Thanks to wrestlezone.com for this. Former UFC fighter turned professional wrestler Matthew Riddle recently spoke with the Orlando Sentinel’s Jay Reddick. Riddle talks about his MMA career with UFC and other promotions, his transition into professional wrestling. Here are highlights:
“The guys in WWE were so big. I was 6-2, 189 pounds, so I just wasn’t big enough. When I was in college, UFC got really popular and I threw my hat into that ring. It seemed a little more realistic.
“I had to learn to ease up. I was used to grappling intensely, using my body weight and holds to exhaust guys. Another big thing was learning to telegraph my moves – in a real fight, obviously you don’t want to show what’s coming, but now it’s all about setups and fakes, cocking your arm back before you throw a punch so the crowd anticipates what you’re doing.
In MMA, if you get kicked in the face, it’s your job not to show any expression. If you usually smile, keep smiling; if you usually mean-mug, keep mean-mugging. If you make a face, you know something’s wrong. In pro wrestling, if somebody throws a move, it’s my job not to get hurt, but also to sell the move and make it look like I’m dying.”