The entry into the mixed martial arts world of former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL star Herschel Walker drew a harsh rebuke from the most powerful man in the sport, UFC President Dana White, who called the 47-year-old's foray into MMA, "ridiculous." But on Tuesday Walker fired back and said White doesn't understand the kind of athletic talent he has. "Who ever made him the guy to measure athletic talent?" Walker said on ESPN First Take. "I don't think Dana knows anything about athletic talent. He knows about fighters, which is different, but I will say this: He's running a show right now with heavyweights and I'll put dimes to donuts, all the heavyweights on his show right now I will beat. That's pretty easy to say. I always tell people put their money where their mouth is. Dana says I'm so old? Why doesn't he step into the ring with me?"
Walker claims that he works out six hours a day and he's in even better shape now than he was during his playing days, and he said he could be fighting for Strikeforce before the end of the year.
"I'm shooting for the middle of December," Walker said. "I want sooner than later. It's not like I'm going to be a fighter for years."
Although Walker wasn't pleased with what White said about him, he came across in the First Take interview like a man who genuinely loves MMA and is just looking for an opportunity to test himself. And he even thanked White and UFC co-owners Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta for making MMA a viable sport.
"We got to give Dana his props," Walker said. "Dana and the Fertittas have done a great, great job with the UFC."
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