U.S OLMPIAN & NATIONAL CHAMPION WRESTLER TO BEGIN HIS PRO MMA CAREER

by pennyjomma on Aug 10, 2009 9:25 PM EDT

Daniel Cormier, 2x US Olympic Wrestler and 6x U.S Senior National Champion, has just signed on with Zinkin Entertainment & Sports Management, officially beginning his professional career in MMA. Cormier adds his name to other MMA stars under Zinkin Entertainment such as Chuck Liddell, Forrest Griffin, Jon Fitch, Mike Swick, Josh Koscheck, Cain Velasquez, Josh Thomson, Bobby Southworth and Paul Buentelllo.

Cormier, resident of Oklahoma since his collegiate wrestling career at Oklahoma State University, is known for his extraordinary talent and physically aggressive, explosive style of wrestling. Zinkin Entertainment is excited to have Cormier as part of their team and have high expectations for their latest MMA fighter. Daniel will soon begin training at the world-renowned American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) in San Jose , California under "Crazy" Bob Cook, Javier Mendez and Dave Camarillo.

With a collegiate record of 117-10, Cormier is considered one of the most decorated U.S wrestlers. Notable achievements include:

2x United States Olympian: Freestyle ('08 Beijing, '04 Athens)
6x U.S National Champion

8x U.S National Team Member

2002-2009 Ranked #1 in the U.S

2008 U.S National Champion

2008 U.S Olympic Trials, Champion

2008 U.S Olympic Team Captain

2008 NJCAA Hall of Fame Inductee

2007 World Championships, Bronze Medalist

2007 USA Wrestling Freestyle Wrestler of the Year

2007 Pan Am Games, Bronze Medalist

2006 World Cup, Champion

2005 World Cup, Silver Medalist

2005 Yarygin International Tournament, Champion

*toughest tournament in the world, only 6th American to win

2005 Super Cup, Silver Medalist ( Russia )

2004 Olympic Games, 4th place ( Athens )

2004 Titan games, Champion

2004 Boutiatyr Grand Prix, Champion ( Russia )

2003 Pan Am Games, Champion
2003 World Championships, 5th place

2003 Yarygin International Tournament, Bronze Medalist

2003 Absolute World Championships, Bronze Medalist

2002 Pan Am Games, Champion

2001 NCAA Championships, Silver Medalist
3x NCAA College All-American

2x NJCAA National Champion (‘97,’98)
3x Louisiana State Champion

1995 Cadet World Championships, Bronze Medalist

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by MMAWrestling on Aug 10, 2009 9:46 PM EDT reply actions

Holy moley. What weight is this guy going for?

Keep firing Assholes!

Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.

by Ubernoober on Aug 10, 2009 10:11 PM EDT reply actions

I used to be a huge AKA nut hugger, but they really do seem to be turning strong wrestlers into bad kick boxers, and at 30 years old, I don’t see Cormier’s career becoming anything close to significant or relevant

by TheConcreteKid on Aug 10, 2009 10:50 PM EDT reply actions

Disagreed.

Fitch, Velasquez, and Swick all dominated their recent opponents via a top control based attack (Swick may have dropped Saunders standing, but the first round was primarily a top control display). The only relevant example of this is Josh Koscheck, and if we actually look at it objectively, your assertion that AKA

seems to be turning strong wrestlers into bad kick boxers,

is nonsensical.

Kos simply couldn’t take Alves down, but displayed good boxing (keep in mind that he took that fight on short notice). He absolutely zapped Yoshida, and was battering Paulo before getting caught, both in fights where a sprawl and brawl strategy was the smartest approach. If you’ve forgotten about Koscheck’s wrestling and GnP, then maybe rewatch (or watch) the Lytle fight, which was just slightly over a year ago.

Supporting all Las Vegas MMA. Xtreme Couture FTMFW.

'09 is the year of the FW's.

by ElliotMatheny on Aug 11, 2009 2:48 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree with your point in principle,

but you cannot use “good boxing” and Koscheck in the same sentence.

Arguing on the internet is like being in the special olympics, even when you win you are still retarded.

by dnevil001 on Aug 11, 2009 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Koscheck’s boxing is good for MMA. Sure, he got a little wild against Paulo, but he did well in the standup against guys like GSP, Sanchez, and Yoshida.

Supporting all Las Vegas MMA. Xtreme Couture FTMFW.

'09 is the year of the FW's.

by ElliotMatheny on Aug 12, 2009 1:21 AM EDT up reply actions