Will Olympic Gold Medalist Amit Elor Switch to MMA?

Amit ElorThe US-born Amit Elor made history in the most recent Summer Olympic Games. In the 2024 Olympics hosted in…

Amit Elor

The US-born Amit Elor made history in the most recent Summer Olympic Games. In the 2024 Olympics hosted in Paris, France, Elor earned the title of the youngest American wrestler to win a gold medal at just the age of 20.

Amit Elor

Former Olympic Medalist and UFC title contender Sara McMann coached the young athlete to impressive success. The Olympic silver medalist McMann knows the struggles of being an Olympic-level wrestler and an MMA fighter. If you are inspired by athletes’ journeys from the Olympics to MMA, then make sure to check out gates of olympus for more.

Speaking in an interview on the success of Amit Elor, McMann said:

“I know she’s had a lot of different struggles when it comes to wrestling with some of her ups and downs, so the fact that she persisted and I got to look back and see that quality of human as the person who carries the torch for the sport I love and the country I love. I’m like a proud momma.”

After earning her gold medal, Amit Elor thanked McMann for her incredible guidance, she explained:

“I’ve been through my highs and lows and I have to say Sara’s a big reason for me being successful today and for healing my relationship with wrestling and loving the journey and staying positive. She’s been such a great influence on me.”

Amit Elor began wrestling at the incredibly young age of 4, inspired by watching her older brother’s practices. She quickly showed promise in the sport, winning multiple high school tournaments and a California Interscholastic Federation state championship during her freshman year.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Amit Elor dominated her competition. She won the gold medal in the women’s freestyle 68kg category, outscoring her opponents 31-2 over four matches and not conceding a single point in her last three bouts.

Olympic wrestler and UFC world champion Daniel Cormier said that it is only a matter of time until Amit Elor becomes a UFC fighter. He is confident that she will take gold in the UFC as well. He said:

“She’s going to fight. She’s going to be a fighter. For as good as she is in wrestling, she does really well in judo, she does tremendous in jiu-jitsu. If she does start doing [MMA] competitively, they’re going to be in trouble.

“I love when great wrestlers come into mixed martial arts, but I’m always for them doing it after they’re done chasing their Olympic dreams. You don’t get to do that again. If you have an opportunity to be the best in the world, you chase that as long as you can and then you go do something different. I don’t think it should be coming earlier than needed.

“You go and wrestle as long as you need to wrestle, and then you come to try and make the money as the UFC fighter.”

There are several UFC fighters who began their careers in the Olympics. These include such figures as Henry Cejudo and Ronda Rousey, among others. Henry Cejudo is one of the most accomplished Olympians to compete in the UFC. He won a gold medal in freestyle wrestling at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Cejudo went on to become a two-division UFC champion, holding both the flyweight and bantamweight titles. 

Ronda Rousey won a bronze medal in judo at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She became the first female UFC champion and a pioneer for women’s MMA, defending the bantamweight title six times. 

The aforementioned Sara McMann won a silver medal in freestyle wrestling at the 2004 Athens Olympics. She challenged for the UFC women’s bantamweight title in 2014 but lost to Ronda Rousey. 

Daniel Cormier represented the United States in freestyle wrestling at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. Though he didn’t medal, Cormier placed 4th in 2004. He later became a two-division UFC champion, holding both the light heavyweight and heavyweight titles. 

Yoel Romero won a silver medal in freestyle wrestling at the 2000 Sydney Olympics representing Cuba. He had a successful UFC career as a middleweight contender, known for his athleticism. Similarly, Hector Lombard competed in judo at the 2000 Sydney Olympics for Cuba. He had a notable MMA career, becoming the Bellator middleweight champion before joining the UFC.

Will Amit Elor jump into MMA later on? If she does, the UFC title better tread lightly because she is a real threat.

Amit Elor

From Protests to Podiums: The Enduring Legacy of Vinesh Phogat

Vinesh PhogatVinesh Phogat is not defined by her performance at the Olympics, instead, she has sparked a social movement that…

Vinesh Phogat

Vinesh Phogat is not defined by her performance at the Olympics, instead, she has sparked a social movement that cannot be reversed. While she has inspired a nation with her success in international wrestling, Vinesh Phogat’s fight for justice is what illustrates her legacy.

