2008 men’s US freestyle team perfect 29-0 in MMA

Mixed martial arts was born from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and was dominated by BJJ initially. Then wrestlers like Dan Severn and Mark Coleman started to win. Then, led first by Maurice Smith and later by Chute Boxe, strikers found their place in the pantheon. It is widely agreed that at present, while striking, submission, and wrestling skills are all crucial. the best base for MMA is wrestling, as it allows the wrestling based fighter to dictate where the fight takes place – center cage, on the fence, or on the ground.

A look at the UFC current champions confirms this, unequivocally.

Heavyweight • Cain Velasquez • Wrestling base

Light Heavyweight • Jon Jones • Wrestling base

Middleweight • Chris Weidman • Wrestling base

Welterweight • Georges St-Pierre • Best wrestling in MMA

Lightweight • Benson Henderson • Wrestling base

Featherweight • José Aldo • BJJ/Muay Thai base

Bantamweight • Dominick Cruz • Wrestling base

Bantamweight • Renan Barão • BJJ/Muay Thai base

Flyweight • Demetrious Johnson • Wrestling base

Bantamweight (Women) • Ronda Rousey • Judo base

Also remarkable is the record of the four members of the 2008 US Olympic Freestyle Wrestling Team that went on to compete in MMA. Complete team roster was:

121 lbs. Henry Cejudo

145.5 lbs. Doug Schwab

163 lbs. Ben Askren

185 lbs. Andy Hrovat

211.5 lbs. Daniel Cormier

264.5 lbs. Steve Mocco

Of the six members of the men’s fs team, four went on to fight in MMA, and to date, not a single one has lost ever, compiling a perfect record of 29-0 in the sport:

Cejudo (4-0)

Askren (11-0)

Cormier (12-0)

Mocco (2-0)

Big thanks to UGer and funniest bastid in the sport Adam Hunter for the find.