Not many wrestlers have received this much buzz from MMA fans. At least not many amateur wrestlers.
But the community took note Monday when news came that Ed Ruth, a three-time NCAA wrestling champion, four-time All-American and 2016 Olympic medal hopeful, signed a contract with BellatorMMA (via MMAFighting.com).
Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press
It took note for several reasons. First, because regardless of what happens next year in the Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics, Ruth—who originally announced just in March that he would pursue pro MMA—will be one of the sport’s two or three most decorated wrestlers the moment he sets foot in a cage.
Second, because it is the latest in a series of bold strokes from new Bellatorpresident Scott Coker that have placed the sport’s second-largest promotion within a whale migration's distance of the UFC. That's closer than anyone’s been in quite a while.
Third, because the announcement drafts behind in the immediate wake ofbacklash leveled at the UFC’s new tiered sponsorship deal, which some have theorized might make the promotion less lucrative for current fighters and less attractive to future ones.
The Bargaining Table
Ruth’s MMA debut is still as many as two years away. Though nothing is certain, Ruth is expected to not only make Team USA as a freestyle wrestler but bring home a medal in his luggage.
Until that process is complete, MMA training, at least the kind of MMA training you need to be an MMA fighter, is on hold.
Jeff Chiu/Associated Press
Scott Coker (lef)
"I don’t want to be one foot out and one foot in on this,” he said in an exclusive interview with Bleacher Report. “Wrestling is coming along great. A lot of things in my style have changed up….I don’t feel like [MMA] is a distraction. It’s all training. Some things I do for MMA, working on footwork, boxing, angles, it all helps in wrestling.”
Even so, Ruth chose now as the time to go pro and sign with Bellator. He said one factor was the faith he had in Coker and in Bellator itself.
“There was good cooperation,” Ruth said. “I met with Scott Coker before everything was said and done. I feel like I’m a good judge of character. He’s the guy. The contract he had me sign will help me along the way.”
Bellator Presses Its Advantages
Jason Silva-USA TODAY Sports
Phil Davis (right)
Ever since Coker took the Bellator reins last summer, the promotion has been far friskier on several fronts as a competitor to the titanic UFC. Just last month, Phil Davis, with whom Ruth shares his Penn State alma matter, jumped ship from the UFC to Bellator. Novelty-rich fights like Tito Ortiz vs. Stephan Bonnar or the upcoming Kimbo Slice vs. Ken Shamrock have captured their share of eyeballs. And Ruth is just the latest prospect to be lured to Bellator.
LINK: Ed Ruth Talks Bellator Deal, UFC and Reebok, Jon Jones and Chasing Olympic Gold | Bleacher Report
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