With his convincing victory over Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk has inched closer to cementing his legacy among the greatest boxers of all time. As he basks in his triumph, speculation about his next move has already begun. Daniel Dubois’ cameo has sparked talks of a potential rematch, which many consider the logical next step.

While he returns to spend time with his loved ones, new stories about the humble Ukrainian champion’s journey and training methods continue to emerge. One recurring theme is Usyk’s multi-disciplinary approach to training, which incorporates techniques from various combat sports. ESPN threw a poser for the followers: What would happen if the unified heavyweight champion were to face an MMA champion in the octagon? It didn’t take much time before fans rushed in with their viewpoints.

“Imagine if the heavyweight champ took on some MMA champions in the Octagon 😳,” read the message on ESPN Ringside’s Instagram post. Among the pictures they shared, two featured Usyk’s images alongside MMA stars Jon Jones and Alex Pereira.

It also featured Usyk’s comments from a conversation with Mario Lopez in Los Angeles. Reflecting on his unconventional training approach, Usyk shared, “It’s good. Our wrestling, Jiu Jitsu, and Judo, like Sambo. Good, like a mechanic. It’s good like punch because a lot of people have only hands. I’m training in judo and kickboxing.” Lopez was visibly impressed by the champion’s openness to exploring other disciplines.

Movement across the ring remains the hallmark of Oleksandr Usyk’s fighting style. However, it’s an energy-intensive technique. But time and again Usyk has displayed that he can move around till the last bell of the fight. By that time, most of his opponents often gas out.

To master such skills, it is critical that some non-traditional elements, such as studying other combat forms, are also incorporated in the training. Let’s hear what some of the fans had to say.

The Usyk-MMA Crossover: What Fans Think

This fan was confident in Usyk’s power. They said, “Usyk with 4-6 oz gloves would break anyone’s face in half once he connects.” Yes, it’s true: lighter gloves amplify the impact of punches. However, MMA fighters incorporate techniques that train them to counter power strikes.

Another fan expressed curiosity about how Usyk’s boxing skills might fare in MMA. “If that’s true, I want to see him in MMA; fr fr, his striking would be a problem for heavyweight,” they said. However, unlike the fighters in the lower division, the movement of heavyweight fighters might be limited. So won’t they rather prefer taking their opponents down than going for knockout strikes?

This user imposed supreme faith on the Ukrainian champion. “He would kill Alex Pereira. I’m just saying,” the user said. But one should remember, that most of Pereira’s wins came via knockouts, thus emphasizing his overwhelming inclination towards the striking forms.

“Poatan would make a clown of him in the cage,” stressed this fan, however. There’s a reason why boxing and mixed martial arts are dissimilar combat sports. “Completely different sports,” as the fan asserted further. Unlike boxing, MMA incorporates strikes using knees, legs, and elbows, along with grappling techniques such as wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), which might be unfamiliar territory for a pure boxer.

This follower voiced a concern. They said, “This is cool, but he’s too old to make a valid transition to the highest level of MMA.” There’s some truth in it since Usyk will turn 38 on January 17. Putting aside MMA, even by boxing standards he is in the later phase of his career.

Oleksandr Usyk isn’t the first boxer to incorporate diverse combat styles into his training.

His friend Terence Crawford is another fine example. The switch hitter’s wrestling background, stemming from a family of wrestlers, has played a pivotal role in shaping his boxing career. While Crawford chose boxing over wrestling, his exposure to grappling arts has undeniably enhanced his skill set.

What’s your take? Could the Ukrainian champion hold his own in the world of MMA, or should he continue to dominate the boxing ring where he’s already a master?