The coach of UFC champion Alex Volkanovski believes former Eels star Zac Lomax could have career in combat sports as the 26-year-old weighs up his next career move.
Lomax, who has spoken of his love for MMA in the past, walked away from Parramatta one year into a four-year $2.6 million contract amid reports he will sign with R360, which will reportedly kick off in October next year.
But without his NRL contract and uncertainty about the details regarding the rebel competition, Lomax has been linked with a move to French Rugby ahead of the R360 season – or, he could potentially take to the ring or the octagon.
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Lomax has close links with Volkanovski since his days at the Dragons and has been spotted training inside the UFC star's gym in Wollongong this week, leading to questions about a possible switch to an entirely new sport.
Volkanovski's trainer Joe Lopez said he has worked with Lomax for some time, and believes the former NRL star is "100 per cent interested" in stepping foot inside the ring.
"Exactly what happens will be up to Zac," Lopez told Fox Sports.
"But I just know that when he isn't training for footy, he's always here doing stuff with us.
"When it comes to world class boxers, no not yet. But if Zac was going to fight, say, another couple of NRL players, I think he smokes 'em."
He added: "I've had a few NRL boys in here do some sparring and they're all tough. "But the difference with Zac, he has some real talent.
"I actually think no matter what sport this kid applies himself to, he would do well.
"When it comes to fighting too, Zac has a very good eye for judging distance, which is also something Volk had from the very start.
"That's really hard to train."
Lomax spoke of his love for MMA during a chat with former UFC champ Rob Whittaker this week, revealing that combat sports were in the back of his mind when he was having drama over a positional change at the Saints.
"Being down in Wollongong I was fortunate enough to do a bit of training with Volk and his coach and I just fell in love with is straight away," he said on Fox Sports.
"I've been a boxing fan since I was a kid but rubbing shoulders with those guys I fell in love with the UFC. I remember talking to my family a little bit about things.
"I was weighing up different options and thinking about where my passions were leaning.
"And again, boxing and MMA is something I love."
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