Boxing champion Terence Crawford recently appeared on Adin Ross’s stream for his first-ever livestream experience, where he addressed questions about potentially crossing over to mixed martial arts.
The undefeated star, who just retired at 38, made his position crystal clear when asked about competing in MMA.
When Ross asked if Crawford would ever consider getting into MMA, the boxing legend’s response was blunt and financially driven. “Nah, they don’t pay enough,” Crawford stated without hesitation.
He elaborated on the physical toll of the sport, saying, “Man, you get messed up in wrestling. Just in general and you know to do wrestling, kicking, boxing, and elbowing like you can have it.”
Despite ruling out competition, Crawford revealed he does follow the UFC and has specific favorites among its roster. “Yeah, I watch,” he confirmed when asked about his viewership habits.
His top choices? “Jon Jones to be hands down,” though he curiously admitted he has never watched current featherweight champion Ilia Topuria compete. “I never seen this dude fight for real. Never. Not once. I’m going to have to watch him on YouTube.”
Crawford also shared his thoughts on Max Holloway, calling him “my favorite fighter of all time in the UFC. I love Max Holloway. He’s great.” When discussing Holloway’s previous weight class at featherweight, Crawford expressed surprise at the weight cut, saying, “Dude, big. I don’t see how he was making that weight.”
The conversation touched on the physical differences between combat sports. Crawford noted that while he has trained in wrestling, the financial incentive simply isn’t there for him to pursue MMA seriously.
He did acknowledge some positive developments in fighter pay, mentioning that former UFC champion Rampage Jackson received a significant purse for his match against Chuck Liddell, though he maintained that boxing still offers superior compensation for elite athletes.
