UFC: Shaq the basketball legend to fight in mixed martial arts ?
By Gareth A Davies Boxing and MMA Last updated: June 11th, 2011
UFC president Dana White believes Shaquille O’Neal could either fight in MMA, or be involved as an ambasador of the sport after retiring from basketball. O’Neal helped the UFC to get the first season of The Ultimate Fighter off the ground.
The NBA star has been in MMA training for years. “Shaq loves [MMA], Shaq’s been training for a long time,” White said on ESPN’s FirstTake. “Actually, a week before he retired, Shaq called me and he wants to be involved in the UFC somehow. He’s always been a good friend to us and I’m sure you’re going to see Shaq around the UFC a lot.
“He said, ‘Listen, I’m gonna have a lot of free time on my hands. I love this sport, I want to get involved. I want to be a part of it.’
“He’s not just coming in [at the last-minute], he’s been a part of it for a long time,” White said. “Shaq helped us launch the first season of The Ultimate Fighter. He’s always supported us and has always been a good friend.
“So now that he wants to be involved, I’m more than happy to get him.”
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