Former boxing and kickboxing champion Tyrone Spong was a significant figure in combat sports during the 2010s. He trained alongside UFC athletes at Blackzilians and entertained the idea of transitioning to MMA to join the UFC roster. He did compete in MMA twice under the World Series of Fighting promotion, securing two victories, but ultimately decided to focus on his pursuits in kickboxing and boxing instead.
Now, a decade later, as he prepares for his Karate Combat title bout against Sam Alvey in Dubai on May 2nd, Spong takes time to consider how his career might have unfolded differently.
Spong revealed he had substantial contact and meetings with the UFC, including Dana White, during that period. He expressed admiration for White, stating he considers him the best promoter in combat sports by a wide margin. However, Spong felt he was highly sought after at the time, presented with numerous options, which he described as simultaneously a blessing and a curse because it led to indecisiveness.
Over a span of three years, Spong achieved 12 wins in 13 kickboxing matches, concurrent with his two MMA victories. His sole kickboxing defeat came from a leg injury that kept him out of action for nearly a year before he shifted his focus to boxing in 2015. He then built an impressive boxing record, winning 14 consecutive fights, 13 by knockout. He paused his career in 2019, returning three years later for another attempt at MMA, which resulted in a loss to experienced veteran Sergei Kharitonov at Eagle FC.
Recalling his discussions with the UFC, Spong mentioned he was competing in MMA, boxing, and kickboxing concurrently. He believes that succeeding in the UFC necessitates complete focus, primarily due to the intense level of competition. At that time, he wasn`t willing to commit exclusively because he had other compelling options, goals, and achievements he wanted to pursue. He also felt that the contract terms and financial aspects were not sufficiently enticing then. However, he added, if the financial reward was significant (“makes dollars, it makes sense”) and the challenge was appealing, he would have considered it.
Spong stated he would potentially be open to returning to MMA in the future if the right opportunity arose, but his immediate attention is on his upcoming Karate Combat fight.
Regarding his most recent MMA appearance, Spong noted it occurred after a long layoff and with very limited preparation time. He reiterated his willingness to face challenges, saying, “If it`s interesting, why not?” He described overcoming obstacles as the defining theme and driving force throughout his life. “We`ll see,” he concluded.
The article references fellow kickboxer Artem Vakhitov as another prominent striker who contemplated leaving GLORY for MMA, specifically following Alex Pereira into the Octagon. Vakhitov successfully competed on Dana White’s Contender Series, winning his fight, but reportedly declined the standard contract offer, choosing instead to return to GLORY to face their star fighter, Rico Verhoeven.
Spong, who trained with Vakhitov before his DWCS fight, acknowledged that the UFC operates based on a specific business model, but suggested they do make exceptions for certain individuals. He felt Vakhitov, having already achieved considerable success (and potentially having defeated Alex Pereira previously), deserved more than a contract typically offered to newcomers, given his established reputation. Spong speculated that Vakhitov declined the offer because it wasn`t appealing enough to him personally or professionally.
Concluding his thoughts on Vakhitov`s situation, Spong stated he supports Vakhitov`s decision, believing it was likely the right choice for him, although only Vakhitov himself can truly know if it was the optimal career path.
Spong, who is set to turn 40 in September, expressed confidence that he would have received a better offer from the UFC than the one Vakhitov received.
He based this belief on the offer he received years prior, describing it as a substantial, “not a bad offer,” though he refrained from providing specific details. He reiterated that despite the decent offer, he had numerous other options at the time that presented greater opportunities for growth and establishing his legacy across multiple combat sports, which led him to decline the UFC`s terms.
Reflecting on potential regret, Spong dismissed “what ifs” as unproductive. He acknowledged the decision was made. He contemplated whether observing the success of certain fighters in the UFC, whom he feels confident he could defeat, indicates he might have made the wrong choice. However, he ultimately concluded that it`s impossible to know definitively whether it was the correct path or not.
