Based on his brother William’s comments on the FloGrappling Show, Andrew Tackett appears to be developing a serious interest in transitioning to mixed martial arts. William, speaking about his brother’s training habits since the two relocated to Las Vegas, painted a picture of a competitor who may be ready to step into the cage.
“If you ask Andrew that question, the answer would be yes,” William said when asked whether his brother had been getting involved in MMA rounds in Vegas. “He’s been doing a lot of MMA rounds just because he loves doing crazy stuff. He’s just a crazy guy. He’s a maniac, a menace, you know. So, he wants to get in there and punch people and get punched and just scrap.”
The Las Vegas training environment has clearly played a role in Andrew’s growing interest. The city’s dense concentration of MMA athletes, including elite wrestlers and overseas competitors, has given both Tackett brothers regular access to high-level striking and grappling crossover training. William noted that training alongside MMA fighters in Vegas offers a different type of challenge, one where opponents push harder after getting submitted rather than easing off.
For now, Andrew has told those close to him that he is focused solely on jiu-jitsu. But William acknowledged that position may not hold.
“He says he’s just doing jiu-jitsu for right now. He’s saying that if he tells himself he’s going MMA, then he’s probably just going to go MMA.”
The hosts on the show were enthusiastic about the prospect, noting that Andrew would likely produce some wild bouts if he made the move. William drew a comparison to the Ruotolo brothers, who have competed in MMA and brought the same relentless, attack-from-everywhere style they use on the grappling mats. The potential matchup that surfaced on the show, an MMA rematch between Andrew and Kade Ruotolo, drew an immediate and excited reaction from everyone on the call.
William, for his part, said he hopes his brother stays in jiu-jitsu.
“I’m hoping Andrew just stays jiu-jitsu. I don’t want to see him out there in the cage. He already stresses me out enough on the mat.”
Whether Andrew makes the transition remains to be seen, but based on the training habits William described, the groundwork is quietly being laid.
