Tag: Combat

Arguably, one of the strongest techniques in wrestling is the cradle. It is one of the best techniques to control and pin an opponent.

For new grapplers out there, here is an intro guide for cradle wrestling. Check out the sections below to learn all of the basics and important tips for using the cradle.

What is the Cradle Wrestling Technique? 

The cradle wrestling technique is a pinning combination used in wrestling to control and pin an opponent. You trap an opponent’s head and leg with your arms to control their body to secure a pin.

It’s an effective technique that has been around since the beginning of wrestling. Since the creation of cradle wrestling, different variations and setups have been developed.

Within Jiu-Jitsu and MMA, grapplers have adopted the cradle into their arsenals. The effectiveness and simplicity of the cradle wrestle technique proves it’s an effective move that you should consider learning.

Basic Wrestling Cradles

Cradle wrestling has numerous variations and setups, but you must know the two basic versions. Those are the inside and outside cradles.

The Inside Cradle

The first of the basic cradle wrestling techniques you need to know is the inside cradle. This cradle is when you hook the opponent’s head and inside leg.

You can get into an inside cradle setup from anything from a snap-down to a sprawl. To get into the inside cradle, hook the opponent’s head and inside leg.

When you’re hooking the leg, make your this arm drives in to connect your hands and not your other arm. If you drive in your hand controlling the head, it turns you and makes it easy to be put on your back.

After connecting your hands, drive your head/chest into your opponent and put their side on the mat. From here, you can hop/walk to either side to finish your pin.

If you practice MMA or BJJ, you can use the inside cradle to transition to dominant positions or various chokes.

The Outside Cradle(Far-Side Cradle)

The outside/far-side cradle is held the opposite from the inside cradle. In this variation, you hook the outside leg of your opponent, along with their head.

Just like with the inside cradle, the far-side cradle can be setup from the same scenarios. When you’re in top position, control the head as your other arm shoots between your opponent’s leg.

The arm between their legs drives in and connects with your other arm at the opponent’s chest. There are different ways to get your opponent into a pinning position, but we’ll give you two common entries.

The safest way is to step around from behind your opponent, sit on your side, and pull them other. Your other choice is to forward roll to get them into a pinning position.

If you’re a BJJ or MMA practitioner, you can also use the far-side counter to enter dominant positions and submissions.

Cradle Wrestling Variations

There are a wide variety of cradle wrestling variations that you can learn. Here are three of the most effective variations you should consider learning.

Cross-face Cradle

The cross-face cradle wrestling is one of the most brutal cradle variations out there. This setup starts when you have your opponent flattened out on their stomach and set up a pin.

While on top, aggressively take a cross-face on your opponent and cup their far arm. This cross-face gives you complete control of your opponent’s head.

After grabbing your opponent’s arm, aggressively force their head to their knee. Once in position, lock in a near-side cradle and put your opponent on their back for the pin.

Roll-Through Cradle

When you grab a cradle, a common reaction by your opponent is to try and sit up. If they do this, it gives you a setup into a roll-through cradle.

The mistake many make when in this position is to try and force your opponent down, but they can’t do it. Instead, just put your head on the mat, roll to the side, and put your opponent on their back. 

This roll puts you on top for a pin or in side control if you’re doing BJJ or MMA.

SuicideCradle

The last variation of cradle wrestling we’ll review is the suicide cradle. This cradle variation breaks the rule of never going to your back, but in certain scenarios, it works. 

Your opening for this variation opens when your opponent isn’t opening up for you to grab a far-side cradle. To get your grips, you hop over your opponent’s back to get the grips, while simultaneously putting them on their back. 

Once your grip is secured, continue rolling as your opponent rolls on top of you and onto their back. You come up with a cradle in a top pinning position.

Cradle Entries

What makes using different cradle wrestling combinations is that there are numerous entries. You can grab a cradle off of both offensive and defensive entries.

