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Former Pro Bowl linebacker Shawne Merriman says he would be open to fighting in MMA against former athletes or a WWE star.
“I am not opposed to [fighting]” Merriman said on Fox Sports 1 TMZ Sports To display. “I would fight the good old athlete, another WWE guy, something people would pay to see in Lights Out.
“They’ve got my Instagram. They’ve got my number. If anybody really thinks about it, and it’s a good fight and people want to see it, come on and get in Lights Out. I have no problem!”
Merriman is expected to bring back his Lights Out Xtreme Fighting promotion later this month. This will be the eighth show since the company launched in 2019.
While Merriman has never fought professionally, he has long had a passion for combat sports. He briefly trained with WWE in 2014, but never became a full-time wrestler before turning to MMA.
In 2018, Merriman was contracted to fight in the World Bare Knuckle Fighting Federation but never made his debut there either amid a contract dispute.
NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2005, Merriman made Pro Bowls in each of his first three seasons before injuries derailed his career. He retired from football in 2013 after being limited to 18 games in his last three seasons.
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