Size offers no guarantee of safety inside the space of an elite mixed martial artist. Two-time UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski recently went head-to-head with fellow Australian Jordan Mailata—the 6-foot-8 Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman and Super Bowl winner—in a series of cross-sport challenges.
UFC Skill vs. NFL Power
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Punching Power & Body Shots: The matchup started on a punching power machine before the NFL giant voluntarily stepped up to absorb hard body shots from the UFC veteran.
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Takedown and Submission: Despite Mailata effortlessly lifting Volkanovski off the ground at one point to highlight the massive physical mismatch, the UFC champion took the lineman off his feet and locked in a submission choke.
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The NFL Protection Drill: The final challenge allowed Mailata to utilize his football skill set to guard a dummy, yet Volkanovski still outmaneuvered the giant to gain the upper hand.
Despite the physical difference, Mailata remained a great sport throughout, playfully questioning why he had agreed to step onto the mat with a UFC champion in the first place.
