Why do wrestlers make such good MMA/UFC fighters?

Question

What is it about college/olympic wrestlers that make them so good in MMA? Its like 1 in every 2 guys wrestled!

Answer 1

For only UFC---It is because of their take down ability.  But as most wrestlers you'll see once there on their backside, they are through.

And no, it is not 1 out of every 2.  Maybe 1 out of 10+

Umm let's have a quick thought:

Brock Lesnar,

Josh Koscheck,

Keving Randleman

Sean Shrek

Josh Burkam

Matt Hughes

I can't think of anyone else.

GSP? NO

BJ Penn? No

Deigo Sanchez? No

Chuck Liddel? No

Quiton J.? No

Forrest Gump? No

Brandan Vera?

Maybe more like 1 out of 20 have a wreslting background

Answer 2

Wrestlers already have half of MMA training over with before they start. They have takedowns, takedown defense and some submissions. All they need to concentrate on is their ground game with jiu jitsu or something like that.

Answer 3

Consider all the good college wrestling programs there are in the States.  You know that's going to churn out more than a few well-trained, and very fit and very determined athletes.

Also, consider that wrestlers do a lot of *live* training.

With the rise in popularity of MMA, college wrestlers now have somewhere to go with their skills besides the wacky world of professional wrestling.

Answer 4

controlling the middle ground.

you used to have strikers here.................and grapplers here.

wrestlers control the middle...they can stop a grapplers "shot" and defend the takedown....and they can also throw a striker on his ****.

they are masters of controlling that gray area between striking and grappling....ie clinching/wrestling.

they control the transition from standing to ground...whereas before many fighters simply fell to their guard...now we have sprawlers.

wrestling is like an equalizer...it can allow a striker to stay on his feet by defending the takedowns....or it can allow the grappler to get in and control the striker so he doesnt get ktfo.

Answer 5

Peter M.....YOU ARE AN IDIOT!

Seriously. Do some research before you go spouting rhetoric and BS as fact.

You are almost 100% wrong on the list of fighters you claim never wrestled. The only one on your list that doesn't have a wrestling background is BJ Penn. And I can assure you that he trains in the wrestling disciplines.

Answer 6

Not quite college/olympic but many fighters have some wrestling and I don't know of one who does zero wrestling training.

Long story short, good wrestling allows you to dictate the pace of the fight, and where the fight goes.

If you're against a great striker, but him on his butt and ground and pound. Against a good submission guy, you take away most of his submissions if he can't get you down.