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Unlike boxing we often don’t see top MMA fighters who have embraced the glory of the Olympics.
MMA is a young sport that is just around 30 years old and it is not a part of any international amateur multi-games event like the Pan Ams, Asian Games, or the Olympics itself, so we don’t see many fighters with gold medals dangling around their necks. Only fewer have gone on to be recognised as world-class athletes in Judo or Wrestling.
Most of the MMA fighters who have gone on to become champions have started with jiu-jitsu or Muay Thai or wrestling at a very young age, then later competed in amateur MMA competition to construct an impressive resume to get a shot at fighting in the Octagon.
But there are some fighters who have excelled in their favourite discipline and have gone on to compete at the highest level of amateur competition at the Olympics.
Here are some of the top UFC fighters who have bagged a medal in the Olympics prior to stepping inside the Octagon:
#7 Sara McMann:
McMahon wins a Silver!
One of the best women wrestlers to ever compete in the Octagon is this American fighter who won a silver medal in Olympics 2004 edition in Athens. She was one of the most dominant women fighters in MMA who went on to compete for the title against Ronda Rousey.
Before her title fight, she had an undefeated record of 7 wins and no losses. One can tell how tough was McMahon as she received a title fight with only seven fights experience and in only her second fight in the UFC.
She has also bagged three medals at World Amateur Championship and as well as the Pan Ams. Despite starting late in the cage at the age of 30, she has left her mark of achievements to be remembered. She is also the only woman UFC fighter to have won an Olympic medal in freestyle wrestling.
She also holds the distinction of being the only fighter in the UFC to have an Olympic medalist vs Olympic medalist match against Ronda Rousey, for the UFC Women’s Bantamweight title.
#6 Yoel Romero:
Still strong at 39!
The best knockout artist in the middleweight division of the UFC today is arguably Yoel Romero. This Cuban fighter, despite being one of the oldest fighters in the UFC today, is someone to be feared. But before starting his wrath in the Octagon the Romero was an accomplished wrestler.
He has won five medals at the World Championships and to top it all has won a silver medal at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.
He made his MMA debut at the age of 32 but his amateur wrestling experience helped him elevate to remain as a top UFC fighter today. Despite now nearing 40, he is one of the most feared UFC fighters with ten knockouts in his career resume.
He has notable wins over former UFC lightweight champion Lyoto Machida, Tim Kennedy, and Jacare Souza.
#5 Henry Cejudo:
Henry for Gold!
This Flyweight prospect is the third Olympic gold medalist in the UFC’s history, and the only flyweight Olympic medalist to ever compete in the Octagon.
Henry Cejudo won the Olympic gold medal at a young age of 21 in 2008 in Beijing. Ever since then he has proven his skills in the cage and had bagged an undefeated record of ten wins and no losses to earn a title shot against Demetrious Johnson.
Unfortunately, he fell short at grasping the gold losing to Johnson in round 1 after failing to overpower him with his wrestling skills. Cejudo got knocked out within 3 minutes of the first round. But still, he managed to land a role as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter 24 opposite to fellow UFC flyweight, Joseph Benavidez.
#4 Matt Lindland:
Lindland at grassroots of wrestling in MMA!
Lindland is one of the pioneer MMA coaches of the sport. He co-founded the Team Quest MMA training centre in 1999 along with MMA Legend Randy Couture and Dan Henderson. Lindland is probably the only MMA fighter who had won an Olympic medal and to have competed in the UFC as a fighter and then also to coach.
He had begun to pursue an MMA career before trying a hand in world tournaments. After winning an Olympic silver medal in 2000 in Sydney, he managed to get a shot to fight in the Octagon. With a colourful resume, he was also selected as the world team coach in the year 2013 for US Greco-roman wrestling team.
#3 Kevin Jackson:
Jackson at 1992 Barcelona Olympics!
Kevin Jackson is little known in the world of MMA. But the man has achieved a little glory inside the Octagon as well as international wrestling competitions.
Nicknamed as the ‘Lighting’, he was quite outstanding amongst his peers. Jackson won his Olympic gold medal in 1992 in Barcelona and additionally has also won two gold medals in the World Championships and the Pan Ams.
His success on the mat fetched him an opportunity to compete in the Octagon. With his first victory, he got a title shot at Frank Shamrock's UFC Lightweight title but fell short of victory. After he retired from MMA competition he continued to coach for the US National Team and also coached at the Sunkist youth development program.
#2 Ronda Rousey:
Rowdy brings her Judo skills to the Octagon!
One can’t compliment this outstanding woman enough.
She opposed the stereotypes of having male dominant figures in combat sports and is now one of the biggest draws in the Octagon as per UFC President Dana White. Rousey was the inaugural UFC Bantamweight champion and went on to defend the championship six times setting a record in the female division.
Her mother taught her Judo since she was a kid and helped her on her way up to win the Olympic Bronze Medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. She has the art of Judo in her blood and that what caused her to be the 'Arm Collector' in the cage.
She has done it hall from fighting to modelling, and also landing roles in blockbuster movies, this woman is a true role model for women out there.
And now she's in the WWE living her dream. A perfect story, we must say
#1 Mark Schultz:
Mark Schultz(right) with his brother Dave Schultz(left). Double Olympic gold medalist in 1984!
The Schultz brothers are two of the best wrestlers in the American history.
Wrestling was in the man’s blood and so was in his brother, Dave’s. The duo both bagged Gold medals in 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. After a long retirement of 8 years from the wrestling mat, Schultz decided to try his skills in the Octagon. He entered the cage to face Gary Goodridge and won the match via TKO.
In 1991, Mark Schultz along with Lee Kemp and John Smith achieved a record for "The most world titles won by a U.S. wrestler" and were entered in the Guinness Book of Records. To be a complete grappler he excelled in the art of Brazilian jiu-jitsu and received his black belt under Pedro Sauer.
A film ‘Foxcatcher’ was released in 2014 that depicted the story of his glories and tragedies in his life.
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