Tag: Gladiator Challenge

Olympic Gold Medalist Henry Cejudo To Make MMA Debut Next Saturday

Cejudo on Inside MMA talking about his upcoming MMA debut.

With the future of Olympic wrestling up in the air, it isn’t necessarily a surprise to learn that some Olympic hopefuls are giving MMA a shot. Earlier this week, it was announced that Henry Cejudo, the youngest American wrestler to win an Olympic gold medal, is preparing to make his MMA debut in March.

The twenty-six year old wrestler failed to make the Olympic team in 2012, but has had a very decorated amateur wrestling career, including an Olympic gold medal at 55 kg (121 lbs) in 2008. This doesn’t mean that Cejudo is completely one-dimensional, however. He also has over three years of amateur boxing experience, which includes winning a Copper Gloves tournament in 2010.


Cejudo on Inside MMA talking about his upcoming MMA debut.

With the future of Olympic wrestling up in the air, it isn’t necessarily a surprise to learn that some Olympic hopefuls are giving MMA a shot. Earlier this week, it was announced that Henry Cejudo, the youngest American wrestler to win an Olympic gold medal, is preparing to make his MMA debut in March.

The twenty-six year old wrestler failed to make the Olympic team in 2012, but has had a very decorated amateur wrestling career, including an Olympic gold medal at 55 kg (121 lbs) in 2008. This doesn’t mean that Cejudo is completely one-dimensional, however. He also has over three years of amateur boxing experience, which includes winning a Copper Gloves tournament in 2010.

Despite wrestling at 121 pounds, Cejudo will compete in MMA at bantamweight. His professional debut will take place on March 2 in Tucson, Arizona. Yes, that’s next Saturday, and no, his opponent isn’t exactly a legend killer. His opponent will be Michael Poe, an 0-4 fighter who has only made it out of the first round once. Unless Cejudo comes into this bout without any knowledge of submission defense, it’s hard to see him losing this one.

Regardless of the outcome of his debut, Cejudo has already agreed to a multifight deal with Gladiator Challenge. He is scheduled to make his promotional debut on March 24 against an opponent to be determined. Cejudo hopes to compete eight times this year. No, that “eight” is not a typo.

With that said, what are the odds that Cejudo actually manages to compete that many times this year? Would it be smarter for him to fight at flyweight? Let us know in the comments section.

The Rashad Evans Highlight Reel That Will Be Stuck in Your Head All Day [VIDEO]

(Props: FightSportTV via Reddit/MMA)

In June 2004, a young cat named Rashad Evans (just 2-0 at the time) entered an eight-man Gladiator Challenge light-heavyweight tournament, held over two nights in Colusa, California. Though the above highlight reel presents his three fights in slightly different order — the third match against Bryan Pardoe actually took place first, during the quarterfinals — it does an admirable job of showing how Evans used to utterly clown the regional competition in his early career.

Check out how he puts his hands behind his back against the hapless Hector “Sick Dog” Ramirez, or the classic Sugar-shake he does at 0:48 against Jaime Jara. Of course, Evans backed up the showboating by tagging his opponents at will and tossing them around like children. Evans was picked up for the second season of The Ultimate Fighter directly after this tournament performance, where he won the heavyweight bracket, doin’ his thang the whole time.

And FYI, the song in the highlight reel is “Sugar” by Betty Everett. Great choice, video highlight-maker.


(Props: FightSportTV via Reddit/MMA)

In June 2004, a young cat named Rashad Evans (just 2-0 at the time) entered an eight-man Gladiator Challenge light-heavyweight tournament, held over two nights in Colusa, California. Though the above highlight reel presents his three fights in slightly different order — the third match against Bryan Pardoe actually took place first, during the quarterfinals — it does an admirable job of showing how Evans used to utterly clown the regional competition in his early career.

Check out how he puts his hands behind his back against the hapless Hector “Sick Dog” Ramirez, or the classic Sugar-shake he does at 0:48 against Jaime Jara. Of course, Evans backed up the showboating by tagging his opponents at will and tossing them around like children. Evans was picked up for the second season of The Ultimate Fighter directly after this tournament performance, where he won the heavyweight bracket, doin’ his thang the whole time.

And FYI, the song in the highlight reel is “Sugar” by Betty Everett. Great choice, video highlight-maker.