JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Few athletes make it to the skilled degree. Even fewer are in a position to make it in a number of sports activities.
For former NFL participant Austen Lane, who performed 28 of his 30 profession video games for the Jacksonville Jaguars, the coincidence isn’t misplaced. He makes his UFC debut Saturday in the identical metropolis he represented as a defensive finish for 3 NFL seasons.
“To combat in Jacksonville, the place my e book actually began right here taking part in soccer, now one other sport, it’s superior,” Lane informed MMA Junkie and different reporters at a UFC on ABC 5 information convention Wednesday.
Lane (12-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) has been on the UFC roster since September, however has not competed attributable to damage. One way or the other, the universe had it that his debut aligned with the promotion’s first Jacksonville occasion in 14 months.
July 27, 2012; Jacksonville FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars defensive finish Austen Lane (92) through the first day of coaching camp follow at Florida Blue Well being & Wellness Observe Fields. Obligatory Credit score: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports activities
Lane, 35, is a decade faraway from his NFL profession. The Jaguars have had turnover and turnover once more, the acquainted faces not rostered. Regardless of this, Lane maintained his presence as an ESPN affiliate sports activities radio host. The final time the promotion was in Jacksonville was UFC 273 in April 2022. Lane lined the occasion as a member of the media.
With an analytical and considerate sports activities thoughts, Lane has realized how a soccer mentality and muscle reminiscence have labored towards him at instances. Through the years, he’s channeled the optimistic tendencies and erased the nontransferable habits from the times when he chased down quarterbacks.
Twenty fights (15 professional and 5 beginner), eight years, and two Dana White’s Contender Collection appearances after he started his MMA journey, Lane will lastly make his stroll and have his likelihood to show on the most important stage he’s not a defensive finish who can combat; he’s a fighter by and thru.
“After I first began out as an beginner, as a soccer participant, we’re form of programmed from seven to 10 seconds,” Lane stated. “It’s all the time go, go, go, go, go. That’s form of how my beginner profession began. It was like, ‘Nicely, there’s a man in entrance of me. I higher take him out ASAP.’ Then, I spotted, as I progressed in my profession and guys bought more durable and extra expert, you’ll be able to’t simply do this on a regular basis.
“I believe with soccer, you may get away with being a bit of extra emotional. You possibly can have that rage a bit of extra, all that good things. I believe if you happen to research the perfect UFC fighters proper right here now, the champions if you’ll, they could be emotional outdoors the cage. They might say the fitting issues on the microphone. However as soon as they step in that cage, they’re very calm, cool, and picked up.”
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 20: (R-L) Austen Lane punches Richard Jacobi of Brazil in a heavyweight combat throughout Dana White’s Contender Collection season six week 9 at UFC APEX on September 20, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photograph by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Regardless of the serendipity of the second, Lane stated he thinks Saturday will simply really feel like every other combat. He’ll embrace the vitality from the group that will likely be closely in his favor as he takes on New Zealand’s Justin Tafa (6-3 MMA, 3-3 UFC), nevertheless it’ll be enterprise as normal thereafter.
“I have a look at it from the vitality of the group that’s going to occur on Saturday,” Lane stated. “That’s going to be particular. That’s going to be a second. However so far as getting poetic or one thing huge out of it, nah, not likely, man. It could possibly be the Vystar Veterans Memorial Area. It could possibly be in Georgia at a waffle home at 2 a.m. within the car parking zone, bro. I don’t actually care who I’m preventing. A combat goes to be a combat. So there’s nothing actually poetic about it.”
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