Shinsuke Nakamura’s UFC 303 appearance: How it happened

One big thing

WWE superstar Shinsuke Nakamura made a surprise appearance at UFC 303, cornering MMA fighter Rei Tsuruya. Nakamura’s presence seemed to bring luck, as Tsuruya earned a victory and maintained his undefeated record.

The details

• Nakamura appeared in Tsuruya’s corner for his fight against Carlos Hernandez on June 29 in Las Vegas.
• Tsuruya won the fight and improved his MMA record to 10-0-0.
• The main attraction of the event was the main event between Alex Pereira and Jiří Procházka.

Why it matters

Nakamura’s appearance at UFC 303 highlights the growing crossover between professional wrestling and MMA. It also showcases Nakamura’s versatility and appeal outside of the WWE ring.

Behind the scenes

In an interview with SportsNet’s Aaron Bronsteter, Nakamura revealed how his UFC 303 appearance came about:

• Nakamura has an MMA background and knows Tsuruya’s father.
• Tsuruya’s father asked Nakamura to corner his son.
• Nakamura immediately agreed, calling it “an honor.”

Nakamura’s quote

“Because I had an MMA career at the time, I knew his father for a long time. So his son got a ticket to the UFC, so his father asked me if I could be his corner and I said, ‘Sure, it’s my honor. ‘”

What’s next

• Nakamura last appeared in WWE in-ring action on April 22.
• Since then, he has been participating in WWE live events.
• Fans are eager to see what’s next for “The King of Strong Style.”

Are you excited about the possibility of seeing more WWE superstars make the jump to the UFC world? Share your thoughts in the comments below!