Olympic Gold Medalist David Taylor Considering MMA Move After 2024 Games - MMA Fighting

David Taylor, an Olympic gold medalist and world champion in freestyle wrestling, discusses possibly making a move to mixed martial arts, Bo Nickal’s path, 2024 Olympics, WWE, and more.
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[@jakedemaggio8649]

Taylor coming to mma would be absolutely incredible! He even touches a championship he’ll be considered the consensus greatest combat athlete of all time! 🇺🇸

[@ZzsiegzZ]

He is fully capable but my main concern is his age. DT is in his prime right now, he will burn some of that window for Olympics, learning striking, and getting fights. Not to mention the large gaps in between fights in mma. The entire roster ducking him will delay things as well. He could be pass the prime time window before he reaches a title

[@Currentlyundiscovered1000]

If Bo dominates he will be fast tracked

[@ToxicAvengerCleanYourMind]

Well it's story of chasing a title that is interesting and I'm sure Taylor wants to stay busy and earn some paychecks

[@billywalendom]

Could they make mandatory fights to avoid ducking ?

[@RelentlessDjango]

His age is fine. Fighters are getting older, but getting better at training and prolonging their bodies. The US is the only country IN THE WORLD that considers 30s too old for sport.

[@kpath74]

Yoel Romero didn’t start mma until 32 and the guy is 44 now and still top 10.

[@ChengManChing]

I hope he doesn’t go the MMA route, but if he does, best of luck to him. He’s an incredible talent.

[@rhino447attack]

agreed, might be getting a little old to start that journey lol

[@440toto]

Thank you so much for getting David on! Absolute legend of the sport

[@xmikex902x]

As a huge wrestling fan, my excitement would be off the charts for this. I’ve been saying one of the most exciting things that’s going to happen over the next several years in MMA is the clash of the Dagestanis and elite American wrestlers. The gym that Bo partnered with ATT on near PSU is going to be an incredible funnel straight into MMA

[@Sam-ng3of]

If the Dagestani's who had Olympic wrestling background (for Russia) joined..

[@politicalminds]

@@Sam-ng3of exactly.. the ufc ones aren't even the best Degestani or Chechyn wrestlers.

[@jesusiskingofkings4428]

@@Sam-ng3of taylor smoked the best russian wrestler, he is world and olympic champ, American wrestling is supreme to dagestani, we won the team championships for the world this year.

[@paleo704]

@@jesusiskingofkings4428 yep. Correct

[@JP_26]

@@jesusiskingofkings4428 bingo

[@henrymaccus]

I have watched David since he was a kid. Probably my favorite wrestler of all Time. Pure class!'

[@Hikergy16]

This new generation coming in is changing the game. I LOVE IT

[@russellsidell]

What a gentleman! Would love to see David make an MMA run

[@jaken.6112]

The average joe couldn't fathom how good this man is. Its honestly hard to comprehend. Example, Khamzat, this guy can literally make him look like a grown up wrestling with a toddler if they wrestled. DT definition of a Prodigy

[@addounsamiyoucef1999]

Khamzat would brutalize this boy in mma tho which is the sport he is actually good at that like saying tiger woods make khabib look like an amateur at golf lol

[@sohatsharma2004]

gotta be careful with that. Josh koschek was a hodge trophy finalist and got dominated in mma wrestling by GSP. MMA wrestling isnt same as freestyle.

[@jaken.6112]

@@sohatsharma2004 I'd say you can't be too famiilar w/David Taylor if you're comparing him w/the likes of Koschek

[@paleo704]

@@sohatsharma2004 Koscheck admittedly quit training wrestling believing he had it in the bag

[@SJ-gk2km]

@@paleo704 yeh people should not use St Pierre as an example as he was something we may never see again in terms of mma takedowns being that elite from a non wrestling background. Also, lots of great wrestlers forget strategy falling in love with their striking.

[@flochfitness]

Bo Nickel is sharpening his sword after this interview…

[@Bryanagrace]

Yazdani and Taylor is wrestlings greatest rivalry ngl. If we just talking about in the states it’s Dake and Burroughs

[@ItNeverBeganBuddyBoyo]

If wreslers in iran had the opportunities that even these russians have to compete, they’d definitelyhave champions. Sadly theyll never get to even participate bc for one its illegal in iran and two political bs that wont allow visas etc

[@Ahme313]

​@@ItNeverBeganBuddyBoyoyou talking mma right ?

