Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons / ZekeDane
Matt Riddle had an interview with MMAJunkie.com and talked about his life after MMA and how many fighters are making the transition to the sport of professional wrestling. You can read the full article by going here , but below are some excerpts:
On missing the sport of MMA:
“I do miss it,” Riddle told MMAjunkie Radio. “I watch the fights. I watched Tyron Woodley dominate this week. I feel bad for the fighters and I know exactly – things are a little different now – but I know my world when I was in MMA, everything was tough. Life was just so tough. Everything was a struggle. Bills were a struggle. Even when you’re on top in the UFC, you only get paid a couple times a year. I’m just really glad to have that all behind me and focus on my craft.”
On fighters making that transition to pro wrestling:
“There’s a lot of people making the transition and doing it well,” Riddle said. “There are other guys that are doing great – and women – you’ve got Ronda and Shayna (Baszler), Jessamyn Duke. You’ve got Tom Lawlor, you’ve got me. There’s a lot of guys like ‘King Mo,’ for example, who is a big fan of professional wrestling, world-class fighter, world-class athlete, but I don’t think he’s the greatest pro wrestler. It’s more than moves and athleticism. It’s that charisma.”
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Brock Lesnar Daniel Cormier UFC 226
Brock Lesnar & Daniel Cormier @ UFC 226
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 07: Brock Lesnar watches the fights during the UFC 226 event inside T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Brock Lesnar & Daniel Cormier @ UFC 226
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 07: Brock Lesnar confronts Daniel Cormier after his UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 226 event inside T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Brock Lesnar & Daniel Cormier @ UFC 226
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 07: Brock Lesnar confronts Daniel Cormier after his UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 226 event inside T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Brock Lesnar & Daniel Cormier @ UFC 226
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 07: Daniel Cormier confronts Brock Lesnar in the Octagon after his UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 226 event inside T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Brock Lesnar & Daniel Cormier @ UFC 226
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 07: Brock Lesnar (L) confronts Daniel Cormier (R) after his heavyweight championship fight against Stipe Miocic at T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cormier won by first round knockout. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
Brock Lesnar & Daniel Cormier @ UFC 226
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 07: Brock Lesnar (R) challenges Daniel Cormier after Cormier's heavyweight championship fight against Stipe Miocic at T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cormier won by first round knockout. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
Brock Lesnar & Daniel Cormier @ UFC 226
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 07: Daniel Cormier (R) addresses with Brock Lesnar after winning his heavyweight championship fight against Stipe Miocic at T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cormier won by first round knockout. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
Brock Lesnar & Daniel Cormier @ UFC 226
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 07: Brock Lesnar confronts Daniel Cormier in their UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 226 event inside T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Brock Lesnar & Daniel Cormier @ UFC 226
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 07: Brock Lesnar confronts Daniel Cormier in their UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 226 event inside T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Brock Lesnar & Daniel Cormier @ UFC 226
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 07: Brock Lesnar confronts Daniel Cormier in their UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 226 event inside T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Brock Lesnar & Daniel Cormier @ UFC 226
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 07: Daniel Cormier (L) challenges Brock Lesnar (R) after winning his heavyweight championship fight against Stipe Miocic at T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cormier won by first round knockout. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
Brock Lesnar & Daniel Cormier @ UFC 226
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 07: Brock Lesnar confronts Daniel Cormier after his UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 226 event inside T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Brock Lesnar & Daniel Cormier @ UFC 226
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 07: Brock Lesnar confronts Daniel Cormier after his UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 226 event inside T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Brock Lesnar & Daniel Cormier @ UFC 226
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 07: Daniel Cormier confronts Brock Lesnar after his UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 226 event inside T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Brock Lesnar & Daniel Cormier @ UFC 226
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 07: Daniel Cormier confronts Brock Lesnar after his UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 226 event inside T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)