Does Mixed Martial Arts Hurt Amateur Wrestling?
While few would deny the rise of MMA has renewed interest in competitive amateur wrestling, some at the top of the American wrestling food chain are worried the better wrestlers may supplant an Olympic career for one of riches and fame. “It’s almost catastrophic to the development of wrestlers in our country,” said Brands, who spent several years as national resident coach at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. “It hurts, it hurts our country.” Brands and Gable don’t have a major problem with the MMA. They just want to see America’s best wrestlers represent their country before worrying about their wallets. But not every wrestler is going to make it to the Olympics, There are only 7 spots every four years. MMA and UFC combine a variety of fighting techniques, including wrestling, boxing and several martial-art forms. Some of the top attractions in the sport have wrestling backgrounds, including Randy Couture and Brock Lesnar. Couture and Lesnar recently fought a
