The Absolute BEST Wrestlers Who Fought MMA!

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With Penn State wrestler Bo Nickal taking the UFC by storm, you may also be wondering which other wrestlers have done well in MMA? From Daniel Cormier to Bubba Jenkins, this is your full list of the best wrestler fighters.
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CREDITS
Script: Steve Guzzo
Editor: Alexander G
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#UFC #MMA #Wrestlers #Bellator #UFCFightNight #MMATraining #TKO #DanielCormier #WWE #WrestlingNews #NCAAWrestling #CollegeWrestling #Fanco #FancoWrestling
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[@Mma-basement-215]

Dan Henderson, Randy couture, Chael sonnen, Tyron Woodley kamar Usman ,Colby Covington, Justin Gaethje even tho he don't use it ...Sooo many guys

[@mynkvng9825]

I was literally thinking of usman.

[@adriandavis7384]

Don Frye and Chuck Lidell talk about a wrestling background.

[@Chimpo101]

john jones

[@jar1345]

I Wrestled Benson Henderson in NAIA

[@GSteele92]

Also the beast Dan Severn

[@dmlions]

Ryan Bader was a Sun Devil 88-34 not the best wrestler a solid MMA career

[@jsgrindstaff]

Cormier it’s also one of the greatest because of his continued impact on the MMA and wrestling. He has excelled as an announcer and coach. Both of those all skills in of themselves and has shown he is elite in almost any career he pursues.

[@billthebutcher2]

Lots more to mention, national finalists like Chad Mendes who fought twice for the UFC title, Lance Palmer who who won two PFL titles, Reese Andy who fought in the UFC and IFL, not to mention a lot of the others mentioned in other comments. Shane Carwin was a D2 national champion and the UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion.

[@blankcheck2276]

With Bo helping open an American Top Team facility in happy valley, along with Penn St. wrestling and The Nittany Lion Wrestling Club already there. Happy valley is setting up to be a hub for all aspiring wrestler and fighter.

[@towardstar]

It always seemed strange to me that wrestling doesnt rep its mma champs harder. If wrestling to mma is a viable career path this is something to be proud of. A national treasure if wrestling is part of your school system like it is here.

[@jakedemaggio8649]

Chris Weidman NEEDS to be mentioned. One of the top middleweights of all time.

[@OneManParade]

Jon Jones and Cain Valasquez both wrestled a Iowa Central community college in Fort Dodge, IA.

[@quatxx]

what about Henry Cejudo? He should be somewhere on this list just because of his olympic freestyle record

[@bobbymoore7087]

Did u not listen to what he said about Henry?!

[@billthebutcher2]

Mo Lawal. Gregor Gillespie was a National Champ. Michael Chandler. Mark Kerr another national champ. There were a lot of wrestlers who only had a handful of fights or just one. Kenny Monday, Kevin Jackson, Rulon Gardner, Cary Kolat, Townsend Saunders to name a few. But probably the most unlucky was NCAA runner up and current Michigan coach, Sean Bormet who drew all-time great fighter Wanderlei Silva in his mma debut in Brazil.

[@levis503]

Daniel at 11 smh. If it wasn't for cael he would been a national champion not to mention he was an olympian

[@andrewdijoseph904]

Fr the disrespect is crazy

[@kurtzahner8590]

I watched a documentary about DC and it talked about how he's always been behind the people regarded as the greatest of all time in there respected sport (Sanderson and jones) to loosing his daughter then having a bad weight cut before the Olympics and not being able to wrestle in 08 or maybe 12 don't quote me but it made me a huge fan of DC

[@levis503]

@@kurtzahner8590 do you know the name of the doc? I would like to check it out.

