5 UFC fighters that were involved in major film franchises

Randy Couture (L) and Georges St-Pierre (R) [Credit: @ScriptFeed and @MMAwiseguys - Twitter]

Since MMA's transition to the mainstream, many UFC fighters have plied their craft in other industries. One of those industries is film and television. Due to the athleticism and toughness required to compete in MMA, fighters add authenticity and legitimacy to action scenes in the eyes of audiences.

Some of the promotion's biggest stars have ventured into Hollywood and earned roles in popular franchises. This is significant because it shows fighters can still have success outside of the cage and elongates their ability to capitalize on their popularity well after their careers are over.

Bas Rutten is a great example of a fighter that has had notable roles in film/television. Since retiring, the Hall of Famer has had some memorable comedic roles alongside actor Kevin James.

@briurso @stradlemonkey @Smax140Adams @therealwallbie @lizhobbs1974 @cobracommandr15 @Biggybadass @AricHutfles @RealTarx9 @KITTKARR83 @MPygall @wolviexforce @LetsTalkMotU @Mark_Lapping @roknese @MRJIMMYBRO @randorsson @MotuCast @dfeague @HeManTheMovie @melkor2301 @HeManOrg @PixelDan @ThePowerOfHeMan @tweeterheadsf @SuperheroPOLL Have you seen Here Comes the Boom with Kevin James, Bas Rutten, and Fonzy? It was surprisingly good!! I know what you mean though! Ha ha https://t.co/YIH7yQG1c1

With the promotion being owned by WME, it's only a matter of time before fighters transitioning to film and television becomes the new norm. This list will look at five UFC fighters that were involved in major film franchises.

#5. UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou

Have you seen our Brand Ambassador @francis_ngannou in the latest @TheFastSaga? 👊

Catch #F9 in cinemas now 🎬 https://t.co/iyXNXj5g2h

Since becoming the UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou has become increasingly popular. He is the most feared knockout artist in the heavyweight division and, arguably, the entire world. Being heavyweight champion has its perks, and gaining interest from outside the sport is clearly one of them.

'The Predator' only has two films on his resume, but to his credit, they're both major film franchises. Last year, he was cast for the role of Ferocious Professional in F9, which is the ninth installment in the popular Fast & Furious franchise. It was a milestone film, as it marked the 20th anniversary of the original film The Fast and the Furious. Although Ngannou's character dies in the film, he can still say he was part of a billion-dollar franchise.

He also made a guest appearance in Jackass: Forever, which follows the Jackass crew as they perform their own stunts. It was the fourth film in a franchise that began as a TV series in 2000.