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Raiders' Maxx Crosby Leaves Door Open for UFC Heavyweight Title
The Pro Bowl defensive end says he's not ruling out a future career change to MMA.
Feb. 7, 2026 at 10:55am
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Las Vegas Raiders star defensive end Maxx Crosby revealed in an interview that UFC president Dana White has predicted Crosby could become UFC heavyweight champion by 2030 or 2031 if he makes the jump to MMA. While Crosby acknowledged the transition would be extremely difficult, he didn't completely close the door on the possibility, saying "if it makes sense at the time and it's in my heart and my soul that I want to go out there and go compete, it might just happen."
Why it matters
Crosby is one of the NFL's elite pass rushers, making the Pro Bowl in 2021. If he were to actually make the switch to MMA, it would be a highly unusual and unprecedented move for a star NFL player in their prime. It would also be a major storyline for both the UFC and the Raiders organization.
The details
Crosby, who is a big fan of the UFC and has sparred with fighter Sean Strickland, said he loves fighting and believes he has the right mentality, athleticism, power and speed to potentially succeed in MMA. However, he acknowledged the difficulty of the transition, especially given his body has already been through a lot during his NFL career, and he'll be 29 years old in August.
- Crosby will turn 29 years old in August 2026.
The players
Maxx Crosby
A Pro Bowl defensive end for the Las Vegas Raiders who is considering a potential future career change to the UFC.
Dana White
The president and CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Sean Strickland
A professional MMA fighter who has sparred with Maxx Crosby in the past.
What they’re saying
“If it makes sense at the time and it's in my heart and my soul that I want to go out there and go compete, it might just happen.”
— Maxx Crosby, NFL Player (CBS Sports)
“Maxx Crosby will be UFC heavyweight champion by 2030 or 2031 if he makes the jump.”
— Dana White, UFC President and CEO (CBS Sports)
The takeaway
While the idea of an NFL star making the transition to MMA is intriguing, the reality is that it would be an extremely difficult challenge for Maxx Crosby given the physical toll his body has already taken in the NFL. If he were to seriously pursue this path, he would need to carefully consider the risks and make a full commitment to the sport of MMA.
