The lights of Las Vegas blur easily between football Sundays and fight nights.
This week, Maxx Crosby confirmed that he has held direct conversations with Dana White and UFC executives about a potential move into mixed martial arts later in his career.
The revelation came during an interview with CBS Sports, where Crosby addressed two parallel storylines. One is immediate and familiar: trade rumors surrounding the Las Vegas Raiders after a 3-14 season and another coaching change. The other is long-term and far less conventional: a serious, UFC-backed vision of Crosby competing as a heavyweight.
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Crosby denied any interest in leaving the Raiders now, emphasizing that he is under contract through the 2029 season, a detail previously outlined by ESPN. He described his daily routine as unchanged, arriving early, rehabbing, lifting, and preparing for the upcoming NFL year. Addressing rumors publicly, he said, only creates more controversy.
What caught attention was what he did not dismiss.
“It’s funny. Hunter Campbell and Dana [White], they’re fully convinced that by the year 2030 or 2031, I’m going to be the heavyweight champion…
According to Crosby, Dana White and UFC Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell have already discussed a future path for him in MMA, including a projected heavyweight division and a possible timeline around 2030 or 2031. White’s confidence stood out, with Crosby recalling conversations where UFC leadership expressed belief that he could contend at the highest level if he commits.
Crosby leaving Las Vegas and the NFL? From curiosity to credible conversations
Crosby’s interest in combat sports is not new. He is a regular presence at UFC events and has trained informally for years. In 2023, he sparred with former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland, an experience that left him physically marked up but mentally energized.
He later described that session as eye-opening, reinforcing both his respect for MMA and the intensity required to compete professionally. Speaking previously with TMZ Sports, Crosby made it clear that admiration alone is not enough. “I love fighting,” he said at the time, while acknowledging the toll the sport demands.
That awareness explains the hesitation he voiced to CBS Sports. His main concern is durability after years of NFL wear and tear, particularly at a position that absorbs constant contact. The physical cost of football remains the biggest barrier to an immediate transition.
How the league and Raiders view Crosby’s MMA talk
Around the league, analysts have framed the situation as rare but not unprecedented. NFL players transitioning to MMA remain uncommon, but the UFC has shown increasing openness to crossover athletes with elite size and discipline. Crosby’s combination of power, conditioning, and name recognition places him in a different category than most speculative converts.
“I’m the type of person who’s never going to put a limit on what I do. I live one life, and I definitely have certain things I want to accomplish and things I want to do…
For the Raiders, the comments change little in the short term. Crosby remains the centerpiece of their defense and one of the organization’s most consistent performers despite recent instability. His emphasis on health and preparation reflects a player still fully invested in football.
Nothing is imminent. Crosby has not entered a formal MMA camp, signed with the UFC, or set a retirement timeline from the NFL. What has changed is clarity. The conversations are real, the approval exists, and the idea has moved from hypothetical to planned possibility.
For now, the edge rusher stays in pads, not gloves. In Las Vegas, both futures can exist at the same time.
This article is based on verified interviews with CBS Sports, prior reporting from ESPN and TMZ Sports, and publicly available contract and league information.