Most likely graduating NCAA all American to start MMA

[WrestlingPhD]

I will start with Jesse Mendez as a future bantamweight (135) UFC champion

[HarryConnickJr]

Stupid topic

[WrestlingRash]

6 minutes ago, HarryConnickJr said:

Stupid topic

no it is not. MMA is the professional combat sport for MANY D1 wrestlers. 

• Brock Lesnar – NCAA D-I All-American and national champ at the University of Minnesota.
• Randy Couture – NCAA D-I All-American and future Olympian (Oklahoma State).
• Daniel Cormier – NCAA D-I national runner-up and All-American (Oklahoma State).
• Cain Velasquez – NCAA D-I All-American (Arizona State).
• Chris Weidman – NCAA D-I wrestler (Hofstra).
• Josh Koscheck – NCAA D-I All-American (Edinboro).
• Johny Hendricks – NCAA D-I national champion and All-American (Oklahoma State).
• Matt Hughes – NCAA D-I wrestler (Eastern Illinois).
• Tyron Woodley – NCAA D-I All-American (Missouri).
• Ben Askren – NCAA D-I two-time national champ & Hodge Trophy winner (Missouri).
• Chad Mendes – NCAA D-I All-American (Cal Poly).
• Bo Nickal – Three-time NCAA D-I national champ & Hodge Trophy winner (Penn State).
• Gray Maynard – NCAA D-I wrestler (Michigan State).
• Colby Covington – NCAA D-I All-American (Oregon State).
• Jake Rosholt – NCAA D-I national champ and four-time All-American (Oklahoma State).
• Jared Rosholt – NCAA D-I wrestler and All-American (Oklahoma State).
• Phil Davis – NCAA D-I national champ and All-American (Penn State).
• Mark Munoz – NCAA D-I All-American (Oklahoma State).
• Kevin Randleman – NCAA D-I national champ (Oklahoma State).
• Mark Coleman – NCAA D-I national champ (Ohio State).
• Dan Severn – Two-time NCAA D-I All-American (Arizona State).
• Curtis Blaydes – NCAA D-I wrestler (Northern Illinois)
• Jon Fitch – NCAA D-I wrestler (Missouri)
• Abel Trujillo – NCAA D-I wrestler (Cal State Bakersfield)
• Ryan Bader – NCAA D-I wrestler (Arizona State)
• Pat Cummins – NCAA D-I wrestler (Penn State)
• Frank Trigg – NCAA D-I wrestler (Oklahoma State)
• Rashad Evans – NCAA D-I wrestler (Michigan State

 

Many other D2, D3 and juco and NAIA guys have made it as well. Gable Steveson looks like the next one up. Great thread and interesting conversation point. Thank you OP. 

[HarryConnickJr]

Well aware of the connection thank you. We have an MMA sub forum, and the title is nonsensical 

[WrestlingRash]

2 minutes ago, HarryConnickJr said:

Well aware of the connection thank you. We have an MMA sub forum, and the title is nonsensical 

no, you are just being a prick. did an MMA fighter take your girl?

[GreatWhiteNorth]

27 minutes ago, WrestlingRash said:

no, you are just being a prick. did an MMA fighter take your girl?

"MMA fighter take your girl?" - Now you're the one being the prick.

Take your garbage out of here.

[WrestlingRash]

3 minutes ago, GreatWhiteNorth said:

"MMA fighter take your girl?" - Now you're the one being the prick.

Take your garbage out of here.

you are special. 

[GreatWhiteNorth]

3 minutes ago, WrestlingRash said:

you are special. 

Bless your heart.

[MPhillips]

Don't scratch....

[WrestlingRash]

5 minutes ago, GreatWhiteNorth said:

Bless your heart.

I wish you well

[BruceyB]

24 minutes ago, GreatWhiteNorth said:

"MMA fighter take your girl?" - Now you're the one being the prick.

Take your garbage out of here.

He's just an agitator. He's only here to fight online and name-call. He challenged me to fight him in person months ago in a message. Little guy doesn't have anything more productive to do with his time, I guess.

[kschlosser]

The monster was a two-time national champ and three time All American Buckeye, not a Cowboy. RIP Kevin 

Edited March 28 by kschlosser

[jajensen09]

Make raf bigger than mma

[scourge165]

I don't get why this question is so out of bounds. 

MMA has helped grow the sport. Asking who would could transition to MMA seems like... a pretty normal discussion. 


