If Kurt Angle said yes to Dana White, the WWE legend and Kimbo Slice would have faced off in TUF 10. Angle recently revealed that he was close to getting into the UFC, but he himself decided to stay away from the promotion. He received three offers from the world’s biggest MMA promotion, but he was hesitant to take the chance. The Olympic wrestling gold medalist is set to be featured in a new documentary titled ‘Angle’ premiering on Peacock on September 2, 2023. In the lead-up to the release, Angle shared insights with ESPN, discussing the multiple instances in which he almost stepped into the UFC octagon as a fighter.
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He detailed that the first offer came to him before Dana White was the UFC president, and back then he chose not to be a part of the promotion as he was offered just $15,000 for each fight. However, thirteen years later, he received yet another offer from the UFC. This time it’s Dana White who wanted him in the promotion. Let’s delve further into the story of Angle and how he almost became a UFC fighter.
The tremendous offer Kurt Angle received from Dana White
In 2009, the UFC president, Dana White, approached the WWE legend. He wanted Angle to face Kimbo Slice in the 10th season of The Ultimate Fighter. Angle said to ESPN MMA about the 14-year-old offer, “I considered it and I said, ‘Well, Dana, you don’t pay those guys to compete on TV.’ And he said, ‘I know, but I’ll give you a half-million to be on the show. And then I’ll give you this contract, a six-fight deal regardless of whether you win it, The Ultimate Fighter, or not. You’ll have a contract when it’s over.‘”
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Talking on the same topic, the WWE Hall of Famer later confessed that he seriously considered the idea of joining the UFC. However, back then, he was 41 years old and had broken his neck five times. Angle admitted that he started training for MMA but soon realized that his prime years were gone and he couldn’t do well in it.
Later, he wanted to join the UFC in 2011 after getting inspired by Brock Lesnar. Unfortunately, he failed the medical tests and lost the opportunity to become a UFC fighter. When fans came across the offer that Angle received, they were quick to react.
Fans react to the WWE legend’s decision
Some of the fans pointed out how Angle had broken his neck. A fan even went on to praise him by mentioning how he achieved great heights even after suffering a broken neck.
- “With a broken freakin neck”
- “Dude angle won a legit wrestling gold medal in the Olympics with a actual broken neck, that is INSANELY impressive, he could’ve been champ easily”
One of the fans wondered how the 10th season of The Ultimate Fighter would be completely different if Angle was a part of the same.
- “Dana said this is true but said he couldn’t pass a physical can you imagine perc angle going up against brendan schaub kimbo slice and Roy Nelson”
Some of the fans felt that it would have been great if the WWE Hall of Famer had joined the UFC. They believed that he had the full potential to be a great fighter and would have dominated his opponents easily.
- “Perc angle in the UFC would of be crazy”
- “My boy Yerc angle would’ve been undisputed”
- “Perc Kurt angle would dominate easily”
- “Oh man that would been awesome”
From the reactions of the fans, it is clear that they felt it would have been great if Angle had taken the offer from White and joined the UFC. However, things took a different turn, and he was never able to throw his punches in the UFC octagon. What are your thoughts about the offer Kurt Angle received from the UFC? Let us know in the comments below.
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