NFL Pro Bowl: Creating a Football Roster With Brock Lesnar and UFC Fighters

In 2004, Brock Lesnar tried out for the Minnesota Vikings. Although he was cut from the team prior to the regular season, Lesnar was invited to play in NFL Europe. Lesnar, a notoriously family-oriented person, declined the invitation.

On The Ultimate Fighter 10, multiple former NFL players tried to earn their spot in the UFC. Brendan Schaub, who was on the Buffalo Bills practice squad, even reached contender status with a win over Gabriel Gonzaga.

These connections and the upcoming NFL Pro Bowl had me thinking about what a football team comprised of UFC fighters would look like.

QB Junior Dos Santos

In narrowing the list of candidates for quarterback, height played a major factor. Whoever plays quarterback for this team would have to be able to see and throw over some mammoth heavyweights on the offensive line.

At 6'3" and 240 pounds, Junior Dos Santos has the size and athleticism needed to stand tall in the pocket or make a play with his feet if he gets flushed out of the pocket. Dos Santos also throws quick accurate punches. Not to suggest there is any similarity between punching and throwing a football, but Dos Santos might be able to get the throwing motion down with some practice.

HB Rashad Evans

Quickness and vision are two of the most common attributes in elite running backs. Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans possesses both of these vital attributes.

Evans currently envisions reclaiming his title at UFC 128, where he will fight current champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. Since losing the belt to Lyoto Machida, Evans has defeated two elite light heavyweights in Thiago Silva and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson.

Evans' quickness has been on display since he first broke into the UFC by winning The Ultimate Fighter: Season 2. Evans could use that quickness to make one quick move before hitting the hole. 

FB Brendan Schaub

Since losing to Roy Nelson at The Ultimate Finale 10, Brendan Schaub has turned himself into a legitimate contender in the UFC heavyweight division. As such, Schaub is set to fight Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic at UFC 128.

Prior to starting his MMA career, Schaub was a fullback on the Buffalo Bills practice squad. Being on a NFL practice squad is nothing to be ashamed of and it certainly gives Schaub an edge over any MMA fighter at this position.

WR Jon Jones

Jon Jones might be the most hyped young fighter in MMA history. Like wide receivers such as Terrell Owens and Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson, Jones has already been making waves on Twitter. After Thiago Silva embarrassed Brandon Vera at UFC 125, Jones called Silva disrespectful and said he'd like to fight him.

At 6'4" with a long reach, Jones also has a great body build for the wide receiver position. If early predictions of Jones' future success are accurate, he could be one of those athletes who would be good at any sport they tried.

WR Anderson Silva

At 6'2", Anderson Silva isn't quite as tall as Jon Jones, but his lanky build is somewhat similar. The 35-year-old Silva might not be the speediest, but he could still be a solid possession receiver.

Having never been knocked out, Silva has shown that he can take a punch. Therefore, I doubt Silva would hesitate to run a slant into the middle of the field with a helmet on.

TE Stefan Struve

Inexperienced quarterbacks often look for their big target tight ends when they are in trouble. At 6'11", there isn't a bigger target in the UFC than Stefan Struve.

Struve is big enough to avoid being a liability in run blocking, and his height would make him a nightmare to defend against in the red zone.

LT Cheick Kongo

Left tackles are generally one of the most important players on an offensive line. In addition to being strong blockers, left tackles must be fairly quick. Otherwise, they are likely to get left in the dust by speed rushers.

Cheick Kongo possesses a unique mix of strength and quickness that not many other UFC heavyweights have. If Kongo bulked up a little more, he might make a half decent left tackle.

LG Roy Nelson

What UFC fighter resembles a NFL offensive lineman more than Roy Nelson?

Don't let Nelson's physique fool you, though. Nelson would be quick enough to be a decent pulling guard.

C Shane Carwin

Centers are widely considered to be the most intelligent players on the offensive line. It is often their responsibility to recognize blitzes and call out the pass protection before a play even starts.

A mechanical engineer, Shane Carwin certainly is intelligent enough to play center. Additionally, Carwin is arguably the most powerful fighter in the UFC.

