Getty
Jaylen Brown held discussions with Dana White about joining UFC
Boston Celtics superstar Jaylen Brown has had a remarkable NBA career thus far, boasting a Finals MVP, an NBA championship and several All-Star selections.
Whenever he decides to step away from basketball, Brown is considering a transition to the world of mixed martial arts.
“I’ve toyed with this and I’ve told some people that, maybe post part of my [basketball] career, I would love to partake in UFC or even boxing,” Brown told reporters.
His interest didn’t seem like a mere pipe dream, either, as the Celtics star has already consulted with UFC president Dana White about potentially entering the octagon.
“I’ve talked to Dana White about some stuff, but we’ll see as things go on,” Brown said. “We’ll see.”
How Would Jaylen Brown Fare in UFC?
GettyCeltics star considering transition to combat sports
Should Brown actually enter the octagon for a bout, he would likely do so against the heaviest hitters in the game — the UFC heavyweight division.
Brown, 29, is listed at 6-foot-6 and weighs 223 pounds. That means he’d fight among the heavyweight division in the UFC, unless he is able to cut the 17 pounds necessary to be a light heavyweight.
For comparison’s sake, UFC legend Jon Jones, who Dana White deemed the best fighter in the brand’s history, is listed at 6-foot-4 and weighed 237 pounds in his last fight.
While winning a UFC match requires much more than just size, Brown certainly has the build necessary to carry his own.
Should he transition from basketball star to mixed martial artist, he would join a long list of notable athletes who have tried their hand in the UFC ranks.
Olympic gold medalists Henry Cejudo and Ronda Rousey became UFC champions after transitioning to the octagon. WWE star Brock Lesnar and former NFL player Matt Mitrione also enjoyed successful stints in UFC.
So, if Brown isn’t just blowing smoke, the blueprint for a successful transition has been laid before him.
Dana White Has Big Plans for UFC in 2026
GettyDana White planning White House-based UFC event
In advance of the United States’ 250th birthday, President Donald Trump made a stunning — and wholly unexpected — announcement: The White House will host a UFC title fight.
“We’re going to have a UFC fight on the grounds of the White House,” Trump said in Des Moines, Iowa, on Thursday. We have a lot of land there. Every one of our national parks, battlefields, and historic sites are going to have special events in honor of America 250. And I even think we’re going to have a UFC fight.”
Equally shocking and historic, Trump’s announcement spread like wildfire on social media and even caught the attention of former two-division champion Conor McGregor. The hard-hitting southpaw cheerfully offered to join the White House-based UFC fight card in 2026.
Trump predicts that next summer’s bout will be a title fight with 20,000 to 25,000 people in attendance.
“We’re going to have some incredible events,” Trump said. “Some professional events, some amateur events. But the UFC fight is going to be a big deal, too.”
While the announcement to host a fight at the White House is shocking, Trump’s interest in combat sports isn’t surprising.
Trump and UFC CEO Dana White are friends, and Trump has attended multiple UFC events before and during his presidency. Most recently, Trump appeared at UFC 314 in Miami.
Jalyn Smoot Jalyn Smoot is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has nearly 10 years of experience in local and national media, including print and digital. He previously covered the Texas Rangers for MLB.com and the Philadelphia 76ers for Metro Philadelphia. Smoot is a St. Louis born writer that now resides in Dallas. More about Jalyn Smoot
More Heavy on Celtics
Loading more stories
