U.S. Olympic Wrestling Program Bids to Compete With MMA

by Kid Nate on Jun 5, 2009 4:30 PM EDT in MMA News

We've been arguing that the influx of Olympic caliber wrestlers into MMA was actually a boon for amateur wrestling for a while now and as counter-intuitive as it may seem, this NY Times article confirms it:

USA Wrestling announced this week the creation of a medal fund that would pay wrestlers $250,000 for an Olympic gold medal, $50,000 for a silver and $25,000 for a bronze.

...

(Henry) Cejudo, 22, acknowledged that he had considered converting to mixed martial arts. He said he had watched M.M.A. since seventh grade and that his grappling skills would pay dividends inside the steel cage. He said he knew of at least five Olympic-caliber wrestlers who had switched and others who were considering it.

"M.M.A. is growing, and it’s a basic wrestling sport," Cejudo said. "A lot of fighters are ex-wrestlers. A lot of guys take the easy way out, make quick money. This fund will keep wrestlers in wrestling."

It certainly represents a major increase. Cejudo made $40,000 — paid by USA Wrestling and the United States Olympic Committee — for the gold. Wrestlers can earn more through private contributions and sponsorships.

Without the specter of MMA out there threatening to lure away top wrestling talent, I highly doubt that this fund would have been established.

Mike Chiappetta opines:

To date, four U.S. Olympic gold medal wrestlers have transitioned to MMA: Rulon Gardner, Kevin Jackson, Mark Schultz and Kenny Monday. Only Jackson (4-2) fought more than five times.

While increasing the cash awards of medal winners is a positive development for USA Wrestling, it seems unlikely that alone would stop wrestlers intent on fighting in MMA from making the change. Amateur wrestling has never been a sport where money was a real option, so either world-class competitors will stay in it for the love that helped them achieve their high level of success, or they will decide its time to capitalize on their credentials and fight MMA.

USA Wrestling will never be able to offer the money that top-flight MMA fighters can make, but they will always be able to dangle something that its athletes consider priceless: Olympic gold. All things being equal, the decision will come down to finances or idealism.

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Comments

You know what would keep wrestlers in wrestling? if NBC would show some damn wrestling on TV during the Olympics.

by szucconi on Jun 5, 2009 4:42 PM EDT reply actions

This won’t stop the transition. If a wrestler becomes a solid prospect in MMA over time, they can make well over $250,000 in 4 years and much more with sponsors, etc.

Follow my analysis of all things MMA on BloodyElbow.com

by Leland Roling on Jun 5, 2009 4:55 PM EDT reply actions

Exactly, and the thing with the wrestlers that transition into MMA, it’s not just about money, they all have that burning desire to compete and test their skills. MMA is just another way to test themselves. I don’t see this affecting the wrestlers coming over into MMA. Not enough that we’ll really feel the results of it at least.

by Kaleb Kelchner on Jun 5, 2009 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Yep.

by Derek Suboticki on Jun 5, 2009 6:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Reasons why this will not impact MMA:

1. Olympics only happens once every 4 years.
2. Winning a gold medal is very tough, and only about 2 or 3 USA Wrestlers do it on average every Olympics.
3. Winning a Bronze or silver medal isn’t that much money. UFC pays that much for one fight. Heck, FOTN bonuses are more then $50,000 on UFC PPV’s.
4. Many wrestlers just want to test their abilities and do something new.
5. Most wrestlers in MMA were not olympic level. Koscheck won NCAA’s, but was never even in the Oylmpics. Fitch & Evans were decent, but nothing great in college.

This won’t change anything.

by AlwaysRelaxing on Jun 5, 2009 5:27 PM EDT reply actions

Guys with gold potential may stick around but guys who are very good wrestlers but not in that very elite group of olympic gold hopefuls are going to move away in droves. Of course the flip side is that MMA makes amateur wrestling more appealing to young athletes because they can see some kind of prospects for the future coming out of it, oh and a medal win could equal money in MMA too (well if they would actually show olympic wrestling on tv).

by who me on Jun 5, 2009 5:49 PM EDT reply actions

If anyone thinks that this program will keep

wrestlers in wrestling for long, I have two names for them, Matt hughes and Randy Courture. I could go on, but those are two of the biggest names in MMA.

by proflex on Jun 5, 2009 7:28 PM EDT reply actions

No point in a public sector organization trying to out money a private organization.

Keep firing Assholes!

Out out, you demons of stupidity!

by Ubernoober on Jun 5, 2009 7:37 PM EDT reply actions

More than anything this is just a further sign of MMA’s dominance in combat sports.

A wise man told me don't argue with fools
Cause people from a distance can't tell who is who

by thetakeover on Jun 5, 2009 8:07 PM EDT reply actions

Correction

Rulon Gardner did MMA, but mommy and daddy yelled at him so he quit like he usually does.

"Respond intelligently even to unintelligent treatment."

-Lao Tzu

by RoyalB on Jun 5, 2009 8:32 PM EDT reply actions

for real? You are going to give Gardner a hard time for not fighting anymore?

by szucconi on Jun 5, 2009 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions

More like his lack of ambition.

"Respond intelligently even to unintelligent treatment."

-Lao Tzu

by RoyalB on Jun 6, 2009 12:15 AM EDT up reply actions

He is currently like the head of USA wrestling and has had several serious injuries since the last time he fought. Including frostbit. And you are saying a guy that has a gold and a silver medal in the Olympics has a lack of ambition? give me a break.

by szucconi on Jun 6, 2009 12:53 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

He won that Gold sandbagging on a penulty point and I'm guessing you haven't seen his fight with Yoshida.

"Respond intelligently even to unintelligent treatment."

-Lao Tzu

by RoyalB on Jun 6, 2009 1:34 AM EDT up reply actions

How many gold medals have you won? How many years of your life did you dedicate to training for the Olympics? How many Olympics did you qualify for? My point is that winning that match was not something he fell on. Training for the Olympics is ambitious. Maybe he didn’t have fighting in him. He gave it a shot. But maybe you saw two matches (that he won) of his and made a judgment on him and his ambition.

Maybe he had one MMA match the same year he had a motorcycle crash and wasn’t able to impress you.

by szucconi on Jun 6, 2009 1:52 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I’m sorry, but If you get to the Olympics and win against the best of the world using a technicality and not actually try to beat Karelin, that’s not ambition, that’s convenience. You train so hard to fight the best, THEN FIGHT! Don’t wiggle around like a beached whale to win on a penalty no one was ready for.

"Respond intelligently even to unintelligent treatment."

-Lao Tzu

by RoyalB on Jun 6, 2009 4:23 AM EDT up reply actions