the MMA world," he said. "This is where the best come to show it to the world, so when it came down to where I would probably sign, I had no doubts that it would be here."
When we asked him about what other fighters would think, he had this to say:
"Of course I don't expect for these guys to welcome me with open arms. I've made my name in pro wrestling, and to a lot of MMA guys that's nothing to them. People are entitled to their opinions, and it's my job here to make them change their opinions. Wrestling is and has always been a legit sport, but what they don't realize is that wrestling isn't my only game.
I've been studying the martial arts long before I got into wrestling. I'm a black belt in Karate, I've been a champion kickboxer and I've spent the last few months since Soul Survivor training in Brazil with the Gracie family in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, so if anyone comes along and thinks that I'm just a wrestler, they'll be in for a surprise. That goes the same for anyone who steps in the ring with me in the XWA as well."
When that subject came up, we asked him about his hiatus from the XWA and when might "The Evolution" come back to the fold.
"I'm not going to just pop in and out of the XWA. That's been and always will be the homebase for me, no question about it. I'm sitting back right now and watching how things are developing while I'm down in Brazil training and I'm liking what I see. It's probably a little late in the season right now to make anything meaningful happen, but you know me, anyone who wants to challenge only needs to step up and say something and I'll be there to answer the bell."
As he said, Payne right now has made a second home at least for the time being in Brazil, a student of the legendary Gracie gym. What could this further "evolution" mean to pro wrestling and MMA? Only time will tell, but it's clear that Jon Payne in more ways than one is poised to "elevate the game".
Weeks ago in his "Straight Shooter" blog, Payne stated he had an interest in entering MMA in some form. It would appear that the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has an interest as well. The1XWA.net has learned that as recent as the past Solstice in Las Veags, Jon Payne was in town not to compete at the PPV or to hit the casinos, but to talk with UFC President Dana White. The end results was Payne signing a deal that now puts him on the resurging heavyweight roster of the UFC, with his first fight to be scheduled sometime in late 2008-early 2009. Payne-an avid practicioner of the martial arts is more than exciting about stepping into the Octagon.
"UFC is the premiere promotion of the MMA world," he said. "This is where the best come to show it to the world, so when it came down to where I would probably sign, I had no doubts that it would be here."
When we asked him about what other fighters would think, he had this to say:
"Of course I don't expect for these guys to welcome me with open arms. I've made my name in pro wrestling, and to a lot of MMA guys that's nothing to them. People are entitled to their opinions, and it's my job here to make them change their opinions. Wrestling is and has always been a legit sport, but what they don't realize is that wrestling isn't my only game.
I've been studying the martial arts long before I got into wrestling. I'm a black belt in Karate, I've been a champion kickboxer and I've spent the last few months since Soul Survivor training in Brazil with the Gracie family in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, so if anyone comes along and thinks that I'm just a wrestler, they'll be in for a surprise. That goes the same for anyone who steps in the ring with me in the XWA as well."
When that subject came up, we asked him about his hiatus from the XWA and when might "The Evolution" come back to the fold.
"I'm not going to just pop in and out of the XWA. That's been and always will be the homebase for me, no question about it. I'm sitting back right now and watching how things are developing while I'm down in Brazil training and I'm liking what I see. It's probably a little late in the season right now to make anything meaningful happen, but you know me, anyone who wants to challenge only needs to step up and say something and I'll be there to answer the bell."
As he said, Payne right now has made a second home at least for the time being in Brazil, a student of the legendary Gracie gym. What could this further "evolution" mean to pro wrestling and MMA? Only time will tell, but it's clear that Jon Payne in more ways than one is poised to "elevate the game".