Also, the "we have a____ thread," when there's some crossover is... tiresome. We did this with a lot of HS Wrestlers who were elite recruits. Why talk about Melvin Miller and Jayden James? They're HS Wrestlers... or Jax last year making the World Team? HS Wrestler(at least Duke was a Sr and certain to Wrestle in College this year). 

 

[TheJimReaper]

I agree with Mendez. I think he could be successful in MMA. My pick is Bastida. 

[RawDog]

Bella Mir

[juniorvarsity]

It's a tough transition and I think guys need to commit to it pretty quickly after graduating to have the skills to get into the UFC.

Also, the Jesse Mendez types of wrestlers will not transition to MMA. That's a huge pay cut when you start out. It's gotta be a strong desire to do it. RTC athletes are better paid than even the first contract you get when entering the UFC, maybe unless you're Gable Stevenson or Bo Nickal.

Yonger Bastida seems like the type of guy who would be a really good fighter. And the UFC Heavyweight division sorta sucks right now.

I also think Lucas Byrd could be good. Casey Swiderski has the will to fight. He wrestles so emotionally. I can see him taking a punch and moving forward. I bet the Mantankna brothers would be good too. They have some BJJ history and see like they have the pop you need to take over a fight. 

You don't have to be an AA to be a good fighter. It's really hard to predict.

 

[Gus]

10 hours ago, WrestlingPhD said:

I will start with Jesse Mendez as a future bantamweight (135) UFC champion

Jesse if going to pursue world and Olympic medals I believe. Guys that come to mind for me would be Tyler Knox, Eli Griffin, Casey Swiderski, MJ Gaitan, Zack Ryder and Brian Soldano. Guys that just seem to have a bit of an edge to them.

[mr.nonothingatall]

8 hours ago, jajensen09 said:

Make raf bigger than mma

I love RAF but I can't stand the fake heel and fake drama. I want to watch wrestling and I don't watch UFC for the beef or story line. I watch it for the matches, just like I watch RAF. I don't understand why RAF is trying to make the sport of wrestling a drama filled event. That's what the WWE is for

[alex1fly]

8 hours ago, scourge165 said:

I don't get why this question is so out of bounds. 

MMA has helped grow the sport. Asking who would could transition to MMA seems like... a pretty normal discussion. 


Also, the "we have a____ thread," when there's some crossover is... tiresome. We did this with a lot of HS Wrestlers who were elite recruits. Why talk about Melvin Miller and Jayden James? They're HS Wrestlers... or Jax last year making the World Team? HS Wrestler(at least Duke was a Sr and certain to Wrestle in College this year). 

 

Fair point. We have approximately 400,000 threads about Iowa coaches lol

[The_KC_Godfather]

4 hours ago, RawDog said:

Bella Mir

That’s cheating…

[kschlosser]

1 hour ago, mr.nonothingatall said:

I love RAF but I can't stand the fake heel and fake drama. I want to watch wrestling and I don't watch UFC for the beef or story line. I watch it for the matches, just like I watch RAF. I don't understand why RAF is trying to make the sport of wrestling a drama filled event. That's what the WWE is for

I would assume Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff had and have a lot of influence on that given their "professional" wrestling backgrounds.

Given it's broadcast on Fox Nation, it is also being directly marketed to a conservative base, who have historically supported "professional" wrestling in greater numbers. They are creating a sports entertainment product to appeal to their core demographic and existing subscribers.

[11986]

On 3/27/2026 at 11:22 PM, WrestlingRash said:

left out a few accolades>

• Josh Koscheck – NCAA D-I All-American (Edinboro). Was also a national champ
• Matt Hughes – NCAA D-I wrestler (Eastern Illinois). Was also an All-American.
• Mark Coleman – NCAA D-I national champ (Ohio State).Was also an Olympian
• Ryan Bader – NCAA D-I wrestler (Arizona State). Was also an All-American. 
• Pat Cummins – NCAA D-I wrestler (Penn State). Was also an All-American. 

 

[GimJustafan]

On 3/28/2026 at 6:18 AM, RawDog said:

Bella Mir

Bella @ 6:17 mark "  there's going to be a fight baby "

[BloodRound]

On 3/28/2026 at 2:43 AM, TheJimReaper said:

My pick is Bastida.

I've been wondering about this, especially now that Yonger has graduated.  Is he going to go back in freestyle competition?  Will he wrestle for Cuba then?  Has he had much freestyle activity since landing in the US?