Mixed Martial Arts or MMA has entered popular culture due to the popularity of UFC. UFC and its many personalities, such as Conor McGregor, have brought MMA to the forefront of the sport, selling out arenas and commanding huge audiences on television.
It has raised awareness of MMA, allowing people from all walks of life to enjoy the benefits of the sport for their personal fitness and mental health. MMA has even infiltrated the celebrity lifestyle, with many a-listers taking part in the sport either privately or competing in local tournaments.
It might be a while before we see celebrities compete in UFC in a match of the ilk of McGregor and his return to action against Michael Chandler, where McGregor is the favorite in sports betting in Canada with odds to win at -110.
Make no doubt about it, Dana White will be eyeing opportunities to get celebrities involved in the UFC shortly, so it might not be long before familiar names from the world of Hollywood are featured in the betting odds for UFC Fight Nights, perhaps even as an undercard for a McGregor bout. Here are two names that you can look out for.
Tom Hardy
Hardy is perhaps most famous for his role in The Dark Knight Rises as Bane, where he did show an aptitude for combat skills, breaking the back of Christian Bale’s Batman. However, he has shown a passion for MMA beyond the screen by taking up Brazilian Ju-Jitsu as a hobby.
The 45-year-old has taken his passion to new levels by acquiring a blue belt, highlighting his dedication to MMA. Hardy has even competed in tournaments at a local level, recording victories in Milton Keynes and Wolverhampton.
He showed his range by securing two submission victories, impressing attendees with his skill under pressure. Hardy is a household name that would command an audience at an MMA event, although it remains to be seen whether he would relish showcasing his jiu-jitsu skills on a larger scale. He may still wish to hone his craft locally before even thinking about taking on the mantle. Perhaps a charity event could be in the offing rather than a traditional UFC or MMA bout.
Ashton Kutcher
Kutcher is a name that everyone knows due to his starring role in That 70s Show and Two and A Half Men along with being the host of Punk’d. The 45-year-old is also passionate about mixed martial arts, specifically Brazilian Ju-Jitsu which he has practiced for over 10 years. Kutcher has gradually worked his way through his belts, attaining his brown belt in 2019. Trainer Rigan Machado has hailed Kutcher’s dedication to his craft, spending hours building up his skills to a high level to secure his brown belt.
Unlike Hardy, Kutcher prefers to do the majority of his fighting away from the spotlight of crowds. He has fought several quality BJJ fighters in private, which has been filmed but taking the next step to compete at a high level would be a surprise for Kutcher. He might be tempted by charity bout, but it would take something special to convince Kutcher to compete in a UFC event given how private he has been about his MMA lifestyle.
Looking Ahead
Kutcher and Hardy are just two examples of celebrities that have taken up MMA, specifically BJJ. There are many more well-known figures that have also taken up the craft for several reasons. Wiz Khalifa, Mario Lopez and even Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg have also been active in the MMA world. Therefore, it might not be long before we see a famous face competing in a UFC Fight Night.