[@kurtzahner8590]

@Levi S I want to say it was the e60 special they did if you have hulu all the e60s are on there the episode is called dcs universe

[@arnolddonaldson7129]

Wrestling has a big problem with riding time and it needs to be addressed because it rewards stalling. Let me explain: How often does the bottom wrestler nearly turn a reversal but doesn't quite get it- but it's close but results in a stalemate and they start over in top-bottom position? In many instances the wrestler who is technically on the bottom has more control- but isn't judged "to be in control." Even though he obviously have a more dominant position, the riding time continues to add up for the top wrestler. Matches have been won and loss basically due to the top wrestler hanging on to get stalemates. And it's damaging the sport. I don't have a problem with a riding time point, but I think it needs to be changed. I would suggest riding time starts when the bottom wrestler is on his elbows or belly. And I think when the bottom wrestler goes for a reversal and it basically turns into a 50-50 position, I think if a stalemate is awarded then the bottom wrestler should get his escape point and move to neutral position. I value mat wrestling. But I am tired of the better wrestler losing due to wrestlers abusing the rules- and refs being very inconsistent when calling stalling. Also, how many times does one wrestler take 6 shots int he first two periods and the other wrestler may shoot once. But no stalling is awarded. But then in the final minute the wrestler who did the shooting tries to protect a lead and the wrestler who stalled for the first two period finally pushes the action. So many times it seems the refs will call the stalling in the final 30 seconds and forget which wrestler pushed the action for the first two periods. I am tired of refs deciding which wrestlers win. Wrestling is my favorite sport. But I think bad officiating- and perhaps bad a rules- are ruining it.

[@ericg1595]

Jessie Delgado? 2x D1 NCAA CHAMPION from Illinois just started his mma career not too long ago

[@theodore89]

Would there ever be a situation where an MMA fighter switches to International Wrestling?

[@COACHWARBLE]

Can you do a video on how many D1 team there were in 1980. My old coach at Maryland toldme once there were almost 150 teams in the early 80s. SEC had some solid teams. I spoke to Cayden Henschel the other day and he mentioned that it was more your speed than his. He needs to do a video on the 7 basic skills of wrestling. video includes 7 moves only. 1 move to represent each skill. When you study american wrestling academically it all starts with the 7 basic skills. Its something this generation needs to know. It was taught in Southeastern PA when i was a kid by my mentor Bill Racich and also at Team Foxcatcher by coach Bonsil.

[@schenksteven1]

What are the seven basic skills?

[@castrejonhugo]

What in the Randy Couture is going on here?

[@theodore89]

UFC can only improve with addition of Division1, 2 and 3 Wrestlers. They are all earned a shot. God bless USA Wrestling!

[@ericg1595]

Tyrone Woodley wrestled for Missouri

[@triguy327]

It should be pretty apparent that in the world of Mixed Martial Arts, that wrestling sits at the top of the martial arts. I mean, how many karate, Kung fu, judokas have approached the top of the sport more than wrestlers?

[@Mma-basement-215]

Yeah listen if your a good wrestler that can take you a long way in fighting it really can to the point where I'm thinking people should start wrestling with their left foot in front so they can transition to striking better in MMA boxing and kicking think about it

[@frankiecal3186]

R.I.P To the Monster Kevin.

[@williamcardinale2953]

Darrion Caldwell.. beat Metcalf in the NCAA finals and also pinned him prior to that.. won the Bellator Bantamweight Championship and I beat him in beer pong at our mutual High School wrestling coaches birthday party 😂..talk about a cradle, one of the greatest pinning machines EVER.. 3 time High school state champion at Rahway High School in New Jersey 2 time all American at North Carolina winning the 2009 national championship at 149 lbs dominating Brent Metcalf who was thought to be unbeatable.. started his MMA career 13-1 including winning the Bellator Bantamweight Championship.. has fell off drastically since though somehow he was a waaaayyy more exciting wrestler than MMA fighter.. check out his match against top seeded Ryan Lang in the first round of the NCAA tournament.. incredible action

[@Jordanthecool7]

Gable Steveson in my opinion would be great if he was to transition to MMA

[@treverolson4154]

Job jones wrestled in college

[@robwasilewski9273]

Great fighter and even better fighter. DC is the man

[@noahpevey8834]

Didn’t mentioned Steve mocco which suprised me

[@denisgrady7379]

Mark Coleman won an NCAA title and a World HWT UFC title

[@billthebutcher2]

World Silver Medalist in 1991 and a 1992 Olympian as well.

