Anthony Joshua has admitted he would severely struggle in a potential UFC fight, saying that he would get his "a** kicked" in the octagon.
The British boxing star is a two-time unified world heavyweight champion in the professional ranks, as well as an Olympic gold medalist at the 2012 London games. He famously knocked out the legendary Wladimir Klitschko, and has beaten former MMA fighter Dillian Whyte during his career on the way to his first world titles.
However, he admits he would not be able to make the transition into the UFC, where elite level MMA fighters compete after working their way through the regional scene. Joshua is featured in the promotion's video game as an unlockable character, but has no interest in ever stepping into the octagon for a real fight.
During a recent YouTube video with GQ, Joshua replied: “I would get my a** kicked. All credit to them guys, but it’s not my profession and I’m going to respect them guys who have spent years putting in time, training, grappling, wrestling, stand-up, takedown, submissions."
However, Joshua is confident that if MMA's top fighters made the switch over to the ring, that he would be able to turn them over handily. UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has expressed his interest in boxing one of Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder or Joshua, and the Brit added: “It’s like them coming over to boxing, I know I would smoke them as well.”
Joshua's long-time rival Tyson Fury has frequently teased a move to the UFC, most recently offering a hybrid-rules exhibition fight with Ngannou. The pair went head-to-head in the ring at Wembley Stadium back in April after Fury knocked out Dillian Whyte, exciting fans for a potential bout where the pair would compete under boxing rules in 4oz MMA gloves, within a cage enclosure.
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He has even teased a full move into the octagon, once training with UFC middleweight Darren Till and claiming that he would be willing to make the transition. Back in 2019 as he was preparing to make his debut in the WWE against Braun Strowman, Fury told TMZ: “I’m taking over all combat sports! Whatever sport you’re in, BEWARE, because the Gypsy King is coming! I’m coming to your sport, whatever it is. I’ll be there. MMA takeover!"
Generally crossover fights between MMA stars and boxers see the UFC fighter make the move into the boxing ring, as opposed to the other way around. Conor McGregor famously fought Floyd Mayweather in 2017, while Jake Paul has taken on Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley and Anderson Silva thus far in his career.
The notable instances of boxers making the switch the other way have had varying degrees of success. James Toney came into the octagon for a one-off bout with Randy Couture in 2010, losing within seconds by submission after being taken down. However, Hall of Fame boxer Holly Holm made the switch, and ended up dethroning the legendary Ronda Rousey to become UFC bantamweight champion in 2015.
