Ten years ago, the NCAA’s best wrestlers didn’t have many options after college. The best devoted their lives to Olympic gold while the rest of the All-American field trained the next generation of top-flight talent. Only a select few found their way inside the Octagon, and they proved that mixed martial arts was a lucrative option.
Today, collegiate wrestlers are transitioning to the sport at a record pace, and the past success of highly-credentialed NCAA wrestlers has convinced many more to make their way into the cage. Four-time NCAA Division I All-American Lance Palmer (2-0) is the latest to make the move.
The 23-year-old 2010 Big Ten wrestling champion debuted in May against Emilio Gonzalez at Fight for Wrestling III in Bakersfield, California. He won in quick fashion, submitting Gonzalez in two minutes and twenty-two seconds by rear naked choke. Five months later, Palmer stepped back into the cage at Fight for Wrestling IV, beating Larry Criss via unanimous decision.
There isn’t definitive evidence to suggest that Palmer is destined for greatness after beating a couple of rookies, but the bouts did give us a glimpse into what Palmer has to offer. He’s a hulking physical specimen and uses his brute strength and wrestling experience to overwhelm his opposition. No surprise there.
It’s early in his progression, but history suggests that Palmer will find success. The major selling point is his status as a team member at Team Alpha Male, the famous camp that houses UFC veterans Urijah Faber, Chad Mendes, and Joseph Benavidez. In the lighter weight classes, it’s difficult to find a camp that has had more success converting wrestlers like Palmer into top-tier fighters. Palmer is in good hands, and he’ll benefit greatly from the partnership.
Time will tell whether Palmer can pick up the intricacies of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and any sort of semblance of a stand-up game. Right now, his wrestling background can win him fights in the regional scene while he hones those skills. Palmer may not be ready for the show in 2012, but he’ll likely make a bid for relevant fights in the regional scene by late 2012 before making an impact in 2013.
Check out more video footage of Lance Palmer after the jump…
| Flyweight | Bantamweight | Featherweight | Lightweight |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 – #2 – #3 – #4 – #5 – #6 – #7 – #8 – #9 – #10 – |
#1 – Rony Mariano #2 – Aljamain Sterling #3 – Chris Holdsworth #4 – Josh Hill #5 – Fabiano Fernandes #6 – Claudio Ledesma #7 – Sirwan Kakai #8 – Kyoji Horiguchi #9 – Leandro Hygo #10 – Pedro Munhoz |
#1 – #2 – #3 – #4 – Lance Palmer #5 – Jim Alers #6 – Anthony Gutierrez #7 – Max Holloway #8 – John Teixeira #9 – Cody Bollinger #10 – Bubba Jenkins |
#1 – #2 – #3 – #4 – #5 – #6 – #7 – #8 – #9 – #10 – |
| Welterweight | Middleweight | Light Heavyweight | Heavyweight |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 – #2 – #3 – #4 – #5 – #6 – #7 – #8 – #9 – #10 – |
#1 – #2 – #3 – #4 – #5 – #6 – #7 – #8 – #9 – #10 – |
#1 – #2 – #3 – #4 – #5 – #6 – #7 – #8 – #9 – #10 – |
#1 – #2 – #3 – #4 – #5 – #6 – #7 – #8 – #9 – #10 – |
Lance Palmer’s debut
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