NFL legend Shannon Sharpe had a few interesting hypothetical questions for UFC President Dana White, who joined him for a podcast episode. What would the UFC look like if a few NBA superstars starred in it? The first few figures that might flash in front of your eyes are Shaq, David Robinson, or any other muscular center in the NBA. Dana White was of the same lines, but Shannon Sharpe was doubtful about a few choices of the UFC icon. The first one to get questioned was Shaquille O’Neal. 

How would Shaq look inside a ring? It’s safe to say a 7ft, 300-pound figure would look deadly in an MMA fight, but Shannon Sharpe does not believe so. Surprisingly, he declared the Los Angeles Lakers legend to be unfit due to his huge figure. White said, “Basketball these days is tough because they ain’t tough as they used to be.” So White went on to choose a few stars from the ’90s, which also included Michael Jordan. 

Anyhow, like any other fan of the sport, White endorsed Shaq. Sharpe replied, “Man, Shaq too big. Shaq is 7’1, probably 350 now.” White was shocked, but he did not give up, “Imagine Shaq on top of you though. Shaq is his heyday, we are not talking about Shaq today…When you see Shaq back in the day, you know, the speed, the agility, the power.” Sharpe had a reply for this too!

The 2x NFL champion said, “But you got a limit. You can only be 265. Shaq was 265 (pounds) at high school.” White was speechless for a second but he added, “Now I gotta pick weight classes? Holy s***. If I was just talking about guys that could kick your a**, Shaq would definitely be one of them.”

Who are the few other NBA icons that Dana White picked? Why was Michael Jordan included? 

With the answers that White gave, it’s evident how big of a basketball fan he is. Before Shaq, he first chose Metta World Peace aka Ron Artest. If you are wondering why, it’s because of his stinging punches during the Malice in the Palace. Artest was fined and suspended for one entire season for throwing punches at the fans. 

White also chose Glen Davis, a former Boston Celtics center, known for his huge figure. Big Baby was 289 pounds and 6’9, which makes him one of the top picks for UFC. White surprisingly chose Jordan as well, but he had a reason for it. 

White shared, “Jordan is a killer. I’ve spoken about Michael Jordan many times”. The UFC President firmly believes a fighter must have a killer instinct, and as a fan of the Chicago Bulls legend, he sided with Jordan. So, White’s list looks solid, although Sharpe believes Shaq should not be there. 

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the Reese-Clark rivalry and more, watch this video: