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Home > Blogs > Mixed Martial Arts > Archives > 2009 > September > 21 > Entry
NFL great Herschel Walker, 47, signs MMA deal
Two-time NFL Pro Bowler and 1982 Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker has signed a deal the mixed-martial-arts promotion Strikeforce and will make his pro MMA debut sometime in early 2010, the organization today announced.
Walker is 47 years old, which isn’t exactly working in his favor.
Also not working in his favor? Walker has no professional fighting experience, though Strikeforce executives say the famed running back holds a fifth degree black belt in the martial art Tae Kwon Do.
Still, from a marketing standpoint, it’s not a bad move for Strikeforce, which recently signed a deal to air quarterly shows on CBS (with the rest of its events airing on Showtime). Walker’s name alone should pull in some viewers and help ticket sales. Many major outlets, including ESPN, and the MMA media covered the story today, so it’s also providing the organization some publicity.
However, Walker isn’t anywhere ready for the sport’s top fighters, and Strikeforce officials will have to work diligently (and strategically) to find an opponent that provides a fair match-up while also maintaining some sense of legitimacy.
Walker isn’t the only former NFL player to try MMA. Four players (including former No. 1 draft pick Marcus Jones) appear on the current 10th season of the UFC’s reality show, “The Ultimate Fighter,” on Spike TV And Others such as former Cincinnati Bengal Michael Westbrook and Indianapolis Colt Rex Richards have actually had pretty successful careers.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment | Categories: Michael Westbrook
Comments
By kenneth candler
September 21, 2009 8:12 PM | Link to this
so who will be the next person in line to waste his or her money?By coach kennedy
September 22, 2009 9:28 AM | Link to this
Ken-ken Herschel is a good friend of mine. I think he will GET KNOCKED OUT!!!By Janie
September 24, 2009 11:10 AM | Link to this
My husband would be a perfect match for Walker! He is 49 and a black belt in Shuri Ryu karate. We are starting a school and I thought a seniors match would be great! There are a lot of older guys out there that would love a chance to compete. I watch mixed martial arts all the time and I know my husband could kick some serious butt! Come on!