Vinesh Phogat – International Wrestling

The Phogat sisters are famed in India for their wrestling success. Between them, they’ve collected 10 gold medals in the Commonwealth Games, plus a host of medals in the Asian Games and World Championships. Among them, they even have a top-ranked MMA fighter; Ritu Phogat. Also, a blockbuster movie was made in their honor that broke box office records. However, despite their incredible success, the sisters have yet to capture a medal in the Olympics.

Olympic Wrestling

Leading into the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, Vinesh Phogat was a favorite to capture a medal representing India. Having won top spots in the Asian and Commonwealth Games, she was a clear pick to take home some gear on the podium.

Shockingly, early in the tournament she defeated Yui Susaki; this was an incredible feat. Japan’s Susaki captured Olympic gold in 2020 and did not concede a single point that entire year. In fact, Susaki had remained unbeaten in a consecutive 24 international tournaments and sported a spotless 82-0 record.

Yui Susaki

Her first loss was delivered by Vinesh, who celebrated with tears in her eyes. It was a moment that changed the landscape of wrestling. Suddenly, the clear favorite had lost and a new hope had emerged. The Japanese-born athlete could not believe that this had happened, she said, “I didn’t know if it was real or not.”

vinesh phogat 1200x900 489724142

With the nation of India behind her, Vinesh Phogat began a campaign for gold. She then won two more matches to qualify for the finals. Even the Indian Prime Minister Modi got behind Vinesh. In an interview, the national leader said, “Vinesh became the first Indian woman to reach the finals in wrestling, which is a matter of great pride for all of us.

But, her loss would not come on the mat instead it came on the scales. Despite working out all night, sweating, skipping, cutting her hair, and even donating blood, Vinesh was unable to make the weight limit. Thus, she was disqualified. India attempted to appeal this decision but was rejected. The Indian-born wrestler had enough, she declared her retirement from the sport, “My courage is broken, I don’t have any more strength now. Goodbye Wrestling, 2001-2024.”

No medal and a heartbreaking end for her and the Phogat family. However, if Vinesh Phogat never wrestles again a day in her life, her legacy is secure because she fought for something greater off the mats. Justice.

Vinesh Phogat – Protests and Sexual Assault

Women around the world have continuously had to suffer sexual assault at the hands of men who too often walk free. Especially in sports men have been able to use a position of power over women. Speaking to two-time Olympic medalist Kayla Harrison, she described her experiences of suffering sexual assault from those in power. Typically, it comes from those that students trust most. Kayla Harrison said:

Over 75 percent of cases involve well-known friends of the family: uncles, the coach, the neighbor, people that you know. And that’s a scary thing to think about as a parent. It’s terrifying, but unfortunately, it’s important that we do think about it … Why would you ever just hand over your kids to a coach, a tutor, or whoever it may be, and say, “Here, make my kid the next Gabby Douglas, make my kid the next Michael Phelps, make my kid a genius” We have to be really careful.

This is exactly what Vinesh Phogat looked to stop. Over the past two years, Vinesh has been the leader of protests marching against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and the president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Multiple women have come forward accusing Singh of sexual harassment. Adding that there was no oversight or accountability. This sparked major protests in India and the movement gained international attention. Her efforts have been part of a broader struggle for justice and change, emphasizing the importance of creating a supportive environment for women in sports.

Vinesh faced much backlash from those in power, the general public, and the police. Many women at these protests, including Vinesh, were detained by police and would often face physical confrontations. Of these, police have faced no repercussions. She also faced smear campaigns. Despite all this, she knew her fight was just and her will could not be broken.

In her own words, Vinesh Phogat said:

“”I have only felt a deep sense of humiliation since I mustered the courage to protest … It was the same disgusting pattern over and over again and I am among the victims.The fact that no one was listening to us forced me and others to start a public protest as we wanted the nation to know how top athletes were being mistreated

“We wanted Singh to be dragged out of his home, but because he is a powerful man he is roaming around and we are being told to sit at home.”

Ultimately, the protests have succeeded. The IOC is looking to adjust its standards. Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the former leader of the WFI has been stripped of his position and will face Delhi court regarding the accusations. The court said:

“The allegations reveal a pattern of behavior of the accused who exploited his position of power to sexually assault and harass female wrestlers over several years … The allegations demonstrate that the offenses committed against the victims were not random but part of a continuous sequence of events, suggesting a premeditated strategy to assault vulnerable victims repeatedly over several years. The modus operandi is consistent i.e., the exploitation of power and opportunity to harass subordinates.”

