Kansas City native and UFC middleweight Julian Marquez has gradually built a name for himself since joining the UFC in 2017. Marquez did not fight in 2019 nor 2020 after a split decision loss in July of 2018. But since his return this year, Marquez has made a splash.
Marquez returned in February and picked up a submission win after two years of fight inactivity. During his post-fight interview, Marquez shouted out the Kansas City Chiefs shortly after the Super Bowl loss, followed by calling out Miley Cyrus to be his valentine, which got Cyrus’ attention and national coverage.
The middleweight stepped up his callout game this weekend. After defeating veteran Sam Alvey by submission, Marquez called out Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill to either a badminton or pickleball match.
Rising UFC middleweight Julian Marquez challenged Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill.
“I am the baddest man from Kansas City,” Marquez said to color commentator Daniel Cormier during his post-fight interview on ABC. “I am the baddest middleweight from Missouri. If you want to see who the pound-for-pound champ is from Kansas City, you’re coming after me.”
Mahomes, Kelce and Hill all responded quickly, accepting Marquez’s challenge.
https://twitter.com/espnmma/status/1380983468834840576
https://twitter.com/PatrickMahomes/status/1380997289586606083
We can settle ALL this up at Chicken n Pickle!! LFG!!! pic.twitter.com/KlNUR4NHdK
— Travis Kelce (@tkelce) April 10, 2021
https://twitter.com/cheetah/status/1380998310132072454
It is unclear if Mahomes would be allowed to participate in this. As we remember, shortly after being awarded the league MVP in February of 2019, Mahomes was spotted a couple of days later playing pickup basketball at a local gym.
The goat came out to ball tonight. What can he not do?! @PatrickMahomes5 🐐@espn @BleacherReport @YahooSports @SportsCenter pic.twitter.com/JOmL8NwFz6
— Faiz Jiwani (@Faiz_Jiwani) February 5, 2019
However, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said that he spoke to Mahomes’ agent, Leigh Steinberg, and said Mahomes was not allowed to play basketball.
Mahomes did participate in Big Slick KC’s celebrity softball game in 2019, where he hit a home run during the charity event. Though it is worth noting that Big Slick’s softball game is more organized than a pickup basketball game at a local gym.
Hill has posted several videos of himself playing basketball on his YouTube channel, as well as other activities, such as paintball, boxing and American Ninja Warrior-like stunts.
If Mahomes, Kelce and Hill are all allowed to compete against Marquez, it would certainly be a lot of fun to watch, as it would attract a lot of attention in and outside of Kansas City.