UFC has a reputation for identifying talent in combat sports and developing them into superstars. The team recently seems to have focused on Austin O’Connor, the NCAA wrestling champion, as a fresh potential. Fight fans are getting excited about the UFC with just one emoji post on social media. Is the rising wrestler from North Carolina going to be the next big name in the octagon?

Recently, the Instagram handle of “UFC Fight Pass” posted pics of Austin O’Connor with one emoji “👀”, potentially hinting the