The protests of Vinesh Phogat were harshly criticized but she stood her ground. It resulted in direct change. Nationally and internationally, these movements contributed to a larger conversation about women’s safety both in sports and in general. Vinesh Phogat and her fight for justice is a better legacy than a gold medal.

‘Dana Will Offer Him 2k/2k To Fight On DWCS’ – MMA Fans React As Mijaín López Retires After 5th Olympic Wrestling Gold

A record has been set at the 2024 instalment of The Olympic Games by Cuban wrestler Mijaín López. In fact, López was able to check off two Olympic records with his latest gold medal win by becoming the oldest medallist in the history of the competition at 41 years old. He has also become the […]

Continue Reading ‘Dana Will Offer Him 2k/2k To Fight On DWCS’ – MMA Fans React As Mijaín López Retires After 5th Olympic Wrestling Gold at MMA News.

A record has been set at the 2024 instalment of The Olympic Games by Cuban wrestler Mijaín López.

In fact, López was able to check off two Olympic records with his latest gold medal win by becoming the oldest medallist in the history of the competition at 41 years old.

He has also become the first athlete to win a staggering five consecutive gold medals in the same event by winning the top prize in 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 and now 2024.

After proving himself to be the best in the world from Beijing to London to Rio to Tokyo and now Paris, he ended what will forever be a legendary run in the sport by taking off his shoes and leaving them on the mat to mark the end of his Greco-Roman wrestling career.

Not only did he make history as one of the greatest competitors to ever grace the games, he sealed the historic win in dominant fashion.

His former training partner Yasmani Acosta Fernández is another elite wrestler but as a fellow Cuban, he was never able to get ahead of López in the pecking order.

After becoming a Chilean citizen, he took home the silver after being convincingly beaten 6-0 by his former countryman.

MMA Fans React To Mijaín López Retiring After Making History

Wrestling is always going to be a crucial aspect of mixed martial arts and so many top fighters have achieved success in the cage after coming through this background.

With that in mind, MMA fans reacted on social media to the record-setting Olympian going out on top as López left Paris with another emphatic performance.

“Man if he went to ufc he woulda dominated the heavyweight division easily n been rich”

“If he also boxes as well as other Cubans he would be dangerous in the UFC”

“Get this kid a ufc contract”

“Dana will offer him 2K/2k to fight on DWCS”

“That’s one of the most unbelievable achievements in sports history…20 years…no bronzes…no silvers…GOLD. Everytime”

“Teach him how to strike Muay Thai/kick boxing and get him some gloves. UFC champ recipe”

“This generations karelin”

Read also: BREAKING: Francis Ngannou’s MMA Return Official For PFL Super Fight Card On Oct. 19, Cris Cyborg Co-Headlines

Continue Reading ‘Dana Will Offer Him 2k/2k To Fight On DWCS’ – MMA Fans React As Mijaín López Retires After 5th Olympic Wrestling Gold at MMA News.

Top 5: The Most Jacked Olympic Wrestlers in History

The Most Jacked Olympic WrestlersThese are the top 5 most jacked Olympic wrestlers in history. Olympic Wrestling is one of the physically grueling…

The Most Jacked Olympic Wrestlers

These are the top 5 most jacked Olympic wrestlers in history. Olympic Wrestling is one of the physically grueling sports in the Olympic Games, whether you’re competing in Greco-Roman or Freestyle disciplines. Wrestlers who compete in the Olympics need to be in perfect physical condition. Due to this, sometimes we get to see some pretty incredible physiques.

The Most Jacked Olympic Wrestlers in History

These are some Olympic wrestling greats who have achieved some outstanding physiques. Let these be your bulk-up inspirations during your next workout. Let’s countdown the top five Most Jacked Olympic Wrestlers in History.

5. Artur Taymazov (Uzbekistan)

Artur Taymazov is an Uzbek-born freestyle wrestler with a presence in the super heavyweight division. He has won three Olympic gold medals in 2004, 2008, and 2012, plus one silver medal in 2000. Taymazov’s background in weightlifting and his impressive size have contributed to his success, making him one of the most decorated wrestlers in Olympic history plus one of the most jacked Olympic wrestlers ever.

