MMA News: Daniel Puder is Tough Enough for MMA

Daniel Puder fights on July 3 in Bodog Fight: Paradise Lost. (Bodog Nation File Photo)

Mixed martial arts fighter Daniel Puder (4-0-0) is best know for winning the World Wrestling Entertainment’s first "Tough Enough Challenge" in 2004.

Later, he drew the ire of Vince McMahon by straying from the pre-determined script during a WWE event. Trapping his opponent, Kurt Angle, in a "key lock", Puder forced the would-be winner to instead tap out in front of a live audience. Angle, a former Olympic Gold Medal wrestler, has vowed revenge ever since.

If he wants his reprisal, Angle will have to follow Puder to MMA.

According to Bodog Fight founder Calvin Ayre, if Angle does make the jump to MMA, he’d have no problem finding an opponent. “Puder would be the obvious choice, but Kurt would probably want to get a few fights under his belt first," says Ayre. "But as a fan, I'd love to see that fight."

Puder is undefeated, as is his opponent for his heavyweight bout on the next episode of Bodog Fight: Paradise Lost.

Michael Alden (6-0-0) is expected to provide Puder with his toughest test to date. But Puder says his wrestling pedigree has prepared him well for the rigors of MMA.

"I think that pro-wrestling toughens you up," he says. "You're falling more, you're being dropped more and you can get hurt a lot quicker. I've been flash KO'd a few times and I had to keep going in the match."

Bodog Fight: Paradise Lost - Episode 2, Tuesday, July 3rd at 11 p.m. / 10 p.m. Central on ION television and in Canada on The Fight Network.

• Daniel Puder (4-0-0) vs. Micheal Alden (6-0-0)
• Tyler Jackson (7-3-2) vs. Kyle Watson (9-5-1)

All episodes are available worldwide through streaming video at BodogFight.com, with behind-the-scenes exclusives, fighter bios and additional footage only available online.

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