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Ryan Garcia has had a difficult few months. After being suspended for a year due to a positive test for PEDs, everyone is wondering what the former interim WBC lightweight champion will do with all this free time. According to UFC star Khalil Rountree, the answer is pretty simple: he could get into mixed martial arts.
It's not a crazy idea, as Garcia himself has hinted at least once about wanting to venture into mixed martial arts (MMA). In February, during a press conference to promote his fight against Devin Haney, he launched one of his usual taunts at UFC bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley.
O'Malley did not take the bait and simply expressed his respect for the boxer. However, Rountree believes Garcia has a good chance to excel in MMA if he has the dedication and will to do so.
Adjusting his skillset
Speaking during UFC International Fight Week, Rountree showed his respect for the skills and work ethic needed by a high-performing fighter like Garcia.
Speaking to Givemesport, the UFC light heavyweight fighter outlined the path "KingRy" should follow to enter MMA. "I think adding kicks and takedowns... it's another element. When you have a high-level boxer, and they've been doing this and they know how to fight, their instincts are reactive to boxing," he explained.
Rountree assured that "anybody who's a high-level boxer has a fair chance in the UFC." However, he also warned that Garcia needs to incorporate some new techniques into his repertoire. "No takedowns, he goes all five. Takedowns included, he could get through the first [round]... It will be a rough second, but he could get through the first," he cautioned.
Garcia's possibilities
The path for Garcia would not be easy, specialists warn. He would have to start from the bottom, and it could take him a year or two to reach the top of the cards. This, of course, assumes he dedicates himself full-time and shows the same dedication he had in the first stage of his boxing career.
On the other hand, the UFC or one of its rival promotions could leverage the fame and name recognition that the Californian fighter has already built in boxing. Similar cases include Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira, who started out as boxers before transitioning to MMA.
Experts suggest that if the UFC wanted to take a chance on Garcia, they could bring him along slowly, avoiding opponents focused on takedowns and grappling, who could crush him in the first round. Instead, pitting him against rivals with a more vertical style could give him the space to climb the learning curve and become a top MMA contender.