Artur Taymazov

4. Karam Gaber (Egypt)

Karam Gabe is an Egyptian Greco-Roman wrestler famed for his explosive power and muscular build. He won the gold medal in the men’s Greco-Roman 96 kg category at the 2004 Athens Olympics plus a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics. Gaber’s dominance has made him one of Egypt’s most celebrated wrestlers. Just a photo of him makes you want to do some bicep curls.

Karam Gaber

3. Javier Cortina (Cuba)

Javier Cortina is a Cuban freestyle wrestler who represented Cuba in the 2012 Summer Olympics in the 96 kg category. Cortina has also achieved success at the World Wrestling Championships, winning a bronze medal in 2014. Known for his muscular physique, Cortina is one of the most jacked Olympic wrestlers we’ve ever seen.

Cuba has produced some incredible Olympic Wrestlers such as modern legend Mijaín López. Lopes has been able to capture an incredible four gold medals in the Olympics, a feat no other man has been able to achieve.

Javier Cortina

2. Aleksandr Karelin ( Soviet Union & Russia)

The all-time great, but surprisingly only number two on this list. Aleksandr Karelin is a legendary Russian and Soviet Union Greco-Roman wrestler known for his incredible strength and dominance. He won three Olympic gold medals and one silver medal. His body is so impressive that Joe Rogan remarked, “Every now and then I like to pull out this picture of the great Russian wrestler Aleksander Karelin, just to remind myself of what a tremendous pussy I am.”

Aleksandr Karelin is one of the greatest Olympic wrestlers in history having won nearly 900 matches in his legendary career while only losing twice. His body was absolutely ridiculous. Plus, he was strong enough to utilize the famed “Karelin Lift” where he would lift his heavyweight opponent off the ground and then slam them.

Karelin

1. Revaz Nadareishvili (Georgira)

Revaz Nadareishvili is a Georgian Greco-Roman wrestler known for his impressive physique. He competed in the men’s Greco-Roman 98 kg event at the 2016 Summer Olympics and was eliminated in the round of 16. Nadareishvili won a bronze medal at the 2017 World Wrestling Championships. His muscular build has made him a standout in the wrestling community being one of the most jacked Olympic wrestlers in history.

Revaz Nadareishvili 2

To achieve this kind of body is a near-impossible task to look like one of the most jacked Olympic wrestlers. But we have written up a diet and exercise techniques guide with tips from Olympian Jordan Burroughs. According to him, one must partake in box jumps, hang cleans, squats, dumbbell rows, lunges, fan bike interval sprints, pullups, band-resisted exercises, and battle rope drills. It is also recommended to add deadlifts, weighted pull-ups, rowing, bicep curls, hammer curls, tricep dips, and pushups.

Top 5: Best Olympic Wrestlers of All Time

Best Olympic Wrestlers of All TimeLet’s count down the top 5 Best Olympic Wrestlers of All Time. These are the greatest wrestlers in history…

Best Olympic Wrestlers of All Time

Let’s count down the top 5 Best Olympic Wrestlers of All Time. These are the greatest wrestlers in history whose names really stand out in the history books. Olympic Wrestling has seen some incredible competition throughout the decades, these are just a few of the wrestlers who have risen to legendary status. These wrestlers have earned their status as one of the Best Olympic Wrestlers of All Time through the most challenging and oldest sport in the Olympics; Wrestling.

Best Olympic Wrestlers of All Time

Who are the best Olympic Wrestlers of all time? There are many names who could have qualified for this list, but these five have truly carved their place in wrestling history. These are the historic icons, here are the top 5 best Olympic Wrestlers of all time.

5. Ivar Johansson (Sweden)

Sweden’s Ivar Johansson competed nearly a century ago and is a legendary figure in Olympic wrestling. He won three Olympic gold medals in two styles and weight classes: freestyle middleweight and Greco-Roman welterweight in 1932, and Greco-Roman middleweight in 1936. Johansson was known for his versatility and skill in different disciplines. He also managed to earn a highly impressive nine European Championships throughout his career. His Olympic achievements and ability to compete in various weight categories, and styles, make him one of the sport’s all-time greats, easily one of the best Olympic Wrestlers of all time.

Ivar Johansson 2

4. Aleksandr Medved (Soviet Union)

The Soviet-born Aleksandr Medved is a true wrestling icon. He won three Olympic gold medals in 1964, 1968, and 1972 across three different weight classes—a feat no one else has matched. Additionally, Medved also earned seven World Championships and three European Championships. Medved was inducted into the FILA International Wrestling Hall of Fame and named the best Belarusian athlete of the 20th century.

