Over the last few years, a swarm of MMA fighters have tried their luck in boxing as they search for big paydays that are rarely available in the UFC.
Former dual-weight champion Conor McGregor famously banked $100million [£86m] when he made his boxing debut against Floyd Mayweather, arguably the greatest fighter of all time, in 2017.
McGregor is a UFC legend and once crossed over to boxing for a fight with Floyd Mayweather
Since then, former MMA champions Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort have successfully transitioned to boxing.
The Brazilian duo have picked up big wins and big money in their respective fights against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Evander Holyfield.
However, many other former UFC fighters have found it tough in the squared circle. Tyron Woodley and Ben Askren were both embarrassingly knocked out by YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, who has now turned his attention to 'The Spider'.
Elsewhere, former UFC heavyweight champion, Frank Mir, was easily outpointed by Steve Cunningham before being viciously knocked out by Kubrat Pulev in 2021.
While MMA fighters often cross over into boxing, it's rare to see someone leave the ring behind in favour of the Octagon – although it has been done.
Former UFC bantamweight champion Holly Holm is most well-known for knocking out Ronda Rousey in 2015 but she's also a Hall of Fame boxer who won world titles in three different weight divisions.
Vitor Belfort battered boxing legend Evander Holyfield
Former UFC welterweight champion, Tyron Woodley, got KO'd by Jake Paul
Not everyone has been as successful though, James Toney was easily handled by UFC legend Randy Couture back in 2010 and Claressa Shields is currently 1-1 during the early stages of her foray into MMA.
It seems inevitable that at least a few more boxers will try their luck in MMA sooner rather than later, especially when you consider some of them already have the skills that could help them be successful in the sport.
So talkSPORT deemed it time to look at who could be next to make the jump...
Claressa Shields is trying to follow in the footsteps of Holly Holm
James Toney was easily beaten when he fought in the UFC
TYSON FURY
WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has been flirting with the idea of fighting in MMA for years after linking up with some of the best UFC fighters to train.
Back in 2019, 'The Gypsy King' worked on his elbows and knees with UFC middleweight contender Darren Till, who expected Fury to take an MMA fight after their session.
During that time, Fury expressed an interest in crossing over for fights against the likes of former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic and the man who went on to dethrone him, Francis Ngannou, but noted he must first work on his ground game.
"I've always been interested in fighting, it's where I come from. Whether it's boxing, kickboxing, MMA, it's all like contact sports isn't it," he said on The True Geordie podcast in 2019.
Tyson Fury recently trained with UFC legend Nick Diaz
He called out Francis Ngannou after beating Dillian Whyte earlier this year
"I think I'm athletic enough to do any fight sport for sure – nobody can tell me it's too dangerous. Their game ain't to go standing up with me and punching because there's only one winner.
"And me with them four-ounce gloves on, I'd smash them all but, they're gonna try to take me to the floor. So if I put the time and effort into not getting took to the floor, then I think I can chin them."
Earlier this year, Fury was pictured working on his jiu-jitsu with MMA legend Nick Diaz after calling for a hybrid rules fight with UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.
At the moment, he seems focused on continuing his boxing career but don't rule out an eventual move to MMA. The 6ft 9in boxer would be a handful for anyone in MMA, especially if he's able to get to grips with grappling over the next few years.
TERENCE CRAWFORD
Terence Crawford is a former undisputed light-welterweight champion and current titleholder at welterweight who will soon fight Errol Spence.
However, things could've been so much different if the UFC was at its current level when he was coming up.
'Bud' was raised in a wrestling family and was a talented grappler during his formative years before putting it aside to focus on boxing.
Despite that, his sons are nationally ranked wrestlers today, and Crawford remains very much involved in the sport.
Wrestling is in Terence Crawford's blood
'Bud' has previously expressed an interest in fighting Conor McGregor in MMA
Over the years, several videos of Crawford wrestling with his friends have emerged online but the most impressive was when a grappler from Kazakhstan spent some time in his gym.
The boxing world champion body slammed his opponent and got the pin during a friendly grappling match – all while wearing socks and sandals!
Crawford has previously expressed an interest in crossing over into MMA for a fight with Conor McGregor and he was supremely confident in his ability to compete with 'Notorious' in the Octagon.
"To keep it real, Conor's not a real good wrestler. He may kick the s*** out of you," he told TMZ in 2020.
"You gotta worry about them kicks to the head and them elbows more than him grabbing you. It'd be other things that you'd be having to worry about other than wrestling you."
DILLIAN WHYTE
Before transitioning to heavyweight boxing and becoming a top contender, Dillian Whyte competed in both kickboxing and MMA as a teenager.
In 2008, before his amateur boxing career got going, Whyte turned to MMA for one night only as we were matched against 43-year-old Mark Stroud who quickly felt 'The Body Snatcher's' power.
Within the first fiery exchange, Whyte smashed Stroud with a right hand which saw him fall to the canvas.
The man who has recently fought Fury in front of 94,000 people at Wembley Stadium followed up with another strike that promoted the referee to stop the fight after just 12 seconds.
Dillian Whyte is 1-0 in MMA
The Whyte vs Ngannou virtual press conference was never released
Whyte was once briefly linked to a fight with Ngannou, as the pair infamously took part in a virtual press conference that never aired because UFC president Dana White took issue with it.
During that time, the British boxer expressed his willingness to return to MMA for a fight with Ngannou, who he believes was scared of him and would be an easy match-up.
"I believe I can beat him in both styles. I can beat him in MMA and in boxing. I don't think he's anything special, whichever they want," Whyte told Sky Sports in 2020.
"The guy is scared, so if doing MMA makes him feel better. If we have a fight in the cage first, he might take it, but if we offer him a boxing fight, then he might say, 'No, no, no.'
"If he wants it, he can get it."
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