Tim Tebow Trains in Mixed Martial Arts with UFC Heavyweight Brendan Schaub: Fan's Reaction
Yahoo! Contributor Network
By Eric Holden | Yahoo! Contributor Network – Sat, Jul 7, 2012 12:02 PM EDT
We're probably not going to see New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow testing his skills in a UFC octagon anytime soon, but Yahoo! Sports reports that he has been training in mixed martial arts with UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub at the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Training Center in California.
Is Tebow A UFC Fan?
I can't say this move really surprises me, as Tebow is a noted fan of the UFC. The Jets' quarterback posted two tweets to Schaub regarding his matchup against Ben Rothwell at UFC 145 in April.
Tebow (@timtebow) tweeted "@BrendanSchaub I'm so proud of you brother...all of your hard work will pay off tonight. #FinishStrong."
After Schaub lost, Tebow posted ""@BrendanSchaub life is not about when you get knocked down but about having the perseverance to get back up. Proud of you brother #Heart."
College Football Ties
His friendship with Schaub apparently stems from the UFC star's college football career with the Colorado Buffaloes, while Tebow was still playing college ball in Florida.
Tebow was smart to dip into the tough waters of mixed martial arts, as the sport features some of the best-conditioned athletes in the world. MMA ties into football, as many of the same skills can be honed by training in the sport.
There's a lot of hand-to-hand combat on the football field, and mixed martial arts training provides helpful skills like balance, leverage, coordination and quick lateral movement, which can be utilized in a football game.
New York Jets cornerback Kyle Wilson, along with a slew of other notable NFL stars like Clay Matthews, Jared Allen, Shawne Merriman and Antonio Cromartie, train in mixed martial arts over the off-season, so it's really not that odd that Tebow jumped in on it.
Kyle Wilson's Take
"There's a lot of hand-to-hand action out there," Wilson said in an Inside MMA interview. "When the receivers try to block you, they're trying to get their hands on you. You have to try to get past those big lineman who are trying to get their hands on you."
He added "Anything where someone is trying to get at you and block you, trying to get after the ball carrier, quarterback or whatever, [MMA training] teaches you ways to handle that."
The only thing that's strange about Tebow training in MMA is that it's rare for a quarterback. In the past, it's been mostly defensive lineman and cornerbacks who trained in MMA over the offseason.
Tebow, on the other hand, is closer to a tight end than a quarterback, so I can see why he would want to improve his hand-to-hand combat skills and lateral movement techniques.
Good For The Sport?
Perhaps the best thing to come of this situation is that it increases awareness of the UFC and the benefits of MMA training.
The sport isn't even legal in New York, so having a well-known backer like Tim Tebow gives MMA a better image. Hopefully, having Tebow on our side will lead to the UFC eventually earning the privilege of putting on a show at Madison Square Garden.
Eric Holden is a lifelong UFC fan and supporter of the New York Jets. Follow him on Twitter @ericholden.
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