[@ItNeverBeganBuddyBoyo]

@@Ahme313 yeah

[@daneslayer2269]

DT would crush it, Josh Koscheck was a great wrestler, when he transitioned he mostly worked on striking & had a great career. Cormier, Couture, Cejudo, Velasquez, Chael, Coleman, Hendricks, Romero, Hendo, Lindland, Severn, Frankie E., Sugar Rashad, King Mo, Mark Schultz, TJ, Uriah, Barnett & more were all outstanding wrestlers before transition to MMA. DT would be good at any sport he decided to play, he’s a generational athlete.

[@rno152]

different era , he would beat alot of fighters but wouldnt reach contender status in todays game.

[@poopywelder]

I always thought Austin desantos would convert well to mma the dude has that aggressive style in wrestling… he just seems like an animal for mma

[@skunkbunc2499]

Lol no doubt

[@nitrox1613]

Dude had crazy pace and cardio. Would remind of how fast Khamzat starts fights but I don’t see Desanto getting tired😊

[@john55017]

it would a shame if he doesn't. His style would be so fun to watch in mma and would work well also

[@zabdi5710]

@@nitrox1613 getting punched and kicked all the time is different than just wrestling. it's a lot more exhausting

[@unclerico7271]

Agree

[@xoat6]

I'm waiting for nick suriano 🙏🏾 to come to the ufc too

[@quack9104]

🎉

[@nitrox1613]

Bro imagine desanto holy moly the pace he would put on people

[@Hs.FilmStudy]

Great interview, Ariel. Just wish you would have asked him which gyms he likes and also if he can make 170 or if he would opt for 185... would he fight Bo? A few more questions Also some questions re Dake, College wrestling and Dagestanis in wrestling + mma would have been nice!

[@emmanueludoh77]

David Taylor is such an incredible wrestler, he is ultra elite in that world; but he's 33 years old now which is super late for a transition to MMA. I wish he'd have considered the move a bit earlier in his career.

[@philliphayner8357]

True. Daniel cormier was a successful late transition. He was 30. DT is so elite that it will be interesting to see what happens.

[@ginovalentino5735]

Please Fight DT! We all want it and you know that you would beat a few guys in the top 10-15 right now. I vote YES!

[@paulmalfara6071]

David Taylor is an upstanding human being and an unbelievable competitor. Kudos to DT for giving such honest respect to Hasdani Yazdani, his arch rival from Iran. He speaks highly of Yazdani and compares him to himself, two young men representing their countries to the best of their abilities. When these two guys face each other, you see the best hand fighting you will ever see. They are the top two at 86kg. Nobody else is close.

[@googlegmail9888]

Rival? He’s like 5-1 against him

[@dougdickason]

Its because of David that Bo Nickal chose the UFC, because Bo had to Wrestle David for a spot in the Toykyo olympics and David won 6 or 7 to 0, so Bo knew David would be in his way at that weight, and if Bo chose to go down in weight he had other all time greats like Jordan Burroughs and Kyle Dake in his way. However, seeing Bo in the UFC, i think he made the right choice, and besides being a world class wrestler, i was surprised at how good of hands he had, as it seems he has a natural talent for stand up fighting.

[@MikeySkywalker]

Any wrestler who dominated in folk style, will always be good in MMA. End of story.

[@unclerico7271]

I've been saying that for years but nobody(except American wrestlers) seems to understand the importance of folkstyle mat wrestling. The art of getting off bottom AND the art of riding someone is completely lost w/freestyle and Greco. Great take

[@yonathankebede9694]

man is 30 post 2024 hes going to be 34. starting mma at 34 is ................

[@MikeySkywalker]

@@yonathankebede9694 ​ Alex Pereira is 35. He started MMA for all intents and purposes when he was 33. He is the current Middleweight Champion, so I'd say that worked out pretty well for him. Also 2024 is not four years away, it's a year and a half away. I don't know what kind of math you're doing. You can train prior to your first fight. It took Bo Nickal less than a year to transition and six more months to make the UFC. Folk wrestlers have a massive advantage.

[@yonathankebede9694]

@@MikeySkywalker my bad it was a loose comment a just dumb simple mistake, but it doesn't matter he's too old to do anything in today's ufc

[@MikeySkywalker]

@@yonathankebede9694 Based on what? I just gave you multiple examples of why that is not the case.

[@ImagineBeingFat]

David Taylor enters the building Bo Nickal has left the chat room.

[@roytaylor6519]

I can't remember what they called him now back when he was still in high school or probably well before that it was magic something. I've been a fan for years of him. And Jordan burrows Kyle dake im sure i spelled there last names wrong but them guys was and still amazing wrestlers

[@KG_Toronto]

Respect

[@COACHWARBLE]

Thank you so much for showing our sport today. Please have Dan Gable on some day. He is our spokesman.

