Wrestling to MMA article

[Knownothing]

Pretty good. Focuses on Ben Askrin. I am not a wrestling fan but I do find it interesting that so many wrestlers now see MMA as the next logical step to use that skill. I also generally hate when wrestlers start out in MMA. It's hard to watch them just take someone down and hold them down for the win. Luckily they have to eventually improve in other areas and they are athletically good enough to do so. So the older they get the more watchable the fight is.

http://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/26424694/more-college-wrestlers-fighting-on

 

[HGoat1]

I wish there was the market for wrestlers to continue wrestling and make the same kind of money they can make in the cage.

Right now 6 of 8 champions(If you count TJ) are wrestlers. The physical abilities and techniques are helpful, but the discipline and mental strength that wrestlers have is what separates them from the rest of the field in MMA.

 

[Gonzo]

Good piece. I think a lot of it is mindset. When a wrestler gets into MMA early on and gets bloodied and into a war, is he going to fall back onto wrestling and just try taking the guy down and laying on him. They have to get to the point where they're just as comfortable leaning on their standup and/or BJJ as they are their wrestling skills, which can't be easy. They've been doing nothing but wrestling for 20ish years. A guy like Hendo is the perfect model. Elite wrestling chops but he was looking to knock you out from his standup first and foremost.