By Michael David Smith
- Lead Blogger
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Not many players from the 1996 NFL draft are still in the league, but one of that year's picks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end
Marcus Jones, is still a professional athlete: Jones is trying his hand in MMA, and his first fight on
The Ultimate Fighter will air Wednesday night on Spike.
Jones was a first-round draft pick in 1996 and had a solid if unspectacular career, finishing eighth in the NFL in sacks in 2000. Now he views himself as simply a draft pick -- drafted by coach Rampage Jackson -- who's trying to make it.
Will he make it in MMA? It won't be easy being a 36-year-old UFC rookie, but he certainly has the athletic talent, and he says he's been working hard on his Brazilian jiu jitsu skills. My full interview with Jones is
here, and I found him to be a likable and engaging guy. I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do in the Octagon.
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