Anthony Wint Wastes Little Time, Scores Vicious KO in DWCS 87 Main Event

Anthony Wint (7-0 MMA, 1-0 DWCS) didn't initially have MMA on his radar. Following a college football career with the Florida International University Panthers, the 2018 NFL Draft came and went without him being selected. A stint with the New York Jets came about in the wake of rookie minicamp. 

Although Anthony Wint received playing time in the penultimate game of the Jets' 2018 season, recording a tackle and forcing a fumble versus the Green Bay Packers, this was the only meaningful game action he would receive in professional football. He'd be placed on waivers by the Jets and become a free agent at the end of the 2019 preseason.

Upon Wint being signed by the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats late in 2019, the 2020 CFL season would be delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and ultimately canceled entirely in August of that year. Anthony Wint exercised the opt-out clause of his contract with the Tiger-Cats and would not play another down in professional football.

Undefeated Anthony Wint Dishes Out Pain in DWCS 87 Main Event

Ahead of Tuesday night's DWCS 87 at the newly-renovated Meta Apex in Enterprise, NV, Wint sported an undefeated record in MMA at 6-0, with the midweek MMA promotion calling his name after two first-round finishes in a row, with both of those victories being recorded inside the opening round's opening minute.

When the first batch of fights for Contender Series was announced, Anthony Wint had a date and an opponent. Tuesday night, the Fury FC Heavyweight Champion would face off against Ohio Combat League and LFA veteran Matt Adams (6-3 MMA, 0-1 DWCS) to cap the first event of the 10th anniversary season of DWCS. 

While the fight was scheduled for three rounds at five minutes per round, Anthony Wint only needed a small fraction of the time to leave his mark. Not long after the command to fight was given by referee Herb Dean, Wint opened up the bout by scoring with some kicks to Adams' leg.

With Wint and Adams in the clinch, the former executed a takedown and unleashed some vicious ground and pound shots from the back mount. Herb Dean quickly moved in and called a halt to the fight at 34 seconds into round one.

Anthony Wint Calls Back to NFL Days in Post-Fight Interview

After the fight, the victorious Wint was reminded by Laura Sanko backstage that he said before DWCS 87, his gameplan was to end the fight in the early going. He owed it to his previous days on the gridiron.

"I played football my whole life, not only football, linebacker," Anthony Wint began. "I was used to lining up against 11 people, having 11 people against me and then dissecting a whole play in 40 seconds. Now, I've just got to dissect a man in three rounds, so, it's easy work."

Anthony Wint Goes from Academic Advisor to UFC Heavyweight

A few weeks ago, Anthony Wint was employed as an academic advisor at his alma mater. Prior to DWCS 87, he stepped away from his job to focus on fight preparation. Just minutes after Wint finished Adams at Meta Apex, UFC CEO Dana White made it official.

"I didn't get to see much, but what I got to see was pretty nasty," White said. "I have a long history with your coach, who has nothing but good things to say about you." 

Wint's coach at Kill Cliff FC is Robbie Lawler, a former UFC Middleweight Champion who acted as his cornerman in Tuesday's fight. Wint was the last of four fighters to receive a UFC deal on DWCS 87 Tuesday night.