Olympic gold medalist Kyle Snyder has made it clear he has no intention of stepping into the UFC octagon, choosing instead to stay fully committed to his wrestling career.
Snyder, 30, said he does not plan to compete in MMA and finds the idea of strict boxing more appealing than mixed martial arts. He also stated he wants to continue wrestling until he physically cannot anymore.
"I did consider it," Snyder said, recalling how the MMA itch first appeared after attending an event headlined by Stipe Miocic. "My first fight I ever had been to was in Cleveland. Stipe Miocic was the main event, and he knocked the dude out. The environment was so, so, so cool. So I was like, 'Man, I want to do this at some point in my life.' But since then, I'm still a fan. I've been to many UFC events. One of my good friends,Bo Nickal, he's a fighter. So I was at UFC in New York in November watching him fight. I like the UFC, but I don't think it's in my plan to get in the octagon or anything like that. I think I'm going to be a wrestler and see what God wants me to do after that."
"Honestly, I feel like I'd rather box than do MMA," Snyder added. "Just strict boxing, to me, is more appealing than mixed martial arts. I don't know why that is. I can't really say what it is. I think my love for wrestling and it being what I want to do until I physically can't anymore. Lord willing, I'd like to wrestle until I'm 45 years old."
Snyder is scheduled to face Givi Matcharashvili at RAF 9 on May 30 and currently holds a 2-0 record in the promotion with wins over Akhmed Tazhudinov and Rizabek Aitmukhan.