[@babcockdasolution8304]

Bo opening an ATT in Happy Valley is gonna be YUUUUUGE

[@SlidebyeGaming]

Jon jones won a NJCAA national title

[@mattcary8075]

and is the greatest ufc fighter in history

[@levis503]

Schultz? I can go on but I will stop. Good list non the less.

[@frankiecal3186]

Wrong you forgot to mention JAKE rosholt

[@levis503]

What about Mark Coleman?

[@brandongranados5569]

Cain Velazquez

[@COACHWARBLE]

DC was on the US Olympic team with Ben Askren!!! #11? Can we talk about this sir?

[@schloughed]

Daniel Cormeir is too pudgy and should fight down two weight classes.

[@gunthur696]

He did fight down several weight classes with previous promotions. I use to think he sucked at mma but in retrospect he was a badass fighter. Most definitely a Hall of Famer.

[@carljames4453]

Where’s Gregor Gillespie and Cain Velasquez

[@Turbo_Jose47]

What about Cain Velazquez?

[@chadgoto9063]

No Bader, Dollaway, or Velasquez?

[@HunterRinger-sc1xu]

Jordan Oliver?

[@romansutton6813]

Um pretty sure he hasn’t actually competed in an official mma fight yet

[@ericg1595]

Jon Jones , Kumar Usman, Kyler Crutchmor, Aaron Pico?🤔🤔🤔🤔 former wrestler?

[@fistofbuddah]

Cain or Chris weidman .?

[@jerryrenken9405]

Logan Storley

[@jeffjacobson59]

Frankie Edgar, Jim Miller

[@williamcardinale2953]

Edgar was a much better fighter than wrestler.. this lists seems to focus on D1 studs who transitioned into MMA.. I remember watching Edgar live in the 2000 High School state finals, He lost.. great MMA career, HOFer

[@theodore89]

Here's a tidbit, Logan Paul went from Ohio State High School Wrestling, to Pro Boxing, Then "Pro Wrestling", what's next? Well if crypto scams keep occurring what would be a new fresh take on combat sports?

[@COACHWARBLE]

Randy Couture?

[@magicalfrijoles6766]

I am shocked that Mark Schultz isn't #1 on your list. It's not even close. I'm also surprised you think Brock Lesnar is a better wrestler than Mark Coleman or Mark Kerr. I feel like you could improve your list if you collaborated with a wrestler 15 years older than you, to add some perspective. Respectfully.

[@phchillin3193]

Randy couture

[@michaelsanders2011]

No John Jones?

[@stevenguzzo6391]

This list is focused on D1 wrestlers. While Jones has had the most impressive MMA career for a collegiate wrestler he only wrestled at the junior college level

[@louisbelmont1690]

Where’s MMA legend Jon Jones. NYS high school champ and Njcaa champ prior to MMA!

[@not_brandon5984]

You forgot the GOAT Jon Jones although he wasn’t D1 he’s the GOAT or UFC. You also forgot Henry Cejudo, who wrestled and went on to become Olympic champion in freestyle and became a double champ in ufc like DC.

[@stevenguzzo6391]

This list is focused on D1 wrestlers. While Jones has had the most impressive MMA career for a collegiate wrestler he only wrestled at the junior college level. And Cejudo never wrestled D1, it was already addressed in the video. He went straight into freestyle after high school

[@not_brandon5984]

@@stevenguzzo6391 didn’t catch that just woke up my bad😓 he still should’ve gave Jones his roses though since Jones pays respect to wrestling sometimes after fights and still has his first pair of wrestling shoes in a trophy case.

[@robmeredith9631]

What about the greats like Matt Hughes, Dan Severin, Dan Henderson…. Your list😂.

[@robmeredith9631]

@@stevenguzzo6391 then why did he mention D2 at 36 sec? Nope this seems to be about wrestlers that transitioned to MMA and the greats were left out.

[@wessidioussmoke5773]

Dan Severn