The ever-growing trend of decorated collegiate and amateur wrestlers transitioning to mixed martial arts has surfaced yet again.
Sherdog brings word that 2004 freestyle wrestling Olympic silver medalist Stephen Abas has signed a two-fight contract with Tachi Palace Fights where he will compete at 135 lbs.
The 32 year-old Abas wrestled for Fresno State University where he earned All-American status all four years, and won the Division I National Championship three straight years at 125 lbs. He finished his collegiate career with a 144-4 record while going undefeated in his last two years.
Not a bad resume. And the standout wrestler isn't jumping into this sport unprepared.
After failing to make the 2008 Olympic squad, Abas retired from competitive wrestling and took to mixed martial arts. Since discovering the sport, Stephen has served as a wrestling coach at "The Arena Gym" in San Diego, California where MMA standouts Diego Sanchez, Cristiane Santos, K.J. Noons, and Rani Yahya call home.
Abas will make his debut with the California-based MMA promotion on May 5.
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