December 25, 2022 10: 00 am ET
Throughout the year, we have seen a number of UFC veterans compete in other combat sports across the world.
Since MMA encompasses a variety of martial arts, it is always interesting when MMA fighters who have competed on the largest stage try their hand at a specific combat sports discipline.
From bareknuckle boxing, traditional gloved boxing, to mixed rules contests, these UFC vets turned in impressive performances outside of MMA competition.
Scroll below to see who got our attention away from the cage in 2022 with impressive wins.
Chad Mendes def. Joshuah Alvarez at BKFC: KnuckleMania 2 – Feb. 19
Former UFC featherweight title challenger Chad Mendes returned to competition in February after his UFC exit in 2018. Bareknuckle boxing was his discipline of choice, and standing across from him was Joshuah Alvarez aka “Famez.” Despite his time away from combat sports, Mendes showed up in great shape with the same speed and power UFC fans are used to seeing from him. After settling into the fight, Mendes poured on the pressure in the fourth round to record three knockdowns and earn the TKO stoppage.
Demetrious Johnson def. Rodtang at ONE Championship: One X – March 26
Former UFC flyweight king Demetrious Johnson took on a unique challenge at ONE Championship: One X in March. “Mighty Mouse” faced Rodtang Jitmuangnon in a mixed-rules bout that alternated rounds of Muay Thai and MMA in 4 oz. gloves. While MMA was a part of this contest, Johnson had to weather Rodtang’s elite striking storm in the Muay Thai round, which is a tall order and therefore worthy of consideration on this list. Johnson ended the contest in the second round with a rear-naked choke.
Alan Belcher def. Frank Tate at BKFC Fight Night Jackson 2 – June 11
UFC middleweight veteran Alan Belcher had an incredibly active year in boxing and bareknuckle. In 2022, he picked up five total wins (3 boxing, 2 bareknuckle), finishing every opponent. Belcher’s days competing at 185 pounds are long gone – he’s now a hulking heavyweight with devastating power. His first-round finish of Frank Tate on June 11 not only produced a highlight for the finish, but the amount of liquid he knocked out of his opponent’s mouth looked unreal.
Mike Perry def. Michael Page at BKFC 27 – Aug. 20
Mike Perry has seemed to find his home in the bareknuckle boxing world after exiting the UFC last year. In 2022, “Platinum” picked up two wins in gloveless competition. In February, he notched a unanimous decision win against “The Ultimate Fighter” veteran Julian Lane. Six months later at BKFC 27, he stepped in to face former Bellator title challenger Michael “Venom” Page in an incredible back-and-forth brawl that required a “sudden death” round to determine the winner. Perry emerged victorious with a majority decision nod in one of the wildest bareknuckle bouts of the year.
John Dodson def. Ryan Benoit at BKFC 28 – Aug. 27
Bareknuckle Fighting Championship
Former UFC flyweight title challenger John Dodson tested his skills in the bareknuckle boxing ring for the first time in August. The 35-fight MMA veteran with 17 fights under the UFC banner took on Ryan Benoit at BKFC 28, and his trademark speed and accuracy was on full display. Well, for as long as it lasted, at least. Dodson only needed 40 seconds to finish the fellow UFC veteran, making for an extremely impressive bareknuckle debut in August.
Ben Rothwell def. Bobo O’Bannon at BKFC 30 – Oct. 1
Former UFC heavyweight contender Ben Rothwell’s first fight after his exit from the promotion was in the bareknuckle ring. He took on Bobo O’Bannon, and wasted little time putting his size, speed, and crushing punching power to use. He just needed 19 seconds. O’Bannon was down and out after a flurry of sharp punches from Rothwell, who then got on the mic and delivered quite the promo, leaving us all to wonder what’s ahead:
.@RothwellFighter is as exciting on the mic as he is in combat.
He’s putting the heavyweight division on notice.#BKFC30 is LIVE on #FITE: https://t.co/vmXMQist5T pic.twitter.com/zK8ceOtbtQ
— FITE (@FiteTV) October 2, 2022
Alistair Overeem def. Badr Hari at Glory Collision 4 – Oct. 8
Glory Collision 4 from the Gelredome on October 8, 2022 in Arnhem, Netherlands. (Matt Ferris / Glory)
Former UFC heavyweight title challenger Alistair Overeem returned to the kickboxing arena to settle the score with Badr Hari. The pair first met at K-1: Dynamite 2008, where Overeem won by first-round knockout. In the rematch a year later, Hari returned the favor in the same fashion. The third and perhaps final bout between the two combat sports legends saw Overeem win a unanimous decision as both men are on nearing the end of their careers.
Mark Hunt def. Sonny Bill Williams – Nov. 5
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 05: Mark Hunt looks on as Sonny Bill Williams goes down during the heavyweight fight between Sonny Bill Williams and Mark Hunt during the bout between at Aware Super Theatre on November 05, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)
Mark Hunt returned to competition after nearly two years away for a boxing match against Sonny Bill Williams. The former UFC interim heavyweight title challenger had not won a bout since June 2017, but that all changed in November. In the fourth round, the 48-year-old Hunt sent Williams, 11 years his junior, to the canvas with a combination of hooks to get the knockout win, in what is to be the final bout of his combat sports career.
Houston Alexander def. Joey Beltran at BKFC 33 – Nov. 18
Former UFC light heavyweight Houston Alexander is still picking up combat sports victories at age 50. In 2022, he fought in a pair of bareknuckle boxing bouts, and won both by stoppage. In May, Alexander made quick work of Jay Fish with a first-round knockout, but his win over fellow UFC veteran and former BKFC champ Joey Beltran in November turned heads. Since returning to action in 2021, Alexander is undefeated through three bareknuckle bouts, and told MMA Junkie he will continue to fight as long as his body allows him to compete at a high level.
Cris Cyborg def. Simone da Silva – Dec. 10
Former UFC women’s featherweight champ, current Bellator women’s featherweight champ, and all-around MMA legend Cris Cyborg laced up the boxing gloves for the first time in 2022, and picked up two wins. Her first fight against Simone da Silva in September was supposed to be her pro boxing debut, but was not officially recognized as such. Regardless, Cyborg won a unanimous decision at Fight Music Show 2. In December in the co-main event under Terence Crawford vs. David Avanesyan, Cyborg faced Bellator veteran Gabrielle Holloway. This time, the contest would be recognized by the athletic commission as a true professional bout. Cyborg turned in a performance that MMA fans recognize en route to her first pro boxing win by unanimous decision: always-forward power punching with sharp technique.