In recent years, more and more athletes of other sports have discussed their enjoyment of mixed martial arts and their respect for its fighters.
Possibly most famously was Shaquille O’Neal of the National Basketball Association’s Phoenix Suns speaking of his admiration for former Ultimate Fighting Championships heavyweight champion Randy Couture in a Sports Illustrated article.
But he is not the only one.
In recent postings on his weekly blog, 2007 National Football League Defensive Rookie of the Year winner and defensive team captain Patrick Willis of the San Francisco 49ers has expressed his love of MMA.
Initially getting into the sport prior to his rookie year, Willis’ interest in MMA exploded with the help of fellow linebacker and teammate Jeff Ulbrich, and now Willis is a diehard fan of the sport.
“I’ve always been a big fan of fighting, period,” he stated. “I love boxing and I like kickboxing too, and when MMA came up, I was like, 'This is better than kickboxing.’”
As for what style in MMA Willis likes the best, his natural linebacker instincts lead him to one particular discipline.
“I kind of like more of the striking,” he admitted. “I don’t like people getting close to me – that’s the football mentality – I don’t want any (offensive) lineman to touch me.
“So, I’m not with all that grappling stuff. If you can strike and get off (your opponent); I’m definitely a big fan of that.”
While he’s not so much a fan of the grappling aspect of MMA, he does see the similarities between that part of the sport and his own.
“I see a fight and a guy goes to grab somebody and you look at how the other guy leverages, it’s just like football,” Willis commented. “You would think a lot of times a guy that’s 250 pounds and comes in on a guy that’s 235 pounds and just de-cleat him, but if he’s got good pad leverage you’ll just ricochet off him, and that’s what happens in (MMA).
“A lot of times you’ll see a smaller guy going up against a bigger guy and just toss him, because he’s got good leverage.”
A big fan of fighters such as current UFC middleweight king Anderson Silva and former light-heavyweight champ Chuck Liddell, it’s another former titleholder that Willis most sees as his MMA counterpart.
“I like ‘Rampage’ (Quinton Jackson) because his whole attitude is: you’ve got to be raw, you’ve just got to come with it,” exclaimed Willis. “I’d be just like Rampage. I’ll fight you standing up and when it goes to the ground, I’d be strong enough to get out of it, but I’d want to keep you up so we can go at it.”
He has also expressed his appreciation for female fighting sensation and American Gladiator Gina “Crush” Carano in his blogging.
“I like her, because for her to be so pretty and she’s fighting like that, I’m like, ‘Wow,’” he stated. “I like that she can hold her own.
“I want to tell her to continue to whoop tail and let her know that she’s got a big, big fan in the NFL, and that’s me.”
Whether it’s playing on an NFL field, hanging at home playing video games, or watching MMA, Patrick Willis is an impact-type of athlete whose love of everything comes from the passion within his chest.
“I want to say to the fans out there thank you for your support and continuing to be behind the 49ers,” he closed out. "Our team has a lot of heart and knows it too.
“I, myself, have a lot of heart, and as long as you have heart, you’re going to make well for yourself and those around you. Always keep that in mind.”
Possibly most famously was Shaquille O’Neal of the National Basketball Association’s Phoenix Suns speaking of his admiration for former Ultimate Fighting Championships heavyweight champion Randy Couture in a Sports Illustrated article.
But he is not the only one.
In recent postings on his weekly blog, 2007 National Football League Defensive Rookie of the Year winner and defensive team captain Patrick Willis of the San Francisco 49ers has expressed his love of MMA.
Initially getting into the sport prior to his rookie year, Willis’ interest in MMA exploded with the help of fellow linebacker and teammate Jeff Ulbrich, and now Willis is a diehard fan of the sport.
“I’ve always been a big fan of fighting, period,” he stated. “I love boxing and I like kickboxing too, and when MMA came up, I was like, 'This is better than kickboxing.’”
As for what style in MMA Willis likes the best, his natural linebacker instincts lead him to one particular discipline.
“I kind of like more of the striking,” he admitted. “I don’t like people getting close to me – that’s the football mentality – I don’t want any (offensive) lineman to touch me.
“So, I’m not with all that grappling stuff. If you can strike and get off (your opponent); I’m definitely a big fan of that.”
While he’s not so much a fan of the grappling aspect of MMA, he does see the similarities between that part of the sport and his own.
“I see a fight and a guy goes to grab somebody and you look at how the other guy leverages, it’s just like football,” Willis commented. “You would think a lot of times a guy that’s 250 pounds and comes in on a guy that’s 235 pounds and just de-cleat him, but if he’s got good pad leverage you’ll just ricochet off him, and that’s what happens in (MMA).
“A lot of times you’ll see a smaller guy going up against a bigger guy and just toss him, because he’s got good leverage.”
A big fan of fighters such as current UFC middleweight king Anderson Silva and former light-heavyweight champ Chuck Liddell, it’s another former titleholder that Willis most sees as his MMA counterpart.
“I like ‘Rampage’ (Quinton Jackson) because his whole attitude is: you’ve got to be raw, you’ve just got to come with it,” exclaimed Willis. “I’d be just like Rampage. I’ll fight you standing up and when it goes to the ground, I’d be strong enough to get out of it, but I’d want to keep you up so we can go at it.”
He has also expressed his appreciation for female fighting sensation and American Gladiator Gina “Crush” Carano in his blogging.
“I like her, because for her to be so pretty and she’s fighting like that, I’m like, ‘Wow,’” he stated. “I like that she can hold her own.
“I want to tell her to continue to whoop tail and let her know that she’s got a big, big fan in the NFL, and that’s me.”
Whether it’s playing on an NFL field, hanging at home playing video games, or watching MMA, Patrick Willis is an impact-type of athlete whose love of everything comes from the passion within his chest.
“I want to say to the fans out there thank you for your support and continuing to be behind the 49ers,” he closed out. "Our team has a lot of heart and knows it too.
“I, myself, have a lot of heart, and as long as you have heart, you’re going to make well for yourself and those around you. Always keep that in mind.”
