At one level in his prime, Wesley Snipes was once certainly one of the largest actors on the face of the planet. The man had a string of hit motion pictures, and while he had some on-set incidents and even an alleged altercation with Mike Tyson, Snipes nonetheless forged an outstanding run on the big display years again.
Years in the past, whispers of Snipes getting into the UFC have been being passed round, but nothing ever got here to fruition with the rumored bout. Fortunately, details have emerged some of these years later, and the tale behind it all is one that is almost onerous to believe.
So, how close did Wesley Snipes come to fighting in the UFC? Let’s take a deeper dive and hear what other people have had to say.
Snipes Was A Huge Action Star
The history of motion movies is filled with a couple of performers who were ready to do great things while the adrenaline was cranked up, and in his top, Wesley Snipes was a big action celebrity. Sure, he may possibly perform a little bit of the entirety, but Snipes did remarkable paintings in the motion style.
During his peak years in leisure, the actor would star in primary action motion pictures like Demolition Man, New Jack City, Passenger 57, and extra. The Blade franchise used to be especially profitable for Snipes, and he was really forward of his time whilst main that franchise to box administrative center success.
Now, action stars look macho on the large display screen, but other folks have puzzled just how difficult these dudes are when the cameras aren’t rolling and when the whole lot isn’t scripted. Turns out, there was once a point when Wesley Snipes was going to cross toe-to-toe with anyone in the UFC.
He Was Going To Fight Jean Claude Van Damme
So, why would Wesley Snipes want to step into the Octagon?
Per TheMacLife, “In 2005 Snipes was once in trouble with the IRS and his control crew approached the UFC with the money-spinning idea of getting Snipes compete in a one-off bout in the Octagon.”
Money issues apart, it additionally will have been an opportunity for Snipes to show the world that he used to be extra than just an motion famous person who pretends to be difficult on the big screen. Nevertheless, Snipes was once completely down to compete in the UFC, and the opponent that used to be initially picked out was fellow action famous person, Jean-Claude Van Damme.
This, however, wasn’t something that interested Campbell McClaren, who was once still serving as a UFC legit. McClaren was once interested in Snipes competing in opposition to someone who used to be extra related.
Instead of getting into the Octagon in opposition to Van Damme, Snipes can be introduced a struggle against none other than Joe Rogan.
He Nearly Fought Joe Rogan In The UFC
According to Rogan, “So he said ‘would you battle Joe Rogan?’ This is when [American sport display] Fear Factor used to be on. And [Snipes] mentioned ‘Yup, let’s do it.’ So they came to me, and I went ‘How much cash?’ And then they started talking, then I mentioned ‘OK, I’ll do it.’ And they said, ‘Are you serious?’ And I go, ‘Yeah, I’ll struggle that guy.’ So I was like, ‘Ok, let’s see what happens.’ So then there used to be a number of adjustments to the contract and it used to be supposed to be 50/50, then it changed and I mentioned okay to that too. I stated whatever, let’s just do it. Let’s do exactly it.”
That’s right, Rogan used to be 100% on board with the battle itself. This would have been an enchanting fight to make, making an allowance for that fanatics would have had no concept what to expect. Rogan, then again, is a respectable martial artist and knew that if the struggle hit the mat, he would have a large benefit.
“I simply didn’t assume that any one who didn’t know any jiu-jitsu may possibly be told it quick. I used to be already a brown belt via then, and I simply knew what took place when a brown belt fights a white belt. I just can’t consider. I know how to stand up, and although I wasn’t excellent at striking anymore like I was when I was a kid, I’m good sufficient to know what to no longer do and where to now not be. And if I get a hold of someone who doesn’t know jiu-jitsu, I’m beautiful certain I’m choking the (expletive) out of them,” Rogan mentioned.
The combat, then again, by no means got here to cross, and it has since lived on as a what-could-have-been match. Snipes would possibly have a pedigree in motion motion pictures, but Rogan’s combat sports past has were given to give him the edge here.
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