RG Jon Madsen

Jon Madsen might make for smallish offensive lineman. Yet like Roy Nelson, Madsen is surprisingly athletic and would be able to pull and make big blocks to set up some long running plays.

RT Sean McCorkle

Having weighed in at as much as 320 pounds during his MMA career, Sean McCorkle is one of the largest fighters in the UFC. McCorkle's size alone might make him a decent offensive lineman.

DT Brock Lesnar

Brock Lesnar tried out at defensive tackle for the Minnesota Vikings in 2004. While he didn't make the regular season roster, the fact that Lesnar was even given a chance to make the team shows what kind of freak athlete he is.

Just watching Lesnar blow through opponents with his bull rush double leg takedown, you can understand why an NFL team might want to take a chance at having him on their defensive line.

DE Matt Mitrione

Before Matt Mitrione was the fighter who retired Marcus Jones and Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson, he played football. In fact, he played football very well.

Although some other UFC fighters have spent some time in the NFL, Matt Mitrione is the only fighter currently with the organization that has actually played in a regular season game. Mitrione played nine games on the New York Giants defensive line in 2002.

DE Karlos Vemola

After losing to Jon Madsen in his UFC debut, Karlos Vemola rebounded with a victory over Seth Petruzelli. By cutting to light heavyweight, Vemola should have a strength advantage over most of his ooponents.

There may be some other UFC fighters who could be better run stoppers, but Vemola's mix of power and athleticism would give him the ability to bring speed off the edge.

OLB Quinton Jackson

Take a second to imagine your favorite NFL quarterback...

Now, envision this 205 pound man with an industrial chain necklace closing in quickly from that quarterback's blind side.

Yeah, that's not something I would wish on my worst enemy.

OLB Ryan Bader

Ryan Bader has risen quickly in the UFC. If he is able to defeat Jon Jones in his next fight, Bader could be on his way to a title shot.

If Bader were able to translate his success in the Octagon onto the football field, it might be at outside linebacker. Bader has the speed and power to rush the passer, and he also has the athleticism to drop back into coverage. 

MLB Cain Velasquez

Cain Velasquez would be a force in the middle of the football field. Velasquez has the size to step up and stuff a running back in the hole.

Also, Velasquez's outstanding conditioning would allow him to run sideline to sideline on every play.

MLB Randy Couture

Has there ever been a great defense without a proven veteran leader?

Couture would fit that role perfectly. Experienced enough to call out the defensive audibles and still talented enough to compete with his younger opponents, Couture is an ideal candidate to anchor this MMA defense.

CB Jose Aldo

What Jose Aldo would lack in size at cornerback, he makes up for in athleticism.

The 5'7" UFC Featherweight Champion has the quickness to keep up with receivers who might have longer strides. Aldo also has the hand-eye coordination to tip and intercept any pass he can get a hand on.

CB Frankie Edgar

Much like Jose Aldo, Frankie Edgar would be undersized at cornerback. Still, Edgar is also extremely quick and accurate with his hands.

Considering his wrestling background, Edgar might also have some success jamming small receivers at the line of scrimmage.

FS Gray Maynard

In today's NFL, every team has that player that walks a thin line of getting fined for leading with their head. Having knocked himself out with a slam, Gray Maynard knows a little something about the dangers of leading with his head.

With Maynard patrolling the secondary, receivers might have second thoughts about catching balls deep in the middle of the field.

SS Georges St. Pierre

It is important for every football team to have a sure tackler as a security blanket in their secondary. Having the highest success rate in takedowns in UFC history, Georges St. Pierre would be a perfect safety.

Considering the effort St. Pierre puts into game planning with Greg Jackson's camp, it is a safe bet that he would spend a good deal of time in the film room as well.

K/P Mirko Filipovic

Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic has not finished anyone with his patented left head kick recently, and there are several up-and-coming fighters who can land kicks with pin-point accuracy. Still, Filipovic has the experience that placekickers need.

Pat Barry, Edson Barboza, and several others come to mind when you think of powerful and accurate strikers in the UFC. Nevertheless, I'm going to put my faith in the most proven kicker in MMA with the game on the line.