The UFC made its debut on public access television last weekend.  Pretty amazing considering that just ten years ago, UFC videos were passed around like snuff films in 8mm between only the die-hard enthusiasts.  Even as of 2006, the UFC was reportedly not turning a profit.  This was the same sport that boxing aficionado Sen. John McCain termed “human cockfighting” and soon it was banned in 36 states.  So its all the more impressive that the UFC stormed into the global living room with 8.8 million U.S. viewers during the 64 second fight.  The most watched MMA event in history.

This must be the craziest thing going, right?  Well …

There’s something else equaling that in terms of absurdity.  Oklahoma State University (10-0) is currently ranked #2 in every college football poll, including the BCS.  We have two games remaining and if … IF … we win them both, we are assured a spot in the national championship game.  This is O-State.  The same team that until 2000, had a 46% winning percentage in 51 seasons (252-285-13).  This is same team that crapped out an 0-10-1 record in 1991 under Pat Jones.

Pretty crazy times indeed.  But there is an interesting connections to these two Doomsday events.  And that is the fact that Oklahoma State University is a literal factory of mixed martial artists.  And it all starts with a man named Edward C. Gallagher.

 OSU Wrestling

Mr. Gallagher was an electrical engineer that graduated from Oklahoma A&M in 1909.  He took over coaching the new OSU wrestling team in 1915.  He approached it from a logical viewpoint, by analyzing the natural levers and pressure points with an engineer’s precision.  And that was that.  In 34 years of coaching, he lost a grand total 5 meets.  And he won 138.

They didn’t have national championships for the first part of his tenure, but no matter.  OSU has only managed to scrape together 34 national championships and 133 individual championships.  Our overall record?  A measely 1000-113-23.

<pausing to mean mug the next person that walks by my computer>

So suffice it to say, Stillwater has a high density of badasses walking around compared to the relatively small local and university population.  And since there was basically the Olympics or professional wrestling for the last 50 years, you can see why so many of these BAMFs decided to jump into Mixed Martial Arts.

Don Frye (20-8-1)

Don “The Predator” Frye transferred to Oklahoma State for one season (a member of the 1989 NCAA team champions).  Legendary for his fearless stare downs, hyper aggressive striking, and manly mustache, Frye was one of the first true mixed martial artists as he cross-trained in freestyle wrestling, Greco-Roman wrestling, judo, boxing, and kick boxing.

In 1996, Frye made his debut in the Ultimate Fighting Championship as the modern-day equivalent of a Light Heavyweight.  In those days, there were no weight classes or even championship belts.  Fuck, they didn’t even have time limits on the rounds.  Each event was a single elimination tournament, where successful fighters fought as many as three different opponents in one night.

Three matches later, Don Frye won his first tournament.  In fact, he amassed an initial record of 15-1, winning another UFC tournament (UFC 8 & Ultimate Ultimate ’96) and reaching the final of another (UFC 10).  His career includes the scalps of Ken Shamrock, Gary Goodridge, Tank Abbot, Gilbert Yvel, and Cyril Abidi.

In effect, Don Frye is a TWO time champion in the UFC.

Even better, Frye has become a bit of an Internet meme, something akin to Chuck Norris for his awesome mustache and bad ass laconic manner of speaking.

Randy Couture (19-11)

Randy “the Natural” Couture is without doubt has compiled the greatest MMA resume of any of the Cowboys to enter the octagon.  He wrestled as a 3x All-American at Oklahoma State from 1989-1992 after serving a brief stint in the US Army.  He was twice runner up in the NCAA individual competition and two Team NCAA champion.  His collegiate record was 113-42-3.

Randy was also a champion in Greco-Roman Wrestling, winning the Pan American championships x2 and medaling another x4 times.  He served as an Olympic alternate three times, as well.

The Natural made his UFC debut in 1997 at UFC 13.  He won the Heavyweight Tournament the same event.  Two fights later, Randy was the second-ever UFC Heavyweight Champion, a distinction that he would hold x3 times total, a feat no other fighter has eclipsed since.  Since Randy was a very small Heavyweight (265), he frequently moved down to fight at Light Heavyweight (205), where he added another TWO championship belts (and an interim championship).  He is one of only two men to hold belts in two different weigth classes (BJ Penn).

