The Hit List: NCAA Division I Wrestling Champions Who Have Competed in MMA

Brock Lesnar broke into the Ultimate Fighting Championship with enough flair, hype and anticipation that the public believed he was made for mixed martial arts and not just World Wrestling Entertainment. Although he lost his UFC debut to Frank Mir, the man who runs “Suplex City” went on to rattle off four straight wins and become the undisputed heavyweight champion.

Before his time in the UFC or the WWE, Lesnar was a two-time NCAA All-American wrestler at the University of Minnesota, where he won a national title in 2000. He is part of an exclusive group as one of a handful of wrestlers to win a national championship at the Division I level and compete in MMA:

Brock Lesnar

MMA Record: 5-3
College(s): University of Minnesota
Championship Year(s): 2000

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Johny Hendricks

MMA Record: 18-8
College(s): Oklahoma State University
Championship Year(s): 2005, 2006

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Mark Munoz

MMA Record: 14-6
College(s): Oklahoma State University
Championship Year(s): 2001

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Phil Davis

MMA Record: 18-4
College(s): Penn State University
Championship Year(s): 2008

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Mark Coleman

MMA Record: 16-10
College(s): Ohio State University
Championship Year(s): 1988

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Josh Koscheck

MMA Record: 17-11
College(s): Edinboro University
Championship Year(s): 2001

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Jake Rosholt

MMA Record: 12-5
College(s): Oklahoma State University
Championship Year(s): 2003

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Kevin Randleman

MMA Record: 17-16
College(s): Ohio State University
Championship Year(s): 1992, 1993

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Ben Askren

MMA Record: 18-0
College(s): University of Missouri
Championship Year(s): 2006, 2007

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Cole Konrad

MMA Record: 9-0
College(s): University of Minnesota
Championship Year(s): 2006, 2007

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Mark Ellis

MMA Record: 1-1
College(s): University of Missouri
Championship Year(s): 2009

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Mark Kerr

MMA Record: 15-11
College(s): Syracuse University
Championship Year(s): 1992

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Bubba Jenkins

MMA Record: 12-4
College(s): Arizona State University
Championship Year(s): 2011

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Mark Schultz

MMA Record: 1-0
College(s): University of Oklahoma
Championship Year(s): 1981, 1982, 1983

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Kenny Monday

MMA Record: 1-0
College(s): Oklahoma State University
Championship Year(s): 1984

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Mike Van Arsdale

MMA Record: 8-5
College(s): Iowa State University
Championship Year(s): 1988

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Carlton Haselrig

MMA Record: 3-2
College(s): University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown
Championship Year(s): 1987

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Steve Mocco

MMA Record: 5-1
College(s): University of Iowa, Oklahoma State University
Championship Year(s): 2003, 2005

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Gregor Gillespie

MMA Record: 11-0
College(s): Edinboro University
Championship Year(s): 2007

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Darrion Caldwell

MMA Record: 12-1
College(s): North Carolina State University
Championship Year(s): 2009

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Ed Ruth

MMA Record: 4-0
College(s): Penn State University
Championship Year(s): 2012, 2013, 2014

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Rico Chiaparelli

MMA Record: 1-0
College(s): Iowa University
Championship Year(s): 1987

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Royce Alger

MMA Record: 3-2
College(s): Iowa University
Championship Year(s): 1987, 1988

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Sylvester Terkay

MMA Record: 3-1
College(s): North Carolina State University
Championship Year(s): 1993

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Stephen Abas

MMA Record: 3-0
College(s): Fresno State University
Championship Year(s): 1999, 2001, 2002

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Eric Larkin

MMA Record: 3-1
College(s): Arizona State University
Championship Year(s): 2003

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Rex Holman

MMA Record: 4-2
College(s): Ohio State University
Championship Year(s): 1993

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