Undefeated Fury Fighting Heavyweight champion Anthony Wint worshiped God during his walkout heading into his bout against Jamahl Tatum.
As he walked out, Elevation Worship’s “O Come to the Altar” rang through the stadium as Wint sang along.
He sang:
Sing alleluia, Christ is risen
Bow down before Him
For He is Lord of all
Sing alleluia, Christ is risenO come to the altar
The Father’s arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ
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In March, Wint beat Tatum by KO “37 seconds into the first round.”
He began preparing for that fight against Tatum in January. He was 6-0 at the time. Although Wint fights to win, it’s not his top priority.
“I used to plead with the Lord — why me, why this path? Over time, the whispers grew louder: one more faithful step, and the path will become clearer,” the now 7-0 champion wrote in the caption.
He concluded the post with Isaiah 30:21, which reads, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.'”
Before Wint became an MMA fighter, he was a linebacker for the New York Jets. The heavyweight champion wasn’t selected in the draft, but in May 2018, “the New York Jets signed Wint after his performance in the team’s rookie minicamp,” according to MMA Junkie.
“If I had a percentage on it, it’s probably like 10% you’re gonna make the team if you come in that direction,” Wint told the outlet. “But man, I put my faith in God.”
Wint worked hard to play in an NFL game, which he accomplished as he filled in for the injured Brandon Shell. He would force a fumble in his first professional game and would only go on to play one more before he hung up his cleats.
“I realized like playing in the NFL — and I don’t want to say it like this — but it’s not as hard as you think it is,” Wint said of his journey to the NFL. “Making the team is hard, just like fighting is. It’s how you take advantage of your opportunities. If you’re not drafted high, it’s like, ‘We didn’t invest any money in you, we’re gonna stick with the guy we invest the money in.’ But a lot of people can play. People just don’t get the opportunity to play. I was just blessed to be one of those guys who got an opportunity to play. Now I know I could have played. I just didn’t play as long as I wanted to.”
He admitted that being in the NFL wasn’t a life-long dream and that he “wasn’t a passionate football player” — he just liked competing. So when he left pro football, he found his stride in the MMA.
“I like being able to put everything on the table and doing something that somebody says I can’t do. Then obviously going against another man, which fighting is the ultimate version of, is what I like,” Wint said.
“I definitely picked it up quicker than I expected,” he described of his turn to the MMA. “Wrestling has always been my bread and butter. I started football at 6 or 7. I started wrestling at 9. We use the word ‘love.’ I always loved wrestling more just because of the camaraderie. I think it’s a little bit more pure. Football, you get all types of egos, everybody plays different positions. There’s different variables that come into play.”
“Wrestling is an individual sport. What you put in is what you get out,” he explained. “Everybody’s doing the same thing. If I’m a 220-pounder, the heavyweight on the team, the 106-pounder, or the 120-pounder is doing the same thing. Is it at the same capacity, or do we have the same skills? No, but there’s a lack of ego because we’re all one unit, even though we’re all individuals.”
From an NFL long-shot to an undefeated MMA heavyweight champion, Wint’s journey shows the power of leaning on the Lord.
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