Dana White says Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby could be UFC world champion

Dana White believes NFL players possess the physical tools to become UFC champions if they trained mixed martial arts from childhood. Speaking at the Dana White Contender Series 2026 post-fight press conference, White singled out Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby—a personal friend—as an example of an elite athlete who could have reached the pinnacle of combat sports with early MMA training. "Imagine if Maxx Crosby trained in MMA since he was a kid, he would be a world champion right now," White said. "And I believe that to my core."

White's comments came moments after Anthony Wint, a former New York Jets linebacker, earned a UFC contract by finishing Matthew Adams in 34 seconds at Week 1 of the Contender Series 2026. The decisive display of ground-and-pound impressed White enough that he is targeting Wint for the UFC Sacramento card on August 22, pending Wint's availability—the fighter has said he will remain in Las Vegas until his first UFC bout is scheduled.

Wint joins a growing list of football players who have successfully transitioned to the UFC. Some, like Ovince St. Preux, Eryk Anders, and Dominick Reyes, played only college football before switching to MMA. Others—Greg Hardy, Austen Lane, Zac Pauga, and Matt Mitrione—played in the NFL before making the jump. Josh Hokit represents a more recent example: signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Francisco 49ers in 2020 and briefly rostered by the Arizona Cardinals in 2022, Hokit has since made a UFC debut and accumulated three finishes in four wins, fast-tracking to prominence in the sport.