Forrest Griffin on training with Detroit Pistons: I could make them UFC pros in a week

LAS VEGAS – When it comes to the Detroit Pistons’ recent training sessions with UFC fighters, the pro fighters are far more bullish about the NBA reps possibly excelling in MMA.

As part of a team-building exercise before their season kicks off, the Pistons headed to Las Vegas and the UFC Training Center for hands-on MMA training with the likes of former champ Forrest Griffin, current champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk and heavyweight Stefan Struve.

“Some of the UFC guys came over to the Pistons facility and did some training-camp stuff,” Pistons center Andre Drummond SAID. “I was like, ‘You know, it’d be a great idea to return the favor. They did some our workouts, so we might as well try some of their workouts.'”

The result?

“A lot of funny bloopers have been recorded,” he JOKED. “A lot of guys don’t know what they’re doing. I don’t know what I’m doing. We’re outside of our element right now, but we’re having fun with it.”

Griffin, though, wasn’t nearly as critical. In fact, he joked that he’s just two days shy of being able to add some new additions to the UFC roster.

“I’m so good I can make professionals out of these guys – if I had seven days,” he said. “I only got five days. If I had a full seven days, you’d see UFC pros.

“These guys are athletic, and it’s understanding how your body moves, moving your body. If I had more time with them – these guys can all pick it up and be professional fighters, almost all of them, seriously. They’re all athletes, but they make a lot more money playing basketball, so they should keep doing it.”

The Pistons went 32-50 last year (after a disastrous 5-23 start) and finished dead last in the Eastern Conference’s Central Division. It was their seventh consecutive losing season.

With a new season and renewed hopes, the team is trying new stuff.

“They realized they have a bunch of news guys on the roster (and) a bunch of young players,” UFC PR Director Dave Lockett said. “They wanted to build some toughness, build a bit of an identity. And coming out here is sort of a team-building exercise.”

Did it work? Check out the above video.

And for more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.