Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk reveals his favorite UFC fighter

MVP Boxing |  

Who would have thought that the legendary Tony Hawk had a passion for mixed martial arts?

Tony Hawk achieved global fame and became a household name in the mid-to-late 90s. Hawk was a huge part of skateboarding becoming a mainstream cultural phenomenon, grabbing the attention of children and young adults with his wild, nail-biting tricks and subsequent video game success. The 58-year-old has been spotted at several UFC events as a prominent cage-side celebrity over the years, but his love for the sport runs deeper.

Aside from hosting a podcast with former UFC fighter Jason Ellis and recently investing in the exciting new promotion Ki MMA, Tony Hawk tries to keep up with the fight game through his kids, who are huge fans of the UFC.

“[I am a fan of MMA] through my kids. Yeah, our kids are massive MMA fans,” Hawk told the media. “We’ve gone to a bunch of events all over the country, and they’re the ones that keep me informed and up to date on who to watch.”

There is always room for an icon like Tony Hawk in the MMA space. Many fighters will have grown up watching him or playing one of his popular video games, but which fighter is Hawk’s favorite?

Jon Jones? Alex Pereira? Maybe even Conor McGregor? No. Surprisingly, Tony Hawk opted for former UFC bantamweight title challenger Marlon Vera. ‘Chito’ has become good friends with the pioneer in recent years. The pair often surf and skateboard together, forming an unlikely but lovable friendship.

“Honestly, Chito. Because I’ve become friends with him,” Hawk continued. “We’ve surfed and skated together.”

In the video below, you can listen to Tony Hawk talk about his love for the UFC and ‘Chito’ Vera, while also seeing the pair spend time together in a skatepark.