Wrestling is considered to be the strongest base in all of MMA. It allows you to control your opponent with strength, technique and strategic positioning.
Commonly, wrestlers are criticized for a style of fighting known as “lay and pray,” where they control their opponent and ride out the clock in hopes of securing a victory from the judges instead of trying to end the fight.
The reason that lay and pray is so effective is due to the fact that a wrestler has spent his life training to be the guy on top. Once they are in your guard, it can be impossible to better your position. In jiu-jitsu, guard is a neutral position, but the utilization of wrestling has turned it in favor of the boys who have competed in the NCAA.
On Saturday night, Olympic wrestler Daniel Cormier squared off with Josh Barnett in the finals of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. Although Barnett had a distinct submission grappling advantage, the wrestling of Cormier proved to be stifling, to say the least.
Here is a look at the 10 best wrestlers in MMA today.