Bellator is signing American wrestlers while the UFC is ...... not

[ArmenianAssasin]

Ruth has 9 fights lol. How was he “exposed”?

Again the guy was just gifted a decision against Jackson — he’s nothing special

 

[Hellowhosthat]

You have to change the culture some how, and the UFC is showing an unwillingness to pick up wrestlers from Bellator, like Askren. If bellator keeps snagging up the talent and can retain them, they will slowly start taking over the top 10 rankings. Its a big risk for the UFC to be passing on these guys.

I see where you're coming from. I'm kind of hoping the UFC uses LFA as a development league to get some experience before potentially moving to the UFC.

I don't think it's just a wrestling phenomenon though, Bellator also picks up people like Dillon Danis, Denise Kielholtz, Hesdy Gerges, James Haskell, Khonry Gracie etc without records based on other sports. They'll also pick people up with famous dads a lot of the time.

 

[kflo]

the ufc generally doesn't sign guys 0-0. they have noone for them to fight.

bellator does.

 

[blaseblah]

Just a rundown of the American wrestlers in Bellator:

Tyrell Fortune
Age: 29
Weight: 265 lbs
Height: 6'2

7-0 in MMA 7-0 in Bellator
5 finishes

Bellator signed him and gave him his 1st MMA fight.
Career Highlights

• 2014: Team USA Ranking No. 3 at 125 KG

Romero Cotton
Age: 28
Weight: 185lbs
Height: 5'10

3-0 in MMA 3-0 in Bellator
2 finishes

Bellator signed him and gave him his 1st fight.

50-10 (44-3 vs. D2 competition)
3-time All-American
2014 and 2015 national champ
2014 and 2015 MIAA champ

Logan Storley

Age: 27
Weight: 170lbs
Height: 5'9

10-0 in MMA 5-0 in Bellator
7 finishes

119-27 as a college competitor

Ed Ruth
Age: 29
Weight: 170 lbs
Height: 6'1

8-1 in MMA 7-1 in Bellator

Bellator signed him and gave him his 1st fight.

3 time NCAA Division 1 Wrestling Champ in Folk Wrestling
2 time World Wrestling Champ in Freestyle Wrestling

Ty-wan Claxton
Age: 26
Weight: 145 lbs
Height: 5'8

5-1 in MMA 5-1 in Bellator

Bellator signed him and gave him his 1st fight.

All-American status in Division 2 at the 141-pound weight class
Two time division 1 national qualifier

Joey Davis
Age: 25
Weight: 170 lbs
Height: 5'11

6-0 in MMA 6-0 in Bellator

Bellator signed him and gave him his 1st fight.

Two-time California State champion wrestler, three-time State finalist and two-time national champion in High School.
He was the third undefeated NCAA wrestler over a four-year career ever and the first wrestler in the history of the NCAA Division II to end his entire career undefeated. He finished his career with a 133-0 Division II record.

Jarod Trice
Age: 30
Weight: a few divisions
Height: 6'0

4-0 in MMA 4-0 in Bellator

Bellator signed him and gave him his 1st fight.

3 time All American









Now I remember many many years ago during the early shootings of TUF. I remember Dana White saying after a fight( I can't remember what one) he said, "If you can't get back to your feet then you don't belong here".
Where did that Dana go? Seems for the past few years Dana has hated wrestlers.

When the UFC does get wrestlers, they are normally foreign ones. They pick up foreign wrestlers and then pair them up with someone that doesn't have a wrestling base. That shit pisses me off so much because Americans are very good at wrestling. The UFC needs foreign fighters and most high level ones have a wrestling base so the UFC doesn't have a choice.

How is it that Bellator can sign so many wrestlers without an MMA record and we see they go undefeated or have a great record after a few fights?

Is Bellators scouting better than the UFCs now? Does the UFC feel like they don't have to go scouting for fighters? Does the UFC just not want wrestlers anymore, if they can help it?

I know Bellator has more wrestlers but I posted some that maybe you haven't heard of or that they fight now.

The UFC doesn't have a system in place to sign fighters making their mma debut and feed them cans. Not unless it's for a one-off money fight like CM Punk. Their cards would be even more diluted if they started signing 0-0 fighters.

 

[GueseGuy]

Cormier Woodley and Romero were all well established mixed martial artists with wrestling bases prior to entering the ufc

Ruth thinks he’s a striker barely using his wrestling , horrible fight iq. Don’t care what his wrestling papers say he’s a mediocre mma fighter

Lol so when Fortune and Ruth and all these guys get there what will they be? Don’t be an idiot, don’t be that guy that says everyone sucks and then looks like a retard when they come to UFC and wreck shop. I saw so many idiots talk about Cormier/Romero etc and then when they get to the UFC they change their mind real quick.

 

[ArmenianAssasin]

Lol so when Fortune and Ruth and all these guys get there what will they be? Don’t be an idiot, don’t be that guy that says everyone sucks and then looks like a retard when they come to UFC and wreck shop. I saw so many idiots talk about Cormier/Romero etc and then when they get to the UFC they change their mind real quick.

You’r the only idiot here

Think about it for a second before opening your mouth — where did Romero and Cormier end up and why?