[@lmt-adventures620]

If Ben Askren succeeded in Belator for many years, David Taylor would succeed in the UFC!

[@LakeNonaFan]

Just like bo nickal, this guy will be the middleweight champion easily if he decides to go into mma

[@johnboylan3832]

No he wouldn't. He admits he has barely even hit any mitts or done much BJJ. You guys are clueless.

[@LakeNonaFan]

@@johnboylan3832 of course right now because he is still focusing on wrestling. But once he transitions to mma he’s going to be a beast that will storm through the middleweight division

[@johnboylan3832]

@@LakeNonaFan He won't. You don't learn how to strike and do BJJ to a good level in a year. He is too old to give it the time it needa.

[@LakeNonaFan]

@@johnboylan3832 do you know what this guy is capable of? He’s a champion in anything he does. Just with his wrestling alone he is a serious threat to all middleweights. Even at his age he can do great things. He’s only 32 in his prime. All he needs is basic striking and ground and pound

[@scribble3478]

Ronda stormed through her division with just wrestling but as soon as the competition increased she just hadn't got the well rounded skills to beat the elites. Yeah this guy is an awesome wrestler but you can't say he'll storm through the middle weight division if he doesn't have any boxing, kick boxing or jj..

[@swcordovaf]

DT is the epitome of wrestling. MMA is brutal. Hard to learn new tricks at 33….

[@ViolinMustard-jo3hp]

Taylor’s a beast. He beat Jordan Burroughs and Bo Nickal too

[@turneryoung905]

Tyrell Fortune and David Taylor = 🐐🐐🐐

[@dannydonnelly8198]

I think he’d do pretty well, it would have been better if had he stated right after the last Olympics but there are fighters who started in their 30’s. He probably trains more in other martial arts than he lets on if I had to guess.

[@stevekwan8232]

He will be head coach at a school like Michigan, North Carolina, penn

[@Comp164]

He could whip Bo in a minute

[@paleo704]

Yep. Way better

[@MohammadJavadSalehi-dv9yw]

داوید دوستت داریم I love you david

[@frankiecal3186]

USA Wrestling vs UFC would be badass They should teach the USA Wrestling team Catch Wrestling submissions and watch them submit the entire UFC, Bellator,One FC roster.

[@whatyouknowboutme]

Wouldn’t even be fair

[@adamdzh1913]

I saw him once being knocked down in a wrestling match

[@unclerico7271]

Yeah he got kicked in the face at the world championships a few yrs back. It's a Lil different when ur not expecting it. In MMA I assume he will be looking for that kick to the face lol

[@rno152]

facts. his chin is suspect. respect to him he still won the match, but had that same blow hit him in a fight... he'd be finished

[@rno152]

@@unclerico7271 you dont fight expecting to get hit in the face, just like you dont wrestle expecting to get pinned.

[@chetfreeland1920]

I'd rather see him try jiujitsu compete in ADCC things like that

[@wallystraub4282]

David Taylor...MMA....Yes please

[@shreddedguy679]

is this the guy that beat bo nickal?, if he can learn striking and bjj, both of these guys are the answer to the dagestani wrestling

[@andrewherwald1767]

Yeah he’s beat bo a couple times

[@treyburro5525]

Bo switched over to MMA 24, he lost to David Taylor in the finals of the Olympic Trials at 24...while David was 29 with many, many years more freestyle experience than him. It takes more than a couple years to learn striking and BJJ are you dense or just oblivious? At 31 you RARELY get anywhere these days in MMA debuting even if you're an Olympic Gold medalist. And don't mention Couture or Cormier, there's exceptions but it's not likely and it's easier at HW and LHW due to how weak those divisions are.

[@shreddedguy679]

@@treyburro5525 bro i dont know how old this guy is, infact i dont even know who he is, just heard from a bo nickal interview he lost to this guy, outside of america, nobody knows who these guys are let alone their age so idk who u calling dense u fu***g mug lol, I am aware of how long it takes to learn martial arts dummy

[@Comp164]

He beat Bo soundly

[@billywalendom]

What about Saddullaev

[@pablofonseca13411]

If you are thinking of changing to MMA.. Box first and then Thai boxing.. after that jiu jitsu.. very important.. you have to be able to throw a knockout punch…. Then find your ground game…

[@ignaciopavoni499]

🔥🔥🤝

[@filth6996]

If he’s serious about fighting he has to go all in now and forget about the Olympics. He’s already 31 and he’s already won gold before. A UFC title would do more for his legacy at this point and make him a lot more money.

