Wint Reveals Moment NFL Dream Shifted To MMA

Former NFL prospect Anthony Wint pinpointed the exact moment he committed to mixed martial arts: the first time he outgrappled veteran fighters at MMA Masters in Florida.

Wint, who won his UFC debut at UFC Sacramento earlier this year, told the Deep Waters podcast that his transition from football began when manager Malki Kawa floated the idea after the 2020 CFL season was scrapped due to the pandemic. Wint had been training under Kawa for football when he noticed a framed photo of Jon Jones in the manager's office, according to Sherdog.

Dominating Established Fighters Without Submission Knowledge

"When I started grappling those guys, Miguel Baeza was there; Colby Covington comes later," Wint said. "But they have a lot of big dudes who've been doing it for a long time and I'm dominating them. I don't know the submissions, but I know how to do it."

That early rolling success against seasoned competitors convinced him MMA was more than a stopgap. Wint said his competitive wiring made walking away impossible once he started competing, especially after winning his first amateur bout.

"Once I started, I knew I was in it," he said. "The first time I got into my first amateur fight and I got a W, I knew I was stuck in it. Fighting is a sport where once you get into it, it's one of those sports where you're the one who has to make the decision. I can't end it on a loss."

Wint trains at MMA Masters alongside multiple ranked UFC fighters. His next Octagon appearance has not been announced.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — Former NFL player reveals moment he knew MMA was his future