5 UFC fighters who could have played in the NFL

3. Tai Tuivasa

Tai "Bam Bam" Tuivasa is the No. 8 ranked UFC heavyweight and one of the most feared brawlers in the division. However, like the aforementioned Volkanovski, Tuivasa originally found his athletic calling on the rugby pitch.

Tuivasa's rugby talents were apparent from a young age as he was scouted by professional teams early on and played at the highest levels of each age division he participated in.

Fortunately for fight fans, team sports proved not to be Tuivasa's calling and he ultimately quit rugby in 2010 in favor of MMA. Tuivasa desired the freedom of fighting and disliked taking orders from his coaches. He self-admittedly was also at times a little aggressive while playing rugby; a tendency he later harnessed for MMA.

Seeing as how Tuivasa's athleticism brought him to some of the highest levels of rugby and MMA, it's not hard to imagine him playing linebacker on an NFL squad. At six feet two inches and 266 pounds, Tuivasa could be an imposing presence on the gridiron. Given his ability to channel aggression into athletic pursuits, one can easily picture him making tackles in the NFL.