Aleksandr Medved

3. Buvaisar Saitiev (Russia)

Russia’s Buvaisar Saitiev in Khasavyurt is celebrated as one of the best freestyle wrestlers of all time. He snagged three Olympic gold medals in 1996, 2004, and 2008 in the 74 kg weight class. He was known for his technical brilliance on the mat. Over 13 years, he won nine out of eleven major tournaments he entered. Saitiev also boasts six World Championships and six European Championships. Despite battling a neck injury, he secured his final Olympic gold in 2008 before retiring.

Buvaisar Saitiev edited

2. Mijaín López (Cuba)

The Cuban giant is a modern-day legend, easily one of the best Olympic Wrestlers of all time, and a close pick for number one. Mijaín López Núñez is a Greco-Roman wrestling legend with an incredible four Olympic gold medals earned in 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020 in the super heavyweight class. At 1.98 meters tall, López dominated his weight class, often winning matches without letting his opponents score a single point. He’s also a five-time World Champion and a Pan American Games champ. His incredible consistency and skill make him one of the greatest wrestlers in Olympic history.

Mijain Lopez 1 edited

1. Aleksandr Karelin (Russia & Soviet Union)

For anyone who knows wrestling, this pick will not be a surprise. He is the greatest and best Olympic wrestler of all time. Aleksandr Karelin won three Olympic golds in 1988, 1992, and 1996, plus a silver in 2000 competing in the super heavyweight category. Karelin was famous for his signature move, the “Karelin Lift,” where he’d lift and slam his opponents. With an incredible 887 wins and just two losses, he was a true powerhouse, earning the nickname “The Experiment” for his unmatched strength. He is a legendary figure in the world of combat sports.

Aleksandr Karelin 3 edited

Honorable Mentions

In addition to the above best Olympic Wrestlers of all time, here are more who nearly made the list:

  • Artur Aleksanyan (USA)
  • Vladimer Khinchegashvili (Georgia)
  • Dan Gable (USA)
  • Elbrus Tedeyev (Ukraine)
  • Kim Hyeon-woo (South Korea)
  • Mavlet Batirov (Russia)
  • Saori Yoshida (Japan)
  • Jordan Burroughs (USA)

Video – Brandon Moreno takes part in ‘Lucha Libre’ wrestling event days after title loss at UFC 290

Brandon MorenoBrandon Moreno is seemingly taking the recent loss well, as evident by his recent performance in a Lucha Libre wrestling event in Tijuana, Mexico. At UFC 290, Moreno was defeated by Alexandre Pantoja via split decision and lost his UFC flyweight title. The fight was extremely close and was a brutal war that was waged […]

Brandon Moreno

Brandon Moreno is seemingly taking the recent loss well, as evident by his recent performance in a Lucha Libre wrestling event in Tijuana, Mexico.

At UFC 290, Moreno was defeated by Alexandre Pantoja via split decision and lost his UFC flyweight title. The fight was extremely close and was a brutal war that was waged within five rounds. Unfortunately for Moreno, the judges thought Pantoja edged him out and he would leave the cage no longer a UFC champion.

For Moreno, this must have been crushing. The path to the title for him was a long and arduous journey. His first title fight ended in an extremely rare draw with Deiveson Figueiredo back in 2020. Next, would come three more fights with Figueiredo and a dangerous battle with Kai Kara France. When everything was done and the dust settled, Brandon Moreno reigned supreme over the flyweight division. Just when it looked like the Mexican superstar was ready to settle in and defend his title for years to come, the Pantoja fight came along and the Brazilian fighter would end up walking away as the champion.

Yet, the future still appears bright for Brandon Moreno. It now even seems that a potential wrestling career could present itself to the fighter after he’s ready to call a quits to his journey in combat sports.

Brandon Moreno gets rowdy at Lucha Libre event in Tijuana

Crashing a Lucha Libre Triplemanía wrestling event in Tijuana, Mexico, Brandon Moreno seemingly had a ton of fun. He attacked one of the wrestlers with a brutal barrage of strikes and even mixed in some submission attempts.

This comes just a week after the brutal fight with Pantoja, where Moreno also suffered a broken hand. While the road to recovery will keep him sidelined for months, it’s nice to see the former champ enjoying himself after a tough loss and such a hard fight.

Do you think Brandon Moreno will wrestle for the WWE after his MMA career is over?