Former NFL player reveals moment he knew MMA was his future

Former football player Anthony Wint recently opened up about the moment he realized mixed martial arts was his next career path.

Wint, who emerged victorious in his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut at UFC Sacramento, recently reflected on his transition from football to MMA after the Covid-19 pandemic during an appearance on the “Deep Waters” podcast.

Anthony Wint explains how early grappling success convinced him to commit to fighting
Wint recalled working with veteran manager Malki Kawa before transitioning to MMA. Kawa manages several prominent fighters and Wint remembers seeing a picture of Jon Jones in his office.

“I didn't know Malki did fighting,” Wint said. “I remember going up his stairs and seeing the picture of Jon Jones. I was like, damn, you know Jon Jones? He's like, I manage Jon Jones.”

Wint was initially headed toward the CFL, but the 2020 season was canceled because of the Covid-19 pandemic. During that period, Kawa encouraged him to consider MMA, claiming he could become a world champion. Wint eventually made his way to MMA Masters, where he began testing himself against established fighters in the gym.

“When I started grappling those guys, Miguel Baeza was there; Colby Covington comes later,” Wint said. “But they have a lot of big dudes who've been doing it for a long time and I'm dominating them. I don't know the submissions, but I know how to do it.”

That experience convinced Wint that MMA was more than just a temporary move. He also credited his competitive nature for keeping him in the sport. Once he started fighting, he found it difficult to walk away because he did not want to accept defeat.

“Once I started, I knew I was in it,” he said. “The first time I got into my first amateur fight and I got a W, I knew I was stuck in it. Fighting is a sport where once you get into it, it's one of those sports where you're the one who has to make the decision. I can't end it on a loss.”

Anthony Wint explains the moment he decided to switch from football to MMA

"Once I started, I knew I was in it." pic.twitter.com/myJqwjRZv4— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) August 24, 2026