The recognition of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) as an Olympic sport during the United World Wrestling General Assembly in Albania on October 27th, 2024, marks a significant milestone for the discipline. This acceptance, with full permission from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), holds numerous benefits that could profoundly impact the future of MMA. Firstly, increased…
Talon Worden, at just 13 years old, is quickly establishing himself as a rising star in the world of martial arts. With an impressive list of achievements, including being a 9x Missouri Wrestling State Champion, 2x Tulsa Kickoff National Champion, and a Reno Worlds Champion, just to name a few, Talon’s potential as the next…
With youth MMA currently being one of the fastest growing sports in the world, it’s always a good idea to keep an eye out for athletes who are swiftly becoming some of our country’s breakout stars. I can’t speak for all of the youth athletes that compete in combat sports, but I can speak for…
With the emergence of youth combat sports on the national and international scale, is there a framework in place to help our young athletes achieve success? When we look at outstanding athletes like Kayla Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist who was able to transition from the Olympics to the PFL where she is a…
The current landscape of combat sports and the United States’ current standing in the world of international wrestling got me to thinking, “What college wrestling program provides the best pathway to success?” There were three categories that I used to try and best analyze this question: Olympic success of its athletes, UFC champions, and NCAA…