His record includes notable victories over Vitor Belfort, Maurice Smith, Kevin Randleman, Pedro Rizzo, Chuck Liddell, Tito Ortiz, Tim Sylvia, and Mark Coleman.  Counting his interim and tournament titles, Randy is a 7-time MMA champion and UFC Hall of Fame inductee.

Mark Muñoz (12-2)

Mark “the Filipino Wrecking Machine” Muñoz is known for his insane ground and pound, considered to be the best in all of mixed martial arts.  Unlike Frye and Couture, Munoz was a 4-year starter for the Oklahoma State Wrestling program and compiled a 111-27 record.  He was the NCAA individual champion (197) in 2001 and two-time All-American.

He started in MMA in 2007.  In his brief time in the sport, Mark has earned victories over Demian Maia and Chris Leben.  He started as a light heavyweight, but has since moved down to Middleweight.  He record as a Middleweight is 7-1 with his only loss coming via Split Decision to Yushin Okami.

Riding a 4-fight win streak, Muñoz is now quickly being considered as a legitimate contender for Anderson Silva.  He is the #4 ranked MW in the world.

Muhammed Lawal (9-1)

Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal took MMA by storm with his debut in 2008.  He wrestled for the Pokes for only one season (2003) after transferring from UCO.  In that year, he had a 30-4 record with a 3rd place finish nationally to accompany his Div II individual championship.  King Mo also has x6 FILA senior gold medals, was the USA national freestyle champion x3, and was the RPW champion.

He started in Japan, but was acquired by the Strikeforce label (since purchased by the UFC).  In his short career, Mo has moved between HW and LHW several times and won the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship by defeating MMA great Gegard Mousasi, snapping a 15-fight win streak in the process.

It is only a matter of time until King Mo is brought across promotions to fight in the UFC.   He is the #9 ranked LHW in the world.

Daniel Cormier (9-0)

Daniel Cormier won two junior national championships and transferred to OSU for his junior and senior year.  His record as a Cowboy was 52-10.  He came in as runner-up in his final year to Cael Sanderson.  Since college, Cormier has continued to blossom as a wrestling legend, winning the USA freestyle  six consecutive times (2003-2008), the RPW 211 .lb championship, and a x9 FILA gold medalist in various competitions.

DC has really just started his MMA career, debuting in 2009, but in his undefeated run he has already accumulated HW championships in Extreme MMA and King of the Cage.  He has since transferred to the UFC-owned Strikeforce where he has fought his way into the finals of the Heavyweight Grand Prix.

Cormier holds notable wins over Bigfoot Silva and Jeff Monson.  He is the #8 ranked HW in the world.

Even More

With the UFC and MMA as a whole become more public, more popular, and far more lucrative than other opportunities for high level wrestlers, we’ll only see more Cowboy alums in 6 oz. gloves.  And more power to them.  John Smith has even come out as supporting MMA as a great career path, so long as all Olympic opportunities are explored first.

Here are some more OSU wrestlers:

• Johny Hendricks (11-1):  Hendricks wrestled for OSU as a four year starter from 2004-7 (126-13).  He was a two time national champion (2005, 2006) and started MMA straight after in 2007.  He currently fights for the UFC and is ranked the #10 welterweight in the world.  He fights legend Jon Fitch in a potential #1 contenders match at UFC 141.
• Jake Rosholt (12-3): Without question Jake is the best OSU wrestler to transition over to MMA.  He was a four year starter from 2003-2006 (104-21).  In that time, he earned 3 individual national championships.  He also debuted in MMA in 2007.  He had a brief stint in the UFC, losing 2 of three, but he has since rebounded with a 5 fight win streak.
• Jared Rosholt (4-0): The younger brother of Jake, Jared wrestled for OSU from 2007 to 2010 as a heavyweight (127-24).  He is the winning-est HW in the history of the program.  He only started MMA in 2011, but has finished all four of his opponents.
• Josh Hendricks (17-7):  MMA debut in 2002.  He wrestled at Oklahoma State from 1997 to 1998 (13-6).  He is currently fighter in several small promotions, trying to work his way back to a prominent promotion.
• Shane Roller (10-5):  Shane wrestled as a four year starter from 2000 to 2003 (110-42).  He was twice 3rd place nationally.  He now fights for the UFC, making his original MMA debut in 2007.

I’m sure there are more in smaller promotions around the world and certainly more to come.  Go Pokes!

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