Former NFL linebacker says UFC's 'star effect' doesn't work on him

Anthony Wint, the former New York Jets linebacker making his UFC transition, says his professional football background has insulated him from the typical star-struck mentality that can affect fighters new to mixed martial arts. The undefeated heavyweight (8-0) is set to face Lucas Armand (6-0) in his second UFC appearance at UFC 332 on October 3 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

Wint has trained alongside several top-ranked and rising UFC fighters including Esteban Ribovics, Gregory Rodrigues, Anthony Hernandez, Reinier de Ridder, and Roman Dolidze, yet he remains unfazed by their prominence. His NFL experience, where he was surrounded by elite athletes and public figures, has given him perspective on celebrity culture and its pitfalls.

"I played in the NFL and I'm used to being around the stars," Wint explained. "I'm used to people seeing me as a celebrity. And I've done countless rounds with some of these top guys. So you miss this star effect of, 'Dang, I'm in the UFC,' because I already had that in the NFL and I saw how it worked and it didn't work."

Wint earned his UFC contract on Dana White's Contender Series in August with a lightning-fast 34-second finish, then made his Octagon debut just 11 days later at UFC Sacramento, where he scored a first-round submission victory. His rapid ascent and composed demeanor suggest a fighter focused on climbing the heavyweight ranks through experience and execution rather than getting caught up in the sport's spotlight.