Many people would have a hard time finding comparisons between Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and poker, but the two endeavors do share some similarities: Both require strategy, game-planning, confidence in your ability, and lightning-quick decisions, which just might explain how UFC star Mike Swick finished 10th place in a WSOP tournament.

Swick is no stranger to poker, having picked up the game as a teenager, and the 10th place finish marks his second cash in eight attempts at the WSOP having previously made the money in a $2,000 No Limit Holdem tournament back in 2007 –the $34,748 for his 10th place finish is by far his biggest poker payday; trumping the $3,828 he made in 2007.

As an MMA fan I can see many fighters that could make a smooth transition to poker as their physical abilities deteriorate with the passage of time. After all, Doyle Brunson picked up the game after a knee injury derailed his basketball career, and many former athletes have turned to poker for the competition it offers.

I know that MMA fighters are willing to put in the time and effort to train for their fights, both physically and mentally, so don’t be surprised if more and more Mixed Martial Artists start showing up at poker sites and the poker tables; it might also cut down on Phil Hellmuth’s antics and insults!

Tags: mike swick, ufc

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 29th, 2010 at 5:19 pm and is filed under Poker News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.