{"id":870609,"date":"2026-08-25T07:04:09","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T07:04:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/870609\/"},"modified":"2026-08-25T07:04:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T07:04:09","slug":"former-nfl-player-reveals-moment-he-knew-mma-was-his-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/870609\/","title":{"rendered":"Former NFL player reveals moment he knew MMA was his future"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former football player Anthony
\nWint<\/a> recently opened up about the moment he realized mixed
\nmartial arts was his next career path.<\/p>\n

Wint, who emerged victorious in his
\nUltimate Fighting Championship<\/a> debut at
\nUFC Sacramento<\/a>, recently reflected on his transition from
\nfootball to MMA after the Covid-19 pandemic during an appearance on
\nthe \u201cDeep Waters\u201d podcast.<\/p>\n

Anthony Wint explains how early grappling success convinced him
\nto commit to fighting
\n
\nWint recalled working with veteran manager Malki Kawa before
\ntransitioning to MMA. Kawa manages several prominent fighters and
\nWint remembers seeing a picture of Jon Jones<\/a> in
\nhis office.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn’t know Malki did fighting,\u201d Wint said. \u201cI remember going up
\nhis stairs and seeing the picture of Jon Jones. I was like, damn,
\nyou know Jon Jones? He’s like, I manage Jon Jones.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wint was initially headed toward the CFL, but the 2020 season was
\ncanceled because of the Covid-19 pandemic. During that period, Kawa
\nencouraged him to consider MMA, claiming he could become a world
\nchampion. Wint eventually made his way to MMA Masters, where he
\nbegan testing himself against established fighters in the gym.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I started grappling those guys, Miguel
\nBaeza<\/a> was there; Colby
\nCovington<\/a> comes later,\u201d Wint said. \u201cBut they have a lot of big
\ndudes who’ve been doing it for a long time and I’m dominating them.
\nI don’t know the submissions, but I know how to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

That experience convinced Wint that MMA was more than just a
\ntemporary move. He also credited his competitive nature for keeping
\nhim in the sport. Once he started fighting, he found it difficult
\nto walk away because he did not want to accept defeat.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce I started, I knew I was in it,\u201d he said. \u201cThe first time I
\ngot into my first amateur fight and I got a W, I knew I was stuck
\nin it. Fighting is a sport where once you get into it, it’s one of
\nthose sports where you’re the one who has to make the decision. I
\ncan’t end it on a loss.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anthony
\nWint<\/a> explains the moment he decided to switch from football to
\nMMA<\/p>\n

“Once I started, I knew I was in it.” pic.twitter.com\/myJqwjRZv4<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount)
\nAugust 24, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n