Daniel Cormier says money is keeping American wrestlers out of the cage.
What's happening with American wrestlers?
The UFC Hall of Famer and two-time Olympian told Ya'll Street TV that coaching jobs and Regional Training Centers now pay enough to make fighting less attractive to elite wrestlers.
Why the decline in MMA interest?
"Most wrestlers think that $200,000 a year to coach is a lot of money, especially when you're living in those small towns like Stillwater and Happy Valley," Cormier said, per MMA Fighting.
Impact on the sport
Cormier pointed out that the UFC currently has no male American champions — though he forgot Sean Strickland holds the middleweight belt.
Wrestlers once saw MMA as the only way to earn a living after college, but Regional Training Centers and coaching positions now offer steady six-figure salaries without the punches.
Notable exceptions
Of the 16 American wrestlers who competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics, only silver medalist Kennedy Blades has expressed serious interest in fighting professionally.
Gable Steveson, the Olympic gold medalist and multi-time NCAA champion, makes his UFC debut in July.
But Steveson represents an outlier rather than the start of a new trend.
Cormier built his Hall of Fame career after wrestling at the highest levels, and he believes the sport benefited enormously from the steady flow of American mat talent.
That pipeline has slowed considerably as wrestlers find they can stay in the sport and still make a comfortable living.
Cormier's comments come as the UFC looks to develop new talent, with American wrestlers no longer seeing MMA as the only viable career path.
The shift has significant implications for the sport, with Cormier noting that the American wrestler isn't as open to fighting as they need him to be.
As the UFC moves forward, it will be interesting to see how they adapt to this new reality and find ways to attract top American wrestling talent.
Cormier's insights provide valuable context for understanding the current state of MMA and the challenges it faces in recruiting American wrestlers.
The situation is complex, with multiple factors contributing to the decline of American wrestlers in MMA.
Cormier's comments are particularly notable given his own background as a successful wrestler and MMA fighter.
He brings a unique perspective to the issue, having experienced both the wrestling and MMA worlds firsthand.
As the debate continues, one thing is clear: the UFC will need to find new ways to attract and retain top American wrestling talent if it hopes to remain competitive in the years to come.