Best pure wrestler in MMA? King Mo?

http://www.mmamania.com/2011/5/26/2191397/ufc-quick-quote-georges-st-pierre-is-light-years-away-from-becoming

Quote :

"It is a bummer because the sport is losing good guys like Daniel Cormier, Mo Lawal, Ben Askren,
they almost lost me for a bit. It's happening because guys are seeing
MMA, I hate to say it, but it's an easier sport than wrestling.
Wrestling is a sport, just like boxing, it's been around for hundreds of
years ... If [Georges St. Pierre
could make the Canadian Olympic Wrestling Team], he'd be the best
athlete of all time. I'd shake his hand. To answer that question, no,
there's a big difference between Georges St. Pierre and scoring a point
on our elite wrestlers here in the U.S., even Canada. Canada isn't as
elite as the U.S. but he's years away from becoming anything Olympic
level. If he did, I'd literally, I don't know what I'd do, I'd probably
jump off a building ... When I think of a world class wrestler, I think
of Mo Lawal. That's the only guy I really see. Cain Velasquez
was good but he was an All-American, fourth place. The other guys, they
were good college wrestlers but there's a big difference between world
class here in the states. Light years I guess you could say because of
international competition."

Don't count 2008 Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo among the believers
that UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre has any kind of chance
of becoming an Olympic wrestler.

Hendo!

Back in the day Matt Lindland.Josh Koscheck is another worth mention.

WinstonSmith wrote:

Back in the day Matt Lindland.Josh Koscheck is another worth mention.

I don't think Kos is even the best wrestler in his camp. I would say Fitch is probably the better pure wrestler. Sticking at WW you have Johny Hendricks who was a 4 time all american 2 time National champion and 1 time National runner up at Oklahoma State.

I'd say Askren

Cejudo is a natural talent much like GSP, surprised he dogged him there.

LA wrote:

I'd say Askren

Cejudo is a natural talent much like GSP, surprised he dogged him there.

He does seem a little bitter toward MMA. Kind of takes a shot at the sport saying that wrestlers cross over because it is an easier sport.

Well we know that doesn't make any sense.

I skipped the first paragraph, but he says wrestling and boxing have been around for 100s of years, um fighting in all martial arts, but also in the purest sense has probably been around longer then we know.

I would say Ben Askren. I'm sure he would chew up just about anybody his size in MMA in a straight up wrestling match.

Dude's an olympian and is relentless.

Chael Sonnen deserves a mention in this thread as well.

Askren for sure...No doubt in my wee brain!

I'll role Askren as well.

Mo's wrestling was completely stifled by a bjj player.

Hendo was completely outwrestled by Shields. Though there is the freestyle vs Greco aspect here.

But I don't think that guy gives GSP enough credit. Yes it's an MMA format, but GSP has outwrestled all sorts of very good collegian fighters. None has outwrestled him.


In truth I think the whole Olympic wrestler thing is overvalued.

None of the guys named are as good at wrestling as Joe Warren or Kamal Shalorus.

And somehow I forgot about Stephen Abas. He's probably the best freestyle guy in mma right now.

chorky777 wrote:

None of the guys named are as good at wrestling as Joe Warren or Kamal Shalorus.

well with Warren, as Hendo there is the Greco/freestyle distinction.

And does Shalorus have a really impressive resume?

captain organic wrote:

I'll role Askren as well.

Mo's wrestling was completely stifled by a bjj player.

Hendo was completely outwrestled by Shields. Though there is the freestyle vs Greco aspect here.

But I don't think that guy gives GSP enough credit. Yes it's an MMA format, but GSP has outwrestled all sorts of very good collegian fighters. None has outwrestled him.


In truth I think the whole Olympic wrestler thing is overvalued.

Hendo was fighting with an injury, and if that isn't good enough for you then he cut too much weight and he is not in his prime. Argue those excuses, lol.

Pride era Hendo takes the Jake Shields of today and rapes him on a wrestling mat.

captain organic wrote:

I'll role Askren as well.

Mo's wrestling was completely stifled by a bjj player.

Hendo was completely outwrestled by Shields. Though there is the freestyle vs Greco aspect here.

But I don't think that guy gives GSP enough credit. Yes it's an MMA format, but GSP has outwrestled all sorts of very good collegian fighters. None has outwrestled him.


In truth I think the whole Olympic wrestler thing is overvalued.

When discussing pure wrestlers or as it translates to mixed martial arts?

I wouldn't say Fitch is a better pure wrestler than Koscheck. The line gets blurred because Koscheck developed into a much better/more potent striker than Fitch ever did. Because of that Fitch relies more heavily on his wrestling to win fights where Koscheck has been able to stand and bang.

As far as the original question the title of best pure wrestler in MMA has to go to either Ben Askren or Chael Sonnen. Purely from a wrestling standpoint you could also throw in Phil Davis.