WWE Star To Make UFC Appearance
It has been confirmed that Shinsuke Nakamura will be in a UFC star’s corner.
Since Endeavor purchased WWE in 2023 and merged it with UFC to form TKO Group, the two promotions have been bringing their behind-the-scenes operations closer together. There has also been talk of the two promotions utilising their partnership to host shows in the same cities for big fight weekends.
In another sign of growing cooperation, NXT held Battleground in UFC’s purpose-built APEX arena on June 9th. Now, former Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura has been announced for an appearance at UFC 303 in Paradise, Nevada.
The King of Strong Style will not just be in the audience for the event like many WWE stars before him. Instead, a video released by UFC Japan revealed that he will be in the corner of Tsuruya Rei, who will be making his UFC debut against Carlos Hernandez in a Flyweight bout.
デビュー戦を控える鶴屋怜 @mma_rei を水垣偉弥が直撃インタビュー🎤#ガッキーインタビューシリーズ@takeya_miz
セコンドに @WWEJapan スーパースターの #中邑真輔@ShinsukeN 👀
👊 #UFC303
📅6月30日（日）
⏰️アーリープレリム7時｜メインカード11時
📺 @UNEXT_fight & #UFCFightPasspic.twitter.com/uLANHDsRFJ— UFC Japan (@ufc_jp) June 26, 2024
Nakamura is no stranger to the world of MMA, having had a brief career in the sport in the early 2000’s that left him with a 3-1 (1) record. His only loss came in his first match at the hands of Daniel Gracie during Antonio Inoki’s Bom-Ba-Ye show in Japan back in 2002. In 2005, Nakamura was offered a contract with UFC, although he turned it down in favour of his pro wrestling career.
Dana White Explains UFC Relationship With WWE
While the two promotions are working together in some ways, Dana White has claimed that UFC and WWE are actually “very separate.” The UFC President explained that he hasn’t worked with WWE when it comes to live events, saying both are already very good at doing what they do.