The Quade Cooper circus seems to have now settled on a February cruiser weight boxing fight, with the rest of his future still up in the air.
But is Australia’s most mercurial of sportsman selling himself short by settling in the boxing world? Could the bad boy of rugby in fact make the switch to the fastest growing sport in the world, MMA?
Could Cooper wind up with a larger international profile and, in return, a deeper hip pocket if he decided to instead step into the octagon?
Cooper stands at 6 foot 1 and currently weighs in at 92kgs, or 203 pounds, putting him roughly in the middleweight division once he cuts for weigh in. Ideally though, he could drop some of the excess muscle mass and wind up a fairly decent sized welterweight.
Combine that with his rat’s tail and arm of tats and Cooper is beginning to look more and more at home in the octagon.
But can he actually fight?
Well, straight off the bat Cooper is an amazing physical specimen and yes, theoretically he could make it in MMA.
He is agile, has speed to burn and on his day he has one of the finest, aggressive sporting brains in the country.
For all his faults and flaws, Anthony Mundine has clearly shown us that this kind of skill set can transfer over to combat sports in the boxing ring.
Cooper’s kicking and stepping ability suggest strong lower body coordination, which could translate into not just stand-up kicking but also help the development of a strong jujitsu game.
Finally, as a rugby player Cooper would already poses some basics in wrestling, an indisputable cornerstone of any MMA fighter’s arsenal.
In a broader sense, if Australia’s most controversial sportsman was to move to the octagon, it would be a coming of age event for the sport in this country, exposing MMA to the mainstream sports media in a way it has never done before.
Unfortunately though, while Cooper theoretically may have the skills and physique to make the switch, it would have to be a far longer term plan than the hit and giggle outing February’s boxing match is shaping up to be.
Boxing’s far more focused skill set lends itself to the quick transition Cooper will be looking at, far more than the much broader arsenal of a mixed martial artist.
Furthermore Cooper’s large profile across Australia and New Zealand would count for little if he wanted to focus on fighting in the UFC.
While he might end up earning more on the global stage there than in the boxing ring, he would have to reach it fighting on his merits, not relying his current fame.
Honestly, a move to MMA would come totally out of the blue for Cooper, who will most likely cruise through February’s fight and then take a cushy, cashed-up contract with a European rugby club before Australian rugby comes to its senses or an NRL side squeezes him under their salary cap.
But with Cooper, a sportsman who made his name from taking the unconventional option, you can never quite say never.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
just dont think the bloke is cut for mma. his first boxing bout might give us a better idea but i would be very surprised if he happened to be a fighter. Plus no one knows QC in the USA or Brasil, two of the biggest mma markets. I think a fight against a guy like Bisping would attract ppl in the UK or Oz plus Bisping not being a puncher, quade could last a few minutes. Thing is i dont think Dana White wants the type of fights pride used to organise with the likes of Akebono etc. no more circus thanks.
CBDoggz4lyfe
Guest
you can as long as its not to the back of the head! LoL!
Tatah
Guest
But can you king hit them from behind like Andrew Hore? Gutsy effort that one.
silegusta
Roar Rookie
If it was all about the money, Mundine's worth is suggested to be between 30-100million, SBW will go further if he committed to boxing and If Quade focussed on Boxing and has the ability to succeed then he would not turn to MMA for money, Boxing still gives a far larger pay day. Cannot see him realistically making a serious run at either in the long term, He needs to shutup and go back and play rugby and learn to be the brilliant sportsman he could be if he set his mind to it
CBDoggz4lyfe
Guest
hahaha! I agree Mushi, he tackles like a 1st five! hehehe! maybe local MMA circuit in NSW and QSLD even in NZ, but anywhere else, guy would get his butt handed to him...
Ronnie Liddle
Roar Rookie
he'd get looked on the local circuit as long as a promoter could make money. if he went anywhere bigger he'd have trouble - Randy vs James Toney. someone would exploit the holes in his game and he'd quit the game soon after. you are right - Europe is calling. when i was a kid i remember a charity boxing event betwen Mal Meninga and Mark jackson. Mal can punch. turn the clock back and load Mal with some good coaches/training and i'd feel sorry for anyone stepping into a ring/cage with him.
mushi
Roar Guru
He couldn't tackle in union after a life time of coaching can't see him wrestling trained MMA lads
Sam Brown
Roar Guru
I think Cooper will get a pretty easy fight first up and his natural athleticism, speed and power will take care of some poor ameture looking for a decent pay day. If he wants to make the full conversion he will have to make some long term plans because it isn't a sport you can simply drop into and have instant success. He will have to develop very fine boxing skills and also build a boxing instinct and feel for the sport, something which will take far longer. Personally I think he will get bored fairly quickly and g to Europe where the pay cheques are bigger.
Sam Brown
Roar Guru
Funnily enough he might actually make a pretty decent convert. His kicking game is right up there and he has the kind of speed that would make a pretty decent AFL player. Probably a bit too much of a PR risk for AFL though.
kennoth
Guest
...can't understand why Kevin Sheedy hasn't got hold of him to replace Falou !!
Jean Polet
Guest
Quade is the same height and weight as Joe Louis and Marciano were when they were heavyweight champs. But both fighters had a devasting punch and knew ringcraft. And they could box. They'd learned their trade. Quade can fool around in the ring if his agent can get somebody to book him, but he'll be booed for being an amateur and looking like it. Better off to be booed on the rugby field and not get your brains scrambled.
Jerry
Guest
And finally - only the top tier of MMA fighters would be able to make the kind of money Cooper could make if he stayed in Union and keeps his Wallaby spot. 5 or so years with the Wallabies followed by two or three in France or Japan for stupid money would get him more money than most UFC fighters bar the consistent main eventers.
Jerry
Guest
Also, Mundine is hardly a good comparison. His father was a champion boxer and he'd been doing it all his life - it's not like he came into boxing completely cold at the end of his league career.
Jerry
Guest
You're not allowed to knee people in the head if they're on the ground, so he'd have to rein in his natural instincts....