Former top-level wrestlers have a real advantage when they choose to transition to MMA. This discipline requires such a technical background that it is impossible to catch up without years of training.
Discover our latest podcast
This essential experience explains the impressive success of wrestlers in the UFC, from Daniel Cormier to Henry Cejudo, Ben Askren and Brock Lesnar. A newcomer has just joined the most prestigious MMA organisation in the world: Mark Madsen.
A thunderous start
This Danish wrestler failed twice at the Olympic Games (in Beijing and London, where he beat Christophe Guénot), before reaching the final in the 11 stone category in Greek-Roman wrestling and winning the silver medal at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016.
He made his MMA debut shortly afterwards, signing with Cage Warriors. Madsen has an impressive record of 9 wins in as many fights, including 6 before time expired. He made his UFC debut this weekend in front of his fans, in Copenhagen, against Danilo Belluardo.
And the fight didn't last very long: after a minute of fighting, The Olympian managed to bring his opponent to the ground with a nice sequence, before a brutal ground and pound phase that forced the referee to stop the massacre. Here is a new disruptive element in the already dense lightweight category.
