By Danny Jones, @Tidy_MMA on X
In 2019, ESPN writer Ryan Hockensmith stated “there is no better base for MMA success than wrestling”. UFC commentator Joe Rogan echoed this sentiment in 2023, stating on episode 1967 of his podcast The Joe Rogan Experience “Wrestling is the most important discipline for MMA… I think it’s the foundation – because the wrestler can dictate where the fight takes place”.
Such narrative underscores the intrigue and excitement that surrounds LFA middleweight Jake Woodley, a former University of Oklahoma Division I collegiate wrestler and four-time NCAA Championship qualifier.
In 2021, Jake obtained All-American status at 197lbs. As the 26th seed, he was the lowest-seeded wrestler to make the semi-finals of a NCAA Championship in tournament history. On his path to becoming the University of Oklahoma’s 276th All-American wrestler, he defeated the 7th, 10th, and 15th seeded athletes.
Now, however, Jake is one of the latest examples of former NCAA Division I wrestlers thriving in MMA.
“I wanted to fight since I was probably in middle school” Jake admits. “I started watching the UFC and I saw all these former college wrestlers doing it, and I was a pretty good wrestler as a kid. I was always on the fence about it because it’s a crazy sport kinda, but I think All-American’ing in college, that one year, that was big. When I did that, I kinda made the choice like I’m for sure either gonna coach or fight, or keep wrestling – try to make an Olympic team or something. I knew that was gonna be the route once I All-American’ed”.
“When I was done [with wrestling]… I kinda looked at some jobs with my economics degree, and they just weren’t really very good pay” Jake continues. “So I was like, you know I might as well try out fighting – I’ve always wanted to do it. I just didn’t wanna have a desk job and be like ‘yeah, well like I was a good wrestler back in the day, I coulda been out there you know’. So, I wanted no regrets, and put myself out there”.
Training out of Body Shop MMA, Classic Fight Team, and Orange County RTC in Southern California, Jake bypassed an amateur career in MMA, opting instead to compete immediately as a professional.
Making his professional debut on July 28th 2023, the middleweight amassed a 4-0 record in less than one calendar year, ruthlessly dominating each of his opponents in the process. In all four bouts, Jake was the younger competitor.
Now, just eleven weeks after defeating Oseyiomon Oiyemhonlan via rear-naked choke at LFA 184 to claim the first submission victory of his professional career, Jake returns to LFA for his sophomore promotional bout at LFA 189 in Salamanca, New York. Competing on the main card against Marcos Hutch, it will be Jake’s fifth professional bout in 372 days – an average of one bout every 75 days.
“I’m definitely happy with the way this past year has gone – obviously I haven’t lost!” Jake says. “But I am a little shocked, cause it’s gonna be five fights in just over a year – that’s a little more maybe than I thought I was gonna have. But that’s a good thing. I just haven’t had a lot of injuries and I’ve been winning, so [there’s] no reason to take like a huge break or anything. Definitely pumped with how it’s going. I just wanna keep getting these wins and really start to focus on getting finishes, because I know that’s what kind of advances you faster as you get these finishes – especially in LFA”.
Of course, for an established wrestler to excel in MMA, there is a need to develop and integrate additional disciplines to their repertoire. A 2022 article by Sydney-based gym Apex MMA extends this sentiment further, highlighting that it is more than simply being both an excellent wrestler and an excellent striker; the ability to employ both disciplines synergistically is what creates a truly dynamic athlete.
Make no mistake, Jake has shown evidence of such synergy – look no further than his LFA debut, and his use of elbows and punches from top position against Oseyiomon Oiyemhonlan as an example of this dynamism.
One can’t refute, however, that there is a continuous expectation on those entering MMA from a wrestling background to prove they aren’t simply ‘one-dimensional’; that is, to showcase they possess a striking proficiency.
“Yeah a little bit, for sure” Jake concedes. “A little bit yeah, because people don’t wanna just watch some boring wrestler, you know. That’s kinda part of MMA – being flamboyant. I was talking to someone about it yesterday actually, and I’m not like a super flamboyant guy… but that’s something that I’ll figure out. Here in the beginning is figuring out how to promote myself. How to strike. Everyone wants to see someone get knocked out. But at the same time, I know where my strong suit is. I’d rather have a boring win than an exciting loss, so I’ll always wrestle. But yeah, hopefully I’ll knock someone out on the feet one day – that would be cool!”.
Returning to New York State for the second time in 2024, LFA’s inaugural event at Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino in Salamanca brings the promotion fifteen miles from the border of Pennsylvania – Jake’s original home state.
Born and raised in Pittsburgh, he was a two-time Pennsylvania State Champion wrestler at North Allegheny prior to his recruitment to the University of Oklahoma.
Having only competed in Texas and California across his professional MMA career, however, LFA 189 offers Jake an opportunity to bring his new athletic venture closer to his roots.
“I enjoyed growing up in Pittsburgh, it was a great place to grow up” Jake says. “And it’s a unique city… It’s like a tough place to come from a little bit, a lot of blue collar working going on out there. I’m definitely proud of where I’m from for sure”.
“I should do decent on the ticket sales” Jake adds. “If it were in Pittsburgh, I’d do really good on the ticket sales! But I’ll still do pretty good being a couple hours away. I’ll get some people up there for sure!”.
The author extends his utmost gratitude to Jake Woodley and Jamie McClintock for making this article possible.
Image kindly provided by Jake Woodley (@wood_bone on Instagram).
