Shaquille ONeal reveals SECRET UFC training that helped him win three championships

Former NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal has been one of the most rigorous basketball players during his time, in short, he was sometimes unbeatable. O’Neal revealed the secret to his success that led him to win multiple NBA championships in his career on the Big Podcast. O’Neal recently admitted that he has been a huge fan of UFC and MMA, and these sports have played a part in his career.

O’Neal claimed on the Big Podcast that he used to train for the UFC and loved the sport a lot. O’Neal also claimed that he regularly watches the games and also attended a few of them in his free time along with his trainer, John Burke.

In addition, O’Neal asserted that he always knew “he could do it (play in the UFC)” and was trained by Burke which helped him win 3 championships in basketball.

So like whenever I watch a UFC fight/event I always say 'I think I can do it' I trained for it with my guy uh John Burke out from Orlando that actually helped me win 3 championships..when I did my wrestling I was in shape so when I did my UFC training I won.

On the contrary, the 15-time NBA All-Star has been highly vocal regarding his support of the MMA and UFC community. O’Neal also claimed in one of his podcasts, praising the fighters for their dedication and passion in this particular sport. Interestingly, one could ponder how O’Neal’s career would have panned out if he had chosen MMA/UFC over the NBA.

Shaquille O’Neal was full of praise for the dedication of MMA fighters

Similar to how Shaquille O’Neal‘s brilliance and extraordinary power allowed him to dominate basketball, pro mixed martial arts competitors also dominate their respective combat sports. It seems that O’Neal knew this, and he even acknowledged the commitment and effort they made to become experts in their field. O’Neal praised the athletes in an interview with former ESPN employee Ariel Helwani.

I think some of these guys are the greatest athletes in the world, I’m not really talking about their physical specimen and how they look, but to just be able to go up there and just take a beating, take a lick, hit and wrestle for five minutes is very hard.

O’Neal recognized the extreme level of mental and physical tenacity that mixed martial arts athletes need to possess, having been a successful professional athlete himself. Shaq has a great deal of respect for pro-MMA fighters and their goals because of this. Also, O’Neal has trained himself in this sport to stay in shape for the basketball seasons in his time.

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