Five athletes worth seeing inside the cage

Richard Seymour, 92, has shown he's more than
capable of throwing a punch or two in his career.

With Northern California being a hot-bed of MMA talent, it is no surprise that there are plenty of gyms popping up to help these fighters train. Gyms aren't just for fighters, but for anyone wanting to try a new way of getting healthy and staying fit. Some gyms in Nor Cal have been the training ground for some non-MMA athletes looking to stay in shape during their off-season.

That got me wondering, which non-MMA athletes in Northern California would best fit in the world of combat sports? Certain names like Brian Wilson, Joe Thornton, Patrick Willis and Tommy Kelly came to mind because of their intensity during games. Well, Wilson came to mind because I just saw his Taco Bell commercial on TV...I digress. But, five names stood out most to me.

1) Richard Seymour: We all remember last season's game in Pittsburgh where Seymour flattened Ben Roethlisberger with a straight right-hand. Although, it was thrown very hard and wasn't a closed fist punch it apparently did some damage. Seymour is known to have a temper in the heat of the battle, so it'd be interesting to see the Raiders defensive leader step inside the cage and do battle. At 6 ft., 6 in. tall and weighing about 300 pounds, Seymour would be a super-heavyweight but I am certain he'd find someone to compete with.

2) Jemile Weeks: The diminutive second-basemen for the Oakland Athletics is a speedster. Quick on his feet and very quick hands. His size would make him a heavier lightweight and he'd fit right in with his quickness. The only question about him would be his power. He wouldn't go for the quick, knockout home-run shot. Instead, he'd make you chase after him and he'd pick his spots.

3) Tim Lincecum: "The Freak" already has the nickname that'll endure him to MMA fans and has the rock-star attitude that so many try to pull-off. At 5'11" and 165 pounds, Lincecum could find himself as a taller lightweight or just another welterweight. His funky arm motion would make it difficult for opponents to gauge where his punches come from and that weird leg kick would make them weary of a lower-body attack. My question is, would a 95MPH fastball translate into a solid over-hand right? If so, he could be a dangerous knockout artist.

4) Ryane Clowe: When you think of sports where fighting is allowed or even encouraged, hockey is one of those sports. The San Jose Sharks are filled with guys willing to throw down their gloves and Clowe is possibly the biggest scrapper of them all. He has the look of a fighter. You know that look, "the don't F with me or you'll have a big problem"look. As nonchalant as Canadians are, Clowe is a fearsome competitor and something tells me he'll compete very well in MMA. His size, 6'2" 225, makes him a perfect fit as a possible light-heavyweight. 

5) Frank Gore: Gore could easily be one of the most feared running backs in the NFL. Not only is he quick, but he is more than willing to go head on with a linebacker and run him over. At 5'9" and 215 pounds, Gore would be the Rashad Evans type fighter. Short and quick. He'd be difficult to catch and you know that he'd be capable of throwing a few punches. I mean, the guy did play at the U. 

So, there you have it 5 guys that I'd think would be good fits in MMA. I'll leave it to all of you to talk amongst yourselves and come up with your own list that you're more than welcome to leave as a comment below.

I bid you adieu.

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