[@giacalonebuilding4443]

A ufc title do more than a 2nd Olympic gold medal? U are nuts

[@giacalonebuilding4443]

Would be insane to see starocci bo Taylor and Snyder as ufc champs

[@ozguraydn8407]

Dumb ass take. Bo will be the champion in couple years and Starocci will also be great. But Taylor is just too old also not really passionate about fighting. Snyder idk never seen him talking about it

[@giacalonebuilding4443]

@@ozguraydn8407 I didn’t say likely, just that it would be cool 🤷‍♂️

[@garyayers9200]

David taylor iowa coach

[@Yoger100]

There's absolutely no problem with he's age . It all depends on whether he is talented in striking or not. Everything else is bs . If he can strike and has the toughness to take punches he'll be a champ with consistency

[@pepe7drum]

Im excited for these american wrestlers coming to UFC

[@Rievoldt]

At 33-34 and not a heavyweight? Gonna be rough

[@TheFightInsideTheFighter]

This man would break the 185 division in the ufc right now…

[@frankiecal3186]

Tell that to Yoel or randy Couture.

[@TheFightInsideTheFighter]

@@frankiecal3186 randy did it and wrote the book, Yoel is a Cuban wrestler and a damn good one but he is no Magic Man

[@gonzalorocha]

@@TheFightInsideTheFighter I wonder how he’d do against Bo. Like obviously he beat him and they train, but Bo’s been training longer so I think he has the advantage there and the gap in striking will be the bigger difference maker.

[@TheFightInsideTheFighter]

@@gonzalorocha hmmm out of respect for MMA I’ll say Bo gets him if they fought today, even with Bo’s head start I’d say 1-1.5 years and I’d favor DT3

[@uroskovacic2469]

Sandhagen looks different

[@williamoleary9330]

I bet Dave’s mom said about this interview that he should have taken his hat off….lol

[@johnjohnstone5206]

Ariel needs to work on his questions. Doesnt even ask if he'd go into coaching wrestling.

[@paleo704]

Too focused on the MMA route

[@rno152]

he should continue being the best wrestler in the world. no point in moving into MMA as an older athlete , plus something tellls me his chin might be suspect. he almost got KO'd in a wrestling match when some russian kicked out and glanced him in the head

[@yo2stix]

Bo is recruiting a Penn State army.

[@cesarherrera2540]

Imagine him vs Bo Nikal

[@unclerico7271]

Well he kept Bo off the world/olympic team a year or 2 back. But I imagine Bo's striking and bjj are a Lil ahead of him.

[@gsp3428]

Bo would smash him, because Bo has very good striking and BJJ and he doesnt have either right now

[@zacherysias4574]

Hire me for a collegiate wrestling segments Ariel. 😳

[@russlumley4974]

I would rather see him as a wrestling coach!!!

[@Comp164]

Khamzat .. couldn’t get in the ring with him

[@jessefromal9093]

Wow jus transition PSUs entire lineup into the UFC and they takeover the game! Every weight any division Nittany Lions win

[@ericholland-cr1nt]

This dude beat bo nikal 5-0 i think

[@brianegal2286]

I want to see Taylor and Dake fight. Nobody ever understood how Taylor (obviously a much better wrestler) ever got beat by Dake. Now Dake beat Burroughs after a decade of taking wrestling lessons from him. Every now and then even a blind hog will find an acorn. Taylor would kill Dake in an MMA matchup!

[@rno152]

50/50 fight in my eyes , would be interesting . Personally id like to see Taylor whip his ass and win by brutal TKO, nothing against Dake

[@treyburro5525]

Taylor you're too old, don't bother man. Get more medals for the US in wrestling.

[@LakeNonaFan]

His first fight can be in the ufc. 32 years of age is the perfect prime age. He can be champion

[@da9413]

@@LakeNonaFan nawww , too old because his experience in jui jitsui and striking will be compared to a journeyman if that.

[@LakeNonaFan]

@@da9413 he’ll be 33 at his ufc debut. He will be able to dominate guys just based off of his wrestling. All he would need to work on is striking and a little bit of bjj. He can have a good 5 year run with his determined mindset. He will be a major problem for guys

[@da9413]

@LakeNonaFan stop being a fan boi, he will be a problem but when he reachest the elite like a robert Whittikier he will melt . If if were 24 , that would be a learning loss but at his age, he has no time for learning losses to become a champion.

