If Floyd Mayweather Jr. Decided to Fight MMA in the UFC...

His name if Floyd Mayweather Jr..

Fact: Floyd Mayweather Jr. is considering fighting in an MMA event

"It's definitely something he (Floyd Mayweather Jr.) is interested in, and when Floyd makes his move, obviously it's going to be a mega event," said Leonard Ellerbe, Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s advisor and best friend, back in December of 2007. "We don't have a timetable. Floyd is taking some time off, but Floyd understands what is involved. You have to take time to go out and understand what you're getting involved in, and he's ready to do that. But it's something he's definitely interested in doing."

In fact, word is that he's considering jumping in with Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. Cuban, the owner of HDNet Fights, has said that, "he ( Mayweather ) is pumped about it." Cuban also went on to say that, "he knows it won't be easy."

Well, my friends, that right there is the understatement of the year. But first, who is Floyd Mayweather Jr.?

Floyd Mayweather Jr.: The best boxer in the world

Floyd Mayweather Jr. currently possesses a professional boxing record of 39-0 with 25 (T)KO's to his credit. In sum, he's the best boxer in the world right now. Along with this, he has won six world championships in five different weight classes. What's more, he has fighting in his blood, as he is the son of Floyd Mayweather Sr., a former welterweight contender.

Mayweather is currently Ring Magazine's number one rated pound for pound boxer, a title he has deservedly held since mid 2005.

Some of the boxers that have fell at his hands include Zab Judah, Oscar De La Hoya, Jose Luis Castillo, Arturo Gatti, and Ricky Hatton amongst many others. In sum, Mayweather has unbelievably fast hands, hits hard, and his boxing skills and defense are unparalleled.

In other words, he's technically sound and athletically impressive. But MMA ain't boxing folks.

How would Floyd Mayweather Jr. do in MMA?

First, it should be noted that it looks as if Mayweather may be considering taking on De La Hoya in a rematch before transitioning to the MMA game (if that in fact is what he decides to do).

Regardless, Marcus Davis, currently ranked in the top 10 by MMAFighting.com amongst welterweight mixed martial artists in the world today, is a former boxer. Interestingly, he made the transition to MMA in part while doing The Ultimate Fighter Reality Television Show. Along with this, he said the following in an MMAFighting.com interview: "You've got to learn everything," when it comes to the transition. "You have to do everything and can't just be a boxer and try not to be taken down."

What's more, he had the following to say regarding the possibility of Mayweather's transition: "My advice (to Mayweather) is don't do it. What's going to happen is either A- he's going to have to learn a little bit and fight a bunch of stiffs (and) he's not going to get any respect. People are going to crack on him and say he's never fought anybody. Or he's going to have one of his matchmakers that knows nothing about MMA say let's take this guy. And they're going to pick some guy that's like 20-8, thinking that a 20-8 record is like a 20-8 record in boxing, and the guy is going to kill him. The first time he does that lean away- he likes to lean away and lean to the side- the first time he does that and somebody leg kicks him, he's going to say that's not so bad. (But) after two, three, four leg kicks he's not going to be able to move that leg. What are they going to do? They're going to shoot on him. So he's going to get his leg kicked a few times- that's what I would do- I wouldn't even box with him. I can box, but I wouldn't do it because he's a way better boxer than I am. So I would set up my kicks with my punches- make him think I'm going to punch- and then kick his leg, kick his leg, kick his leg, then I would fake a punch, shoot in, take him down and finish the fight. (An) easy one minute- two minute win."

Yikes! But here's the thing. There is a lot of truth in Davis's statements. The only way to transition to the MMA game is to learn the whole game. If not, you'll be exposed quickly, and that takes time. Is Mayweather willing to put in the time? Possibly. Is he willing to go through the bumps in the road?

Always hard to tell.

What if Mayweather put in one to two years training his ground game and Muay Thai skills?

Mayweather has the kind of athletic skills to make noise in any kind of fighting. There is no doubt that he would have the best hands in either the MMA featherweight or lightweight division that he would likely fight in (he's 147 pounds currently).

But boxing is very different than grappling. Could he be successful after some work? Yes. Could he become championship caliber?

Who knows. After all, being a great boxer means little in terms of your natural ability to wrestle or learn submissions. Further, we don't know how well Mayweather would pick up using his legs to kick, something that he's never had to do previously.

Thus, this is a major task.

Still, if Floyd Mayweather were to leave his ego at the door and begin training for MMA with a good camp... It's hard to imagine that he couldn't have a level of success. Does he have the stuff to be a champion? Don't know.

In the end, how Mayweather would do in MMA would have more to do with heart, leaving his ego at the door, and his natural athletic abilities than anything else. But gotta say that it would be fun to see, wouldn't it?

You're darned right it would.

REFERENCES

sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=3165552

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floyd_Mayweather_Jr

Marcus Davis Interview: It’s the battles they’ll remember