Why are so many MMA fans geeked for WrestleMania 33 tonight? Shayna Baszler explains

ORLANDO – Shayna Baszler is quite familiar with the worlds of MMA and pro wrestling, and she said it’s no surprise why there’s so much overlap between the two fan bases.

We caught up with Baszler while she’s in Orlando, Fla., which tonight hosts WrestleMania 33, a WWE pay-per-view blockbuster, at Camping World Stadium.

Baszler, a former UFC and Invicta FC fighter who made her pro-MMA debut almost 14 years ago, is also a bit of a pro-wrestling aficionado. She’s recently turned her attention to the squared circle and has performed for a variety of pro-wrestling promotions.

“I think I’ll always be involved in MMA in some aspects, and I think the things that are appealing to me as a pro wrestler are the things I bring from mixed martial arts,” said Baszler, who also competed on “The Ultimate Fighter 18” (as a member of teammate Ronda Rousey’s “TUF” team). “So I think it’s important to keep that stuff fresh and stay current with that. But as far as competing, I’m not like out gunning for any UFC titles anytime soon.”

That’s why, she said, she’s ready to pursue all opportunities, and currently, that involves pro wrestling. But she’s hardly the only one. Many MMA fighters are avid pro-wrestling fans, and others like her have crossed over between the two. It makes sense since so many fans follow both sports.

But why?

“Professional wrestling and shoot fighting have a very shared history, so they’ve always been intertwined,” said Baszler, pointing to early days on the carnival circuit and some overlap with the jiu-jitsu world. ” … Ever since the beginning that people even think they know, it’s been kind of intertwined. I think it’s just a natural thing because that’s the way it’s always been.”

Check out the full video above.

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