People tend to make a lot of noise when it comes to the UFC and WWE being intertwined in some way, shape or form. The two companies couldn't be more different and yet fans seem to think they're in direct competition with one another. Whilst that couldn't be further from the truth, there have been a number of crossovers down the years that have certainly grabbed the mainstream headlines.
With WrestleMania 33 just around the corner, the rumour mill is swirling once again with everybody having their say on which UFC superstars they feel will make an appearance. In all likelihood, it could well be none at all, but the speculation alone is enough to send fans of the WWE Universe into a frenzy.
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Given the scale of Mania year in, year out, it only makes sense to have the top names from the UFC appear, and it's no secret that some are bigger than others. With that being said, mixed martial arts is rapidly growing in popularity, so adding a touch more publicity with an appearance on the grandest stage of them all won't do them any harm whatsoever.
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So with that in mind, let's take a look at five UFC stars most likely to appear at WrestleMania 33.
#1 Conor McGregor
Everyone knows that Conor McGregor takes a lot of inspiration for his persona from WWE. It's obvious at this point, all the way down to the Vince McMahon strut that he uses when circling the octagon. Fans all over the world have recognised the similarity between the Irishman and the world of sports entertainment, which begs the question - when will he appear inside the squared circle?
McGregor himself has stated that there have been talks regarding a possible appearance, and given the size of the event, it makes sense for McGregor to show up. Considering that McMahon allowed Brock Lesnar to fight at UFC 200, you would imagine that he got something in return for the deal, and there's no bigger star that Dana White could use as a bargaining chip than ‘The Notorious One’.
Onto another global superstar.
#2 Ronda Rousey
Ronda Rousey is one of the biggest names in mixed martial arts, despite the fact that she's experienced back to back losses inside the octagon. Rousey's star quality has certainly diminished following the defeats, but that doesn't mean WWE would not be interested in bringing her over.
Adding to the rumour mill of her being at WrestleMania was Paul Heyman’s mention of her in a promo on the most recent edition of Monday Night Raw.
Whether or not her presence in a WWE ring would be as impactful remains to be seen, but there's no denying that she would bring millions of eyeballs to the product. After all, this is a woman who pretty much ran the show in the Ultimate Fighting Championship prior to her knockout at the hands of Holly Holm. Vince McMahon is a smart businessman, and this would certainly be a smart business move.
From a dominant female to an extremely marketable one.
#3 Paige VanZant
Despite losing her most recent fight, and not a title contender in the division, Paige VanZant is one of the most recognisable names in the UFC. The reason for this is probably down to her charming personality and good looks, with her social media numbers proving that she is more than capable of drawing in big numbers.
There have been rumours for well over a year that WWE are interested in acquiring the services of VanZant, so what better way to kick things off than by having her appear at WrestleMania in Orlando? She's young and successful enough to make it work, and she could go on to have a fairly successful career inside the wrestling ring.
Back over to the men now with the former Bantamweight Champion.
#4 Dominick Cruz
Dominick Cruz has always been seen by many fans as quite cocky and arrogant, but in reality, he's a very smart businessman. The former World Champion is one of the greatest fighters in the history of the UFC, and he knows that. Despite his recent loss to Cody Garbrandt, his stock is still through the roof, and a great way to increase that even further would be with an appearance at WrestleMania 33.
It may not make sense to some people, but even just sitting on the front row would be enough for some fans. Cruz deserves to be recognised for his years and years of hard work, and introducing the casual WWE fans to his impressive body of fights is a great marketing idea for him. Who knows, perhaps he could even transition into the squared circle one day.
We end with a bonafide WWE fan for life.
#5 Daniel Cormier
Daniel Cormier is one of the biggest professional wrestling fans in the MMA world today, and the proof is in his reaction to Seth Rollins' WrestleMania 31 victory. Cormier was up in the crowd at Levi's Stadium cheering on his favourite superstar, getting carried away with the excitement of the event in the process.
It's the safest bet to assume that Cormier would want to return to watch the show of shows, however, this time around, he deserves to be a little bit closer to the action. At the very same show, Ronda Rousey was in the front row and was welcomed into the ring by The Rock, and DC should be acknowledged in some shape or form at the Citrus Bowl.
After all, he is the Light Heavyweight Champion.
