Celtics Star Jaylen Brown Considers UFC Future After Retirement

NBA All-Star discusses potential MMA career after basketball

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown recently revealed in an interview that he has discussed the possibility of pursuing a career in the UFC or boxing after retiring from the NBA. Brown mentioned having conversations with UFC president Dana White about his interest in competing in mixed martial arts or boxing following the end of his professional basketball career.

Why it matters

Brown's comments about a potential post-retirement MMA or boxing career are surprising, as crossing over from a major professional sport like the NBA to combat sports is extremely rare and challenging. If Brown were to follow through, he would be joining a small group of athletes who have made such a transition, including the likes of Brock Lesnar, Greg Hardy, and CM Punk.

The details

In the interview, Brown stated: "To be honest, I've toyed with this, and I've talked to some people; you know, maybe after my career I'd love to partake in UFC or even boxing. I've talked to Dana White about some stuff, but we'll see as things go on." Transitioning from the NBA to the UFC or professional boxing would be an immense challenge, as those sports require a completely different skillset and training regimen compared to basketball.

  • Jaylen Brown made these comments during NBA All-Star weekend in 2026.

The players

Jaylen Brown

A star player for the Boston Celtics in the NBA.

Dana White

The president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

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What they’re saying

“To be honest, I've toyed with this, and I've talked to some people; you know, maybe after my career I'd love to partake in UFC or even boxing. I've talked to Dana White about some stuff, but we'll see as things go on.”

— Jaylen Brown (twsn.net)

What’s next

It remains to be seen if Jaylen Brown will actually pursue a career in MMA or boxing after retiring from the NBA. His comments suggest he has had preliminary discussions with UFC president Dana White, but any concrete plans for a transition to combat sports have not been announced.

The takeaway

Jaylen Brown's surprising revelation about considering a post-retirement career in the UFC or boxing highlights the challenges and risks professional athletes face when attempting to cross over into completely different sports. While a few have found success, the transition is extremely difficult and the outcome is highly uncertain.