• Snapdowns 
• Double Leg Defense
• Single Leg Defense
• Sit-Outs
• Arm Drags
• Fake Shots
• Trips
• Top Position 

How to Defend Against Cradle Wrestling

Cradle wrestling techniques are tough to deal with, but there are tactics for defending against them. Here is how you can defend against cradle wrestling techniques.

Block/Break Grips

When your opponent attempts to put you in a cradle, you have to block or break the grips. You can’t let them connect their hands or you’re going to have a difficult time escaping.

Hands In

In order to keep out of the cradle, you need to keep your hands in to defend. With your hands in, you can block your opponent’s grips, hips, and escape.

Block Opponent’s Hips

If you get put in a cradle, the first defense you must do is block your opponent’s hips. You need to create space in order to take the pressure off and make room to escape 

Kick Leg Out 

When your opponent hooks your leg, you need to quickly kick out to avoid them gaining control.

Belly Down

To escape a cradle attempt, go belly down and elongate your body. Doing this will keep your opponent from crunching you inward, while giving space to escape.

Important Tips to Remember When Doing Cradle Wrestling

Cradle wrestling is a great way to control your opponent, but you must remember the details. Here are some important tips to remember when using cradle wrestling.

• Choose Your Cradle: Know the difference between inside and far-side cradles. Each type has different entries and grips.
• Grips: You can hold the cradle with anything from an S-grip, Gable grip, Butterfly Grips, and 
• Bring Knee To Head: When you connect your cradle grips, aim to bring your opponent’s knee to their head. Your opponent’s level of discomfort depends on how hard you’re holding and squeezing them.
• Head/Chest Positioning: Keep either your head or chest against or on top of your opponent’s body. They can make space to get out if you’re too low or high on their body.
• Leg Arm Drives In: When connecting your grips, your arm between your opponent’s legs drives in. Making this motion with your arm around your opponent’s head can put you on your back.

Karl Gotch is a legendary figure in amateur and pro wrestling. His work and development of training routines helped these forms of wrestling grow to incredible heights.

Here is a short history of the life of legendary wrestler Karl Gotch. Check out his story below and learn how Gotch survived a concentration camp and became a wrestling icon.

Who is Karl Gotch?

Karl Gotch, originally named Charles Istaz, was a Belgium-born professional wrestler and catch wrestling practitioner and trainer. He played a significant role in the development of modern pro wrestling and the popularization of catch wrestling.

The Early Life of Karl Gotch 

Charles “Karl” Istaz was born in Antwerp, Belgium, to a Hungarian father and a German mother. He grew up in a modest home and became passionate about sports and athletics.

Istaz originally began practicing Greco-Roman-style wrestling. Within Belgium, Charles gained notoriety for his wrestling and sportsman abilities.

Karl regularly competed at the famous Hippodrome, where Belgium’s biggest boxing and wrestling events were held.

Surviving The Holocaust 

During World War 2, Istaz and members of his family were captured and imprisoned by the Nazis. They were sent to the REIMAHG(Lager E Camp) located in Kala, Germany.

Istaz and his family weren’t Jews, but the Nazis accused his father of being a thief. In later interviews, Karl Gotch refuted these reports.

Gotch said the real reason for his family being sent to REIMAHG was because his father was an atheist. Particularly because he was part of the Atheist group called “The Order of the Buffalo.”

His father had the group’s 3-dot tattoo, which the Nazi officers noticed before arresting them. The catch wrestler nearly died of starvation before being rescued by the Soviet army.

The Olympics & Gotch’s Wrestling Training

Three years after being liberated from a concentration camp, Charles qualified to compete at the 1948 Olympics. Gotch competed in the heavyweight freestyle and Greco-Roman divisions but medaled in neither.

Karl learned catch wrestling from famous catch wrestling trainer Billy Riley while as a young athlete. The Belgian wrestler became proficient in this form of submission wrestling, 

He competed in legitimate catch wrestling matches before getting into pro wrestling in the 1950s.  

Gotch was also a practitioner of Pehlwani, a South Asian form of wrestling predominantly practiced within India.