[@LakeNonaFan]

@@da9413 Daniel Cormier started mma around david taylor’s age and he is a goat double champion. And David is a better wrestler than dc so imagine what he can do. All he needs is basic striking. The reality is these high level wrestlers dominate mma. Also to be fair whittaker is one of the best middleweights of all time

[@Comp164]

All go watch him on utube

[@pillowhands3617]

He’s way too old. He’s 32. 33 after the games. 34 making his ammy debut. 35 pro debut 36 UFC debut 38 first title shot That’s if everything goes fantastic. No injuries, losses, setbacks. It’s assuming he can learn to strike.

[@ozguraydn8407]

Yeah maybe İf it was 2014 He would be succesful but the game Changed so much you cant really start at that age and become succesful no more

[@sith-o-mac]

this guy would destroy bo nickal! mark my words

[@williamoleary9330]

I hope he doesn’t. He’s got young kids and I don’t think it’s in his nature. He’s a Head Coach all the way. They’d flock to him like a pipe piper

[@wuhala100]

Every time that I hear the name Sam Calovino or the Lab, I think of cheater TJ Pillashaw.

[@vincecapri1]

Looks like my dogs chewed his ears!!!

[@khodemir4416]

He once got knocked out in wrestling by Russian dude (Kurguliev) 😂

[@nigelleeakamoneybanklocks8903]

Something that NEVER happened

[@addounsamiyoucef1999]

@@nigelleeakamoneybanklocks8903 it did he got hit in the by kurguliev while he was defending a takedown

[@jesusiskingofkings4428]

why you laughing? He smokes the russians like cigars, world and olympic champ kid.

[@addounsamiyoucef1999]

@@jesusiskingofkings4428 🤣

[@ellieswagaye]

Sounds like a typical Russian if they’re too stupid to follow the rules of the sport ☠️

[@jbitile8241]

Henry wrestling doesn't work as good in mma. Those Dagestans wrestlers eat American wrestlers up were kinda make us American weak

[@unclerico7271]

Henry? That gold medalist that won 2 UFC titles in 2 different weights? THAT Henry?? 🤔🤔🤔

[@SSulekShorts]

As the great iron mike once said “everyone has a plan till they get punched in the face”… him saying he can avoid that is just unrealistic

[@dillonmackay683]

Khabib did it his entire career practically

[@henrymaccus]

Or you get the life squeezed out of you by a wrestler.

[@Comp164]

Never WWE

[@henrymaccus]

The day is coming if you did not participate in High School and College wrestling you will not have a very good chance of winning in MMA.

[@kevinjansen6901]

Taylor beat nickal 2x in wrestling! Do your homework ariel hes your guest

[@bryanbrinkman9078]

Sounds scared. Not alot of confidence in his fighting skill?

[@dillonmackay683]

He hasn’t done combat sports outside of wrestling and he’s only just starting to think about it

[@user-jw7im9nj2j]

he is old for MMA

[@dominiccoleman4352]

Bruh he's so late. Dude is 31yrs old

[@frankiecal3186]

Tell that to Randy Couture or olinik.

[@marshapelo9830]

Too old to start brand new in mma for pro level.

[@senecaturnpike9179]

@@marshapelo9830 younger than Cormier and Romero when they started.

[@dyfox3856]

@@senecaturnpike9179 Cormier is a different breed. Yoel is a different species

[@chaysinmcclain9659]

@@dyfox3856 😂 indeed mos-def

[@Mc-my1pe]

I think he's too old now.

[@marshapelo9830]

He's 31. Too old to start mma.

[@charlescharlemagne4907]

not true, DC started around that time. He will be close to 34 when he has his first fight which is definitely late

[@paleo704]

Randy Couture started at 34

[@thedude5792]

this guy is going to get destroyed in mma...his attitude of not being a killer at all will show out. Yes he can wrestle but lets see him on his feet when a guy from Brazil is coming for his life

[@chaysinmcclain9659]

He is a killer!! And most def would be able to handle a grappling heavy Brazilian!

[@vincerogers1417]

Dude is an assassin on the mat…would be no different in a cage…you are wrong. He has had many Russians and Iranians coming at him as hard as any Brazilian would.

[@lexingtonconcord8751]

So you don't know who David Taylor is? Gotcha 👍🏻

[@senecaturnpike9179]

Poor bo nickel, about to be the bridesmaid again.

[@Yoger100]

You never know which one translate the wrestling skills into MMA, also striking is another challenge

[@Thebluesky0311]

Taylor coming to mma would be absolutely incredible! He even touches a championship he’ll be considered the consensus greatest combat athlete of all time! 🇺🇸

[@jessefromal9093]

He wld be a triple belt UFC CHAMP in less than a year