For every Romero and Cormier there has been a million busts — its absolutely not a given

In fact bellator is absolutely trash in devolving and promoting its own talent / stars — name who star who came out of bellators endless prospects (please don’t say dannis or Lima )

Ask I’ve stated previously as of now
The only really promising prospect I see is fortune

 

[Paolo Delutis]

Have you watched the contender series? Dana won't sign them unless they stand and bang (go for finish). The UFC is trying to move away from grappling.

I know ur joking

But if your serious ...just take a look at the current champions and top ranked fighters..grapplers are doing just fine in the UFC

 

[GueseGuy]

You’r the only idiot here

Think about it for a second before opening your mouth — where did Romero and Cormier end up and why?

For every Romero and Cormier there has been a million busts — its absolutely not a given

In fact bellator is absolutely trash in devolving and promoting its own talent / stars — name who star who came out of bellators endless prospects (please don’t say dannis or Lima )

Ask I’ve stated previously as of now
The only really promising prospect I see is fortune

Lol I couldn’t imagine being this retarded. How stupid did you feel when SF came and wrecked shop in the UFC? Look at the guys the UFC is pushing now, all Bellator washouts like Masvidal and Askren lol. Keep sucking off Dana tho. Maybe one day he’ll give you a job.

 

[TITS]

Emil Meek should focus less on his facial hair and more on his wrestling skills.

Or maybe they can book him against someone who actually wants to fight.

 

[ArmenianAssasin]

Lol I couldn’t imagine being this retarded. How stupid did you feel when SF came and wrecked shop in the UFC? Look at the guys the UFC is pushing now, all Bellator washouts like Masvidal and Askren lol. Keep sucking off Dana tho. Maybe one day he’ll give you a job.

Oh I get it your one of the “ufc is dying / not the best promotion” retards

1) Askren is a bellator wash out ? He beat the current champ and left undefeated in the promotion

2) masvidal May have fought in bellator a couple of times in 10 years ago( and went 2-1) in some insignificant fights but calling him a “bellator washout” is ridiculous

Masvidal to be completely honestly only become more than a journeyman after the till when the ufc finally starting pushing / promoting him

 

[Apollo33]

You have to change the culture some how, and the UFC is showing an unwillingness to pick up wrestlers from Bellator, like Askren. If bellator keeps snagging up the talent and can retain them, they will slowly start taking over the top 10 rankings. Its a big risk for the UFC to be passing on these guys.

No it isn't, UFC have the privilege of picking up guys that are ripe. Bellator can do the initial can crushing phase.

 

[SalvadorAllende]

Bellator did a great job with those guys.

You didn't mention Aaron Pico who had a few bad loses but he was still signed as a 0-0 guy with an impressive wrestling background.
Or the other Fortune brother.. Tyree who has a fight this weekend. Bellator signed him as 3-0 and he is 5-0 coming to his next fight.

Would they beat Greg Hardy?

Tyrell Fortune would beat him rather easily
@trentkelp where you at boy? Get your ass in here.

 

[560ti]

Ruth just got a gift decision against some scrub after almost being finished

1. It was actually one of the better fights of the night. Good pace and action

2. LOL at calling the LFA WW champion who has wins in Titan FC, TUF, and Bellator "some scrub/can". He was actually the perfect opponent for Ruth (a game fighter who was on his way UP, not down, just like Ruth he's solid but not great)

 

[Ancient Warrior]

I know it’s kind of off topic, but it’s too bad wrestlers don’t have a place to go after amateur competition like boxers and so many other sports do.

 

[Bubba32]

bellator is like the worst mma product right now.

 

[stipeszn]

UFC doesn't seem to want the best fighters anymore, they seem to solely focus on a particular type of fighter.

They continue to do this for a few years and they won't be able to declare that they have the best MMA fighters. It's unfortunate really.

UFC shouldn't interfere in how fighters fight and let the chips fall where they may.

Do you actually believe this?

 

[Rvd Slmr]

Pico has only lost to legit high level guys

Freeman and Corrales aren't "legit high level guys". It was clearly too much too soon for Pico, but let's not get carried away.

I know it’s kind of off topic, but it’s too bad wrestlers don’t have a place to go after amateur competition like boxers and so many other sports do.

Yeah, that's the thing, a collegiate wrestling pedigree alone doesn't have a lot of value for a pro athletic career. Bellator picks them because nobody else wants them until they have built a decent MMA record. That's not very fair for those wrestlers, but that's the reality.

 

[EXOICHO]

Freeman and Corrales aren't "legit high level guys". It was clearly too much too soon for Pico, but let's not get carried away.



Yeah, that's the thing, a collegiate wrestling pedigree alone doesn't have a lot of value for a pro athletic career. Bellator picks them because nobody else wants them until they have built a decent MMA record. That's not very fair for those wrestlers, but that's the reality.

Freeman was his first ever fight, we let that one go.

Henry Corrales has only lost to Caldwell since 2016. The guy is very high level. He's 17-4.

And you can't deny how good Adam Borics is.

 

[Rvd Slmr]

Freeman was his first ever fight, we let that one go.

Henry Corrales has only lost to Caldwell since 2016. The guy is very high level. He's 17-4.

And you can't deny how good Adam Borics is.

That's why I didn't name Borics. It was still underwhelming from the so called golden boy of MMA, branded as the best prospect ever.

 

[EXOICHO]

That's why I didn't name Borics. It was still underwhelming from the so called golden boy of MMA, branded as the best prospect ever.

the hype train was definitely too big but hes still a solid prospect IMO

he just needs some years of can crushing and figuring out his style