Maxx Crosby, the star defensive end for the Las Vegas Raiders, has just concluded his seventh season in the NFL, all spent with the Raiders. The former Eastern Michigan standout made an impressive mark this past year, tallying 73 tackles, achieving 10 sacks, and forcing two fumbles over the course of 15 games. Unfortunately, he had to sit out the last two games due to a knee injury, leaving fans and analysts to speculate about his future.
With uncertainty surrounding his position in the team, there are intriguing whispers about Crosby possibly venturing into the world of mixed martial arts, specifically the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). In a recent interview, Crosby expressed his passion for fighting, revealing that both Hunter Campbell, the UFC Chief Business Officer, and Dana White, the UFC CEO and President, have shown interest in him potentially joining their ranks in the future.
What's truly fascinating is that Crosby mentioned Dana White is "fully convinced" that he could one day become the heavyweight champion in the UFC. He shared this insight during an engaging conversation on CBS Sports HQ, stating, "If it makes sense, it might just happen." This bold claim certainly raises eyebrows and invites speculation about his potential transition from football to fighting.
Crosby elaborated on his thoughts, explaining, "You know it's funny, Hunter Campbell and Dana (White) they're hilarious. They’re fully convinced that by the year 2030 or 2031, I'm gonna be the Heavyweight Champion. I'm that type of person where I’m never gonna put a limit on what I do. You live one life. I definitely have certain things I want to accomplish and certain things I want to do. I’m never gonna close a door on an opportunity, so I actually don’t know. My body’s been through a lot, but if it makes sense at the time and it’s in my heart and soul that I want to go out there and compete, it might just happen. You never know. I love fighting and I feel like I’ve got the mentality, athleticism, power, and speed. It’s about putting that all together and being fully in."
In addition to his fighting aspirations, Crosby recently addressed comments made by Jay Glazer, an NFL insider from FOX Sports, who suggested that Crosby’s tenure with the Raiders might be coming to an end. During a live segment on Yahoo! Sports, Glazer noted that after an announcement regarding Crosby, no fewer than 20 teams reached out to inquire about his status, questioning whether the news was legitimate and expressing their interest in acquiring him. Glazer remarked, "It’s Maxx’s decision. [The Raiders] don’t want to do it. But he was just like ‘I’m not going through another rebuild.’"
In an episode of 'The Herd with Colin Cowherd,' Crosby provided his perspective on the situation, emphasizing the importance of remaining focused on his game. He stated, "Nowadays, especially this past year, year and a half, I’m not talking about stuff like that because that’s not my job and I’ve been advised, ‘Hey, Maxx, I think it would be best —,’ some of the best mentors of my life (have said), ‘Maxx, I know you care a lot about it, you’re obsessed with it, you want to win no matter what, but you can’t control everything.’ And I’ve learned that. Now that I’m quiet, I’ve got random people making big statements for me and they’re like, ‘Oh, Maxx must have told them this.’ For me, I just sit back and laugh because I know my truth and when I go to bed at night, I have a smile on my face because I don’t have to explain nothing to nobody.
He continued, "…All the noise, it’s news to me sometimes. I got up yesterday, or two days ago, I looked at my phone and now all of a sudden, I got a bunch of PR people talking about what Maxx is doing. I just laugh because if I address it, someone’s gonna pick apart what I say there. So, it’s a lose-lose. I’m just gonna keep doing what I’m doing."
Crosby’s journey exemplifies the unpredictability of professional sports and the myriad of paths athletes may choose as they consider their futures. Whether he steps into the octagon or continues with the Raiders, fans will undoubtedly be eager to see what comes next for this talented athlete.
