Former WWE superstar and former NCAA wrestler Jake Hager or popularly known as Jack Swagger amongst the wrestling fans is making his Mixed Martial Arts debut at Bellator 214 this weekend, which features a heavyweight Grand Prix on Jan. 29 at the Forum in Inglewood, California against JW Kiser.
Now ahead of his professional debut, Jack has claimed that he has left no stone unturned for Bellator 214 and is taking this fight seriously.
“I’m going to be successful because I have the best coaches around me and because I have my heart 100 percent in this,” Hager told reporters at Bellator 214 open workouts. “This is serious. We’re not playing games. A lot of people look at me like, ‘Hey, this is a money grab,’ or whatever. No, I’m not playing any games. I know that I have the confidence in my conditioning and my shape to go out and do that.”
A few WWE wrestlers have fought in MMA before, although Brock Lesnar has been the most successful of them all, but CM Punk’s last two fight have left a bad test amongst MMA fans and they are very sceptical of pro wrestlers trying their hands on Mixed Martial Arts.
However, he is happy that Bellator has given him a platform despite criticism from fans.
“It’s been a very special journey for me,” Hager said. “I already feel like I won because of this journey that I’ve been on. I’ve been able to better myself in so many ways, mentally and physically. I’m just excited, it’s going to be the icing on the cake. It’s going to be one of those things I’ll remember for the rest of my life. A lot of people aren’t going to like me being on this card or what I get paid for this, but that’s not my problem.”
He also said that WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon game him a few advise.
“He said, ‘Don’t lose,’” Jack said.
Are you guys excited for Jack Swagger’s professional MMA debut?
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