The UFC needs giant Olympic judoka Teddy Riner

CARRYING a frame that would make Brock Lesnar look small, this mammoth judoka should be on Dana White’s radar.

Teddy Riner is a beast.

DANA White, get a contract ready.

If there is anyone to come out of the Rio’s Judo competition that has the skill to cut it in the UFC, it is Teddy Riner.

The Frenchman cemented his place as one of the biggest players in the Judo world, claiming his second straight 100kg+ gold medal on Saturday (AEST).

Riner continued a six-year win streak in the heavyweight division, defeating Japanese rival Hisayoshi Harasawa to be crowned Olympic champion.

Riner has not been beaten since 2010 and that was a referee’s decision. He has not lost by a throw for nine years.

The mammoth judoka’s victory saw some fans call for the Frenchman to follow the lead of Ronda Rousey and Hector Lombard and take his dominance to the Octagon.

“I’d like to see Teddy Riner in UFC. I think he made the round of the competition in ‘amateur’,” French journalist Romain Mahut said.

J'aimerais bien voir Teddy Riner en UFC. Je pense qu'il a fait le tour de la compétition en "amateur."

— Romain (@RomainMahut) August 12, 2016

Standing 2.04 metres (6ft 8in) and weighing in at around 140kg for Rio, Riner would tower over the entire UFC heavyweight division — even making Brock Lesnar look petite.

The 27-year-old is also one of the most popular people in France, according to polls, so finding an audience to market him to would be no hard task for White.

However Riner’s battle with injury does count against him, also struggling with his weight in an attempt to find a new desire to win and get from a gold at London in 2012 to a new title in Rio.

“I am proud and happy, because I did not give up in the final, I did not give up in the preparation and I did not give up on the Olympics, despite the injuries, all the doubts and the way I have felt,” he said after collecting the latest in a glorious line of titles.

Unbeatable.

In the weeks after his London triumph, Riner’s weight ballooned to 165kg (363 pounds) as he indulged in his favourite food.

The kilos kill the speed and mobility that is a mark of his combat. He brought it down to 139kg (306 pounds) for Rio. But Riner also had an operation on a shoulder and other injuries that caused doubts.

“Each tournament is hard, despite the prizes I have won,” Riner said.

“It’s not always a party, not all the time ippons in all directions. The others are as hungry as I am and they are looking for ways to the throw. It is getting harder to find the solution.”

Riner said it would be nice to go on to Tokyo 2020 and compete in judo’s homeland. But now holidays take priority.

Riner would make even Brock Lesnar look small.

As after London, the big man has to rediscover his will to win and how to control his hunger.

Despite having eight world titles, and two Olympic golds and a bronze (from Beijing 2008), getting up to go to the office has not always been easy.

“Its exhausting always being the last fighter,” he said of his mood stressing how much he believes he deserves his gold medal holiday.

Maybe once he recovers, a change of scenery and a move into the world of MMA could do him some good.

One thing is for sure, the UFC would reap the benefits.

— with AFP