Through his training in Pehlwani, Gotch learned various calisthenic and bodyweight conditioning routines. These same training routines the Gotch later became famous for doing.

Gotch’s Pro Wrestling Career 

After training in Billy Riley’s famous Snake Pit, Istaz began working as a pro wrestler. He originally went by the ring name “Karl Krauser” before switching to the more universally known “Karl Gotch.”

Karl developed a “shoot style” from his catch wrestling background, meaning he did legitimate moves, but in a worked style. Gotch began his pro wrestling career, working throughout Europe before he got his break in North America. 

While wrestling in North America, Gotch wrestling NWA-affiliated wrestling promotions across the US. 

In 1961, Gotch won the AWA Heavyweight title and had a long feud with wrestling great Lou Thesz. Eventually, losing the title to Thesz before moving on to another wrestling territory.

Gotch’s time working in North America was cut short in 1962 after an incident with NWA champion Buddy Rogers. This incident led to Karl basically being blackballed from working in the US.

This led Gotch to begin working in Japan, where he became an icon. The Japanese wrestling fans loved the more realistic style that the Belgian wrestler used.

Gotch wrestled in the first New Japan Pro Wrestling event on March 6th, 1972. His pro wrestling career continued until 1982 when Gotch had his last match—pinning Yoshiaki Fujiwara with his patented German suplex. 

Karl Gotch: Legendary Pro Wrestling Trainer

As well as being a legendary pro wrestler, Gotch was also known for his work as a pro wrestling trainer. He was a trainer of numerous legendary Japanese pro wrestlers, who used what would be called “strong style.”

Some of the notable wrestlers that Gotch trained included:

• Antonio Inoki: Creator of NJPW, who was one of Gotch’s most gifted students.
• Billy Robinson: A highly-touted English wrestler who worked worldwide and later became a famous catch-wrestling trainer.
• Satoro Sayama: The original Tiger Mask, who wrestled for decades and went on to found the MMA promotion Shooto.
• Yoshiaki Fujiwara: One of the original stars of NJPW, who is famous for the Fujiwara armbar.
• Kazuo Yamasaki: A famous Japanese wrestler of the 1970s and 1980s who later competed in early MMA events.

Gotch put these wrestlers and dozens more through grueling workouts. Not only forcing them to do thousands of reps of bodyweight conditioning but also brutal wrestling training. 

The pro wrestling trainer’s sessions were sometimes more like torture than training. He legitimately beat up his students in a working sense. Training for hours a day and putting his students in various painful wrestling holds.

Even though Gotch trained many legendary wrestlers, he didn’t train just anyone. Before he would even consider taking on a student, they had to complete his warm-up.

This included around a thousand reps of bodyweight exercises that had to be completed before a certain time limit.

Karl’s style of wrestling training laid the foundation for how future wrestling academies trained their wrestlers.

Karl Gotch’s Infamous Training Routines

What Karl Gotch is more known for is the brutality of his training routines. Throughout his life as an athlete, Gotch adapted various styles of physical training, which he practiced daily.

Everything from:

• Squats
• Deadlifts
• Chin-ups
• Push-ups
• Carries (such as farmer’s carries and sandbag carries)
• Mace swings
• Kettlebell swings, snatches, cleans, and presses
• Indian club circles and swings
• Bench presses
• Overhead presses

Gotch’s Infamous Card Workout

One of Gotch’s most infamous workout routines included a deck of cards. Each type of card and number indicated a different exercise with different rep counts.

• Spads: Hindu Push-Ups
• Clubs: Jump Squats
• Diamonds: Hindu Puh-Ups
• Hearts: Half-Moon Push-Ups
• Joker 1: 40 Hindu Push-Ups
• Joker 2: 20 Half-Moon Push-Ups
• Red Cards: Normal Reps
• Black Cards: Double The Reps

Gotch would continue drawing cards and doing reps until he was satisfied with the quantity of reps.

The Death of Karl Gotch

After Karl Gotch retired from pro wrestling, he moved back to the US and lived in Tampa, Florida. He, on occasion, continued training pro wrestlers and taught catch wrestling.

In 2007, Charles “Karl Gotch” Istaz passed away at the age of 82. Before and after his death, Gotch was honored by numerous organizations and was inducted into multiple pro wrestling HoFs.

The Legacy of Karl Gotch

Karl Gotch was a legendary figure who influenced everything from catch-wrestling, pro wrestling, and even strength and conditioning. Gotch did everything from expanding the teaching of catch wrestling to influencing decades of pro wrestlers and strength athletes. 

He was an iconic wrestler, whose influence is still felt til this day.

It’s hard to imagine the UFC without Dana White being the boss. Whenever that day may come, the company has been preparing a replacement, whose name is Hunter Campbell.

Here’s a quick bio of possible future UFC boss Hunter Campbell and what you need to know about him. Also, check out our breakdowns of recent UFC news involving Campbell.

Who is Hunter Campbell?

For those of you who don’t follow the business side of MMA, you may not know who Hunter Campbell is. Hunter is the current Chief Business Officer of the Ultimate Fighting Championship(UFC).

Campbell, being the CBO, actively participates in all UFC fighter negotiations. Hunter is the third most powerful figure in the UFC behind Dana White and Endeavor owner, Ari Emanuel.

Hunter Campbell’s Early Life

Hunter Campbell was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada and is highly educated. The current CBO of the UFC attended Washington University in St. Louis as an undergraduate.

After earning his Bachelor’s, Campbell returned home and went to the William S. Boyd School of Law at UNLV..

How Did Hunter Campbell Get Into The UFC?

Hunter Campbell started worked with the UFC in 2017. He came on as the company’s chief legal officer.

In a short time, Hunter was promoted to Chief Business Officer and later Vice President. Many within the company and MMA media see Campbell as Dana White’s right had man.

Notable UFC News Featuring The UFC Chief Business Officer

While Hunter Campbell isn’t one of the most vocal UFC bosses like Dana White, he has made headlines. Here are some of the most recent UFC headlines featuring the UFC CBO. 

Campbell’s Response To The USADA Partnership Ending The UFC

The most recent news the UFC CBO made was answering comments about the UFC and USADA’s partnership ending. In October 2023, Campbell and Jeff Novitzky held a press conference to announce the UFC’s new drug testing program.

During the press conference, Campbell addressed comments made by USADA regarding the handling of Conor McGregor. Specifically, comments made by USADA CEO Travis Tygart, which noticeably upset Campbell.

Tygart commented: “The relationship between USADA and UFC became untenable given the statements made by UFC leaders and others questioning USADA’s principled stance that McGregor not be allowed to fight without being in the testing pool for at least six months.”

Hunter directly responded to Tygart’s claims with this response from the press conference: 

“Disappointingly, they used Conor McGregor as a vehicle to sort of articulate and re-frame a complete misrepresentation of what occurred over the last several months,” Campbell told MMA Junkie and other reporters in attendance at the UFC Apex. “… What I can categorically tell you is, what USADA has put out in the last 48 hours could not be farther from the truth.

Campbell continued with his statement:

“At no point in time did Jeff, myself, or any other UFC representative, Dana – not a single person ever went to USADA and told them anything other than Conor McGregor would re-enter the program when he was healthy,” Campbell said. “In doing so, we would require him to be in the program for six months. There would be no exception to the rule. What I said to Travis on multiple occasions, including the call on Monday, was there would never be a situation where Conor would fight until he had been in the program for six months. And my words were, ‘I don’t give a sh*t if he has 37 clean tests.”

This is one of those cases where Conor was the most tested athlete in the UFC before he catastrophically shattered his leg.

The UFC CBO and Vice President went on to demand an apology from USADA and threatened legal action.

The UFC’s New Fighter Health Protocol

Fighter health protocol has been a subject that many in MMA media have been asking the UFC to address. Lawyer Erik Magraken released a Q&A he had with Hunter Campbell about many health topics.

One of the questions Magraken asked Campbell was the UFC’s stance on CTE and its effect on fighters. Campbell’s response can be read in the link below.

My exchange with the UFC’s Hunter Campbell telling him to be honest when it comes to CTE and combat sports.

“No question. No question” pic.twitter.com/jMlsBG8bdH

— Erik Magraken (@erikmagraken) August 8, 2023

The UFC’s Rules On Fighters Gambling On Fights

Last year, the UFC was rocked with a cheating scandal involving for UFC fighter and coach James Krause. The former fighter received a lifetime ban for betting on MMA fights and affecting the outcome of the fights.

UFC journalist Ariel Helwani shared an official letter the CBO wrote on Instagram. The letter about the incident with Krause was sent to all managers and fighters.

Campbell’s letter states that any fighter connected to Krause or his gym would also be banned from the UFC. A link to the official code of conduct on fighters betting on fights was also added to the letter.

Why Hunter Campbell?

For those wondering why Hunter Campbell’s name gets brought up as future president, it’s because he’s being prepped. Hunter is young and has worked his way up the ranks to become the CBO of the UFC.

Big companies like the UFC’s parent company, Endeavor, always prep potential successors for bigger positions. Campbell also has the approval of not only Dana but also the top boss of Endeavor, Ari Emanuel.

The current CBO has done all of the work and gained the confidence of the top bosses of the UFC and Endeavor.

Is Hunter Campbell The Next UFC Boss?

Many insiders within the UFC believe Hunter Campbell is the chosen one to replace Dana White. However, White has never said when or if he will ever step down as UFC president.

If that day ever comes, we should not be surprised to see Campbell get named the next president. It’s a little weird to think of the UFC without White, but Hunter could very well be his successor.

J’den Cox believes he is one of the most underrated amateur wrestlers ever. It’s hard to argue J’den’s point as the 2x world champion has quietly built quite a legacy for himself.

• DOB: March 3rd, 1995
• Hometown: Columbia, Missouri
• College: University of Missouri
• Wrestling Style: Freestyle
• Weight Class: 190, 203, 214 lb(86, 92, 97 kg)
• Championships: 2x World Freestyle Champion, 2x Pan American Champion, 3x NCCA National Champion, 4x MAC Conference Champion, Olympic Bronze Medalist

Here is a short J’den Cox and how he became one of the best amateur wrestlers on the planet. We detailed everything from his collegiate career, international success, and how Cox became a champion.

J’den Cox’s Entry Into Wrestling 

J’dren Cox grew up in Columbia, Missouri, and has been competing in wrestling since he was four. Wrestling has always been part of J’den’s life since he grew up in a family of wrestlers.

During his childhood, Cox would compete in both Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling. He would win numerous regional and national competitions while competing in both styles.

During much of his childhood and into his international career, Cox learned under coach Mike Eierman.  The father of champion wrestler Jay Eierman.

While wrestling in high school, Cox wore the same headgear that his brothers wore before him. This headgear belonged to their uncle Phil Arnold, who was a 2x Missouri state wrestling champion.

During his freshman year of high school, Cox lost three matches but still won the Missouri state wrestling title.

These were the only three losses of Cox’s high school career, as he won three more state titles. Not only winning three titles but going unbeaten and becoming the first wrestler to win state titles in four divisions.

J’aden Cox’s Collegiate Career 

J’aden’s legendary high school career earned him a full scholarship to the University of Missouri. During his freshman year in college, Cox would pick up where he left off in high school.

Cox was already the best wrestler on the team and won the MAC Conference and NCAA National titles at eighteen. There was no doubt that J’den was one of the best 197 lb amateur wrestlers in the world.

During his sophomore year, Cox came up short of his 2nd national title but won his 2nd MAC Conference title. When J’den’s junior year came around, he took back his throne by winning his 2nd national title.

In his senior year, Cox continued to make history as he won his 4th straight MAC title and his 3rd national title. 

This success made J’den Cox one of history’s most successful American college wrestlers. 

J’den’s Olympic Debut 

During J’den Cox’s sophomore year, he earned a US Olympic wrestling team spot. While in his junior year of college, Cox made his Olympic debut at the Rio Games in 2016.

Before the 2016 Olympics, Cox would earn gold at the 2016 World Cup. J’den defeated his first three opponents at the Olympics before losing to Selim Yasar in the semifinals.

Cox went on to earn bronze after Cuban wrestler Reineris Salas quit after giving up a takedown to J’den.

J’den’s 2017 Run

After finishing his collegiate career in 2017 with another national title, Cox competed internationally for the rest of the year.

But his first major competition was defending his spot on team USA against Olympic gold medalist Dave Taylor. The two competed in a best-of-three series, where Taylor won the first match, but Cox won the last two.

He followed this impressive performance by earning a bronze medal at the World Championship in Paris. 

2018 US Open Champion

In 2018, J’den made his debut at the 2019 US Open Championship. En route to winning gold at the event, Cox shut out all four of his opponents and scored 2 technical falls.

Freestyle World Wrestling Champion(2018-2019) 

2018 seemed to be the beginning of the J’den Cox era. After placing 3rd at the 2017 World Championship, J’den returned to shock the world. He battled four of the toughest wrestlers in the world to win his first world title at 92 kilos.

A year later, Cox won the Pan American title, leading to his attempt to repeat as world freestyle champion. This was one of the most dominant performances of J’den’s career. The Missouri native won his second world title without giving up a single point.

2019 Yasar Dogu Tournament Champion 

Before winning his second world title, Cox finally won the illustrious Yasar Dagu wrestling tournament. In his debut at the Yasar Dogu, Cox lost his first match.

However, Cox was determined going into his second attempt and dominated the competition. It was a vintage J’den Cox performance, where he scored technical falls on all four opponents.

Pan American Champion(2019 & 2022) 

Between winning world titles, J’den Cox would earn gold at the 2019 Pan-American Championship. Cox swept Diego Ramirez and Jaime Espinal in the tournament to earn his first Pan-American title.

Cox returned to the tournament three years later to win his second title. En route to winning this title, J’den once again swept his competition without getting scored on.

Kyle Snyder vs. J’den Cox Super Match

Kyle Snyder is easily J’den Cox’s biggest rival. The two champions have been battling each other for titles and spots on the US team for years.

The first time the two met was at the 2011 Junior National Championship. Cox beat Snyder in the Greco-Roman finals, but Snyder beat him in the freestyle bracket.

Four years later, in 2015, Snyder gave Cox the first loss of his junior year. Kyle also beat J’den in the US Senior Nationals event that year. However, J’den did beat Kyle Dake to earn his spot on the 2016 Olympic team. 

In 2022, RUDIS+ set up an event of wrestling super matches. The promotion set up a best-of-three match between the two rivals. 

This time, Snyder would come out on top by winning the first two matches. Every time these two compete, the wrestling world watches.

The Techniques of J’den Cox 

J’den Cox is a master tactician who is never out of place. He is one of the best at timing and setting up his techniques.

Whenever J’den attacks, it is always explosive, and he never stops until his opponent is on the mat. His tenacity and high-level technical skills is why J’den is a 2x world champion.

The Training of J’den Cox 

To be a multi-time world champion, you must train like a champion, which is exactly how J’den Cox trains. Whether in the wrestling or weight room, J’den goes all out in training.

He is an elite athlete with an incredible work ethic. This incredible work ethic and athleticism have made Cox one of the world’s best wrestlers.

J’den’s Personal Life 

In J’den Cox’s personal life, he is hearing impaired, having lost most of the hearing in his left ear. He began losing his hearing in college, which led him to learn sign language.

J’den constantly posts videos of him signing to his hearing-impaired fans online. His sponsor, Nike, even put a graphic of the sign for Cox on the wrestling champion’s wrestling shoes.

J’den Cox: Future BJJ Athlete?

BJJ athletes have been training with the 2x world champion for the last few years. One of the most notable jiu-jitsu athletes who has spent time training with J’den Cox is the GOAT Gordan Ryan.

This work with jiu-jitsu athletes led Cox to produce instructionals for BJJ Fanatics and Fanatic Wrestling. They are among the highest rated and most bough instructionals on both websites.

As for if J’den will ever transition to BJJ competition, the wrestling champion is still focused on winning wrestling titles.

The Legacy of J’den Cox

At 26 years old, J’den Cox has nearly done it all in amateur wrestling. He’s won multiple world and Pan-American titles while being among the most decorated collegiate wrestlers ever.

The only title that J’den is missing is an Olympic gold medal. He will look to climb that mountain as he prepares for the 2024 Olympics.

When you list all of the great modern wrestlers, Jordan Burroughs is always one of the first mentioned. Burroughs has had one of the most successful amateur wrestling careers with over 30 major championships to his name.

• DOB: July 8th, 1988
• Hometown: Camden, New Jersey
• College: University of Nebraska
• Wrestling Style: Freestyle
• Weight Class:163 lbs(74 kg)
• Championships: 6x World Champion, 1x Olympic Champion, 6x Pan American Champion, 4x US Open Champion, 3x Pan American Games Champion, 2x NCAA National Champion

Here’s a short bio on the career of amateur wrestling GOAT Jordan Burroughs. Detailing his illustrious wrestling career of one of the best athletes in freestyle wrestling history.

Jordan Burroughs Start in Wrestling 

Jordan Burroughs is a New Jersey native, who spent his childhood growing up within the state. From an early age, Jordan showed that he was a natural athlete.

Going into high school, he was a three-sport athlete who excelled at American football, running, and wrestling. Burroughs initially wanted to be a wide receiver in the NFL but decided to focus on wrestling while in high school.

Jordan would win district and state wrestling titles every year of his high school wrestling career. In his senior year in 2006, Burroughs won the national title. 

He ended his high school wrestling career with a record of 115-20. 

Jordon Burroughs’ Collegiate Wrestling Career 

Jordan’s impressive high school wrestling career earned him a scholarship from the University of Nebraska. Going into his college freshman year, Jordan was the 52nd-ranked wrestller in his division.

His freshman year would end with a disappointing record of 15-13 on the season. This bad year motivated Burroughs to come back stronger the next year.

Jordan showed significant improvements in his sophomore year. Not only winning the Big 12 Championship but also breaking the single-season takedown record with 98 dual takedowns.

Burrough’s 2008-09  junior year would be when he finally won the big one in collegiate wrestling. That year, Jordan won the Big 12 Championships and his first national title.

Going into his senior year, Burroughs was ranked as the best 74-kilo freestyle wrestler in the country. He continued to prove that he was the best wrestler in the nation as he became a two-time NCAA national champion.

Jordan’s First World Championship 

Fresh off of winning his 2nd NCAA title, Jordan would take his shot at international competition. The 2x college champion went to Istanbul for the 2011 World Freestyle Wrestling Championship.

Burroughs proved he was the best in the world by dominating all 5 of his opponents to earn his first world title.

Jordan Burroughs: 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist

A year after winning his first world title, Jordan made his Olympic debut at the 2012 Games in London. Being the reigning freestyle world champion, Jordan was the heavy favorite coming into the event.

Boroughs didn’t disappoint as the world champ was one again dominant in his Olympic debut. Jordan shut out 3 of his 5 opponents to win Olympic gold.

Jordan’s World Championship Wins(2013, 2015)

After focusing on the Olympics in 2012, Jordan Burroughs returned to the 2013 World Freestyle Championship. That year’s event took place in Budapest, Hungary in front of 20,000 spectators.

In usual Jordan fashion, he swept all five of his opponents to win his second world title.

