Joe Rogan named the one NBA star who would 'f*** up' UFC fighters if he decided to train in MMA

UFC commentator Joe Rogan believes there is one superstar from another sport who could dominate inside the Octagon with the right training.

The MMA world has seen crossover stars before. The most notable was Brock Lesnar, the WWE icon who tried his hand at unscripted combat and won the UFC heavyweight title in 2009.

Another UFC heavyweight, Greg Hardy, played for the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL before crossing over into MMA, while retired former Ultimate Fighter contestant Matt Mitrione played on the gridiron for the New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings.

And Lesnar isn't the only former WWE champion to step inside the cage. In 2016, CM Punk – real name Phil Brooks – lost by submission to Micky Gall in his UFC debut. He fought one more time – a losing effort against Mike Jackson in 2018 that was later ruled a no contest – before returning to wrestling.

Joe Rogan in the commentary booth for UFC 303. Image: Getty

And in a 2017 episode of his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, the longtime UFC play-by-play commentator outlined his belief that, if he chose to pursue MMA, LeBron James would be unstoppable.

“I don’t give a f*** what kind of steroids you take, you are never going to look like that," Rogan said of the 6ft ins LA Lakers forward. "Never.

“There are human beings who have just the most unfathomable physical advantages.

"LeBron James would have an unfathomable physical advantage over someone who would have an unfathomable physical advantage over you.

“A guy like that, if he was fighting, everybody would be f***ed!

"They are lucky, they are God damn lucky there’s that much money in basketball and LeBron James got into it.”

Anthony Edwards won Gold at the Paris Olympic Games alongside Team USA basketball captain LeBron James. (Image: Getty)

If he hadn't become an NBA player, James likely would have had a future in the NFL after shining as a wide receiver at the high-school level.

Rogan is adamant "The King" could have earned a UFC crown, too.

"And people go, ‘Well, you know what, man?

"'Some things that make a great-looking basketball player wouldn't necessarily make you a great fighter.

“Listen to me. Save it. That guy's going to beat your f*ing a**, he’s a winner.

"There’s certain level of winners that can just do whatever they want.”