Olympic Dreams Take Shape
As the world of sports evolves, one question looms large: will we see a surge of wrestlers transitioning into Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) as the sport moves closer to Olympic recognition? With MMA potentially making its debut in the 2028 Olympics, we are witnessing a pivotal moment in athletic history that could reshape the landscape of combat sports. One thing is becoming clear: the pipeline from amateur wrestling to MMA is getting stronger, faster, and younger. Youth and amateur MMA are experiencing explosive growth around the globe, and a new generation of athletes is emerging with one eye on the mat and the other on the cage.
The Rise of Talon Worden and Bo Bassett
Bo Bassett has become a household name in wrestling circles. Before the age of 18 years old, he boasts an eye-popping 126-0 high school record, is a Cadet World Champion, a multi-time Pennsylvania State Champion, Super 32 Champion, Ironman Champion, Fargo Champion, and widely considered one of the top high school wrestlers in the country. Remarkably, he achieved all this before even becoming a legal adult.
His dominance hasn’t gone unnoticed. College wrestling powerhouses like Iowa have reportedly made aggressive NIL offers to land him. With Olympic wrestling and now MMA potentially being recognized on the Olympic stage, Bassett represents the kind of singular talent that could elevate any combat sport he chooses to pursue.
Talon Worden: A Dual Threat in Two Combat Sports
Then there’s Talon Worden, who at only 14 years old is building a two-sport resume that that could one day rival Bassett’s single-sport dominance.
In wrestling alone, between the ages of 13 and 14, Warden achieved:
Trinity Award Winner (Tulsa Kickoff Champion, Tulsa Nationals Champion, and Reno Worlds Champion — all in one season)
7x AAU Missouri State Champion
4x USA Missouri State Champion (Undefeated)
Super 32 Finalist
Tallinn Open U15 Freestyle Champion (Estonia)
Tallinn Open U15 Greco Bronze Medalist
USA Folkstyle National Champion
But where Worden separates himself is in the cage/mat. Since age 12, he’s also:
4x National MMA Champion
2x GAMMA International Champion
2x GAMMA World Champion
Recently turning 14, Worden became the youngest athlete to ever be recruited by Iridium Sports Agency, a major step for any young fighter with professional ambitions.
With GAMMA USA working in tandem with United World Wrestling to bring MMA to the Olympic Games, athletes like Worden could soon be the face of both Olympic and professional MMA. And with the rise of NIL deals and a global spotlight, his ability to dominate two combat sports could translate into historic opportunities.