The 2x world champ came up short for his 3rd world title in 2014. Having to settle for a bronze medal after losing to Russian wrestler Denis Tsargush in the quarterfinals.

2015 showed a rejuvenated Jordan Burroughs, who was ready to reclaim his 3rd title. It was another vintage Burroughs performance as he swept the 74 kilo division again.

Jordan’s World Championship Wins(2017, 2021, 2022)

Jordan would take a long time away from wrestling after a disappointing finish at the 2016 Olympics. Once Jordan cleared his head, he returned in shape and ready for competition in 2017.

The next three years would be some of the more difficult years of Jordan’s career. He would get close to winning major titles, but would get shocked in the semifinals and finals.

When 2021 came around, many experts believed Jordan’s prime was winding down. Burroughs would quickly prove his doubters wrong as he came in 2021 in vintage form.

He earned his fifth freestyle world title and entered his name into the history books. However, after 5 world titles, Burroughs was still not satisfied.

The wrestling legend returned in 2022 to win his historical 6th freestyle world title. 

Burroughs’ Other Major Wrestling Accolades

Along with winning six world titles and one Olympic gold medal, Jordan Burroughs has won every other major wrestling title. Not only one, but multiple times

• 6x World Cup Champion
• 6x Pan American Champion
• 4x US Open Champion
• 3x Pan American Games Champion
• 3x Yasar Dagu Tournament Champion
• 2x NCAA National Champion
• 3x Big 12 Champion

The Kyle Dake vs. Jordan Burrough’s Rivalry

Throughout the long career of Jordan Burroughs, he has faced some of the best wrestlers ever. But easily the most notable rivalry of his career has come against Olympic champion Kyle Dake.

For over the decade, the two American wrestlers have battled each other in numerous tournaments. Many of the time it was fighting over a spot on the US Olympic team.

The first meeting between the two took place at the 2013 US World Team Trials. Burroughs faced Dake in 2 best of five matches to earn a spot on the US men’s freestyle team.

Jordan easily beat Dake in the first round, but the two went to war in the final match, which Burroughs also won.

Two years later, the two met again in the finals of the 2015 US Team Trials. Once again, Jordan took both matches against Dake to earn his spot.

Kyle Dake finally got a win at the 2017 US Team Trials, but dropped the last two matches to lose the series. Dake finally got the better of Burroughs and won their series of matches at the 2020 US Team Trials.

These two wrestling champions do not like each other and let it be known whenever they see one another. Their rivalry is one of the great in history, which is still ongoing.

The Signature Moves of Jordan Burroughs

Jordan is known for having one of the most unstoppable double-leg takedowns in wrestling. He is always able to stay in position and set up explosive double legs.

Burroughs’ ability to use his fast footwork a level change to get under his opponents and drive for his double. This has made Jordan’s double-leg takedown one of the hardest to defend in the sport today.

The Training of Jordan Burroughs

What makes Jordan Burroughs a champion is his dedication. Even though wrestling season only makes up part of the year, Jordan stays in shape.

He never stops training and is never out of shape. Everything he does, from wrestling to conditioning training, is done at a high intensity.

All of his workouts revolve around Jordan, creating explosiveness and never getting tired. This type of training is why Burroughs is one of the most successful wrestlers ever.

Jordan Burroughs to MMA?

During Jordan’s reign of dominance in wrestling, he was frequently asked if he would ever transition to MMA. Burroughs finally answered this question for the fans on an episode of the JRE podcast.

Jordan stated that he never had any intentions to transfer to MMA. He stated that wrestling is his passion and something he will hopefully continue to do at an elite level. Don’t expect the 35-year-old wrestling champion to switch over to MMA any time soon.

The Legacy of Jordan Burroughs

Regarding the legacy of Jordan Burroughs, the wrestling legend has already cemented it. Burroughs is one of the most decorated athletes in amateur wrestling history.

Even in his 30s, Jordan Burroughs still proves he’s one of the best wrestlers in history. Don’t be surprised to see Jordan add more accolades to his already legendary career.