Former NFL player reveals moment he knew MMA was his future

Anthony Wint, a former NFL prospect, has revealed how he pivoted from football to mixed martial arts during the COVID-19 pandemic and ultimately discovered his calling in the UFC. Wint was originally headed toward the Canadian Football League when the 2020 season was canceled due to the pandemic. During that downtime, veteran manager Malki Kawa, who represents high-profile fighters including Jon Jones, encouraged him to explore MMA and pursue a shot at becoming a world champion.

Wint began training at MMA Masters, where he tested himself against established fighters. Competing against fighters like Miguel Baeza and Colby Covington, he found immediate success on the grappling mat despite lacking formal submission training. "When I started grappling those guys, I'm dominating them. I don't know the submissions, but I know how to do it," Wint recalled. That early dominance convinced him that MMA was a legitimate career path, not a temporary detour.

His competitive drive sealed the deal. After securing a victory in his first amateur bout, Wint knew he was committed to fighting long-term. "Once I started, I knew I was in it," he explained. "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." This mentality—refusing to walk away on a defeat—has kept him grinding in the sport. Wint eventually made his UFC debut at UFC Sacramento, where he emerged victorious, validating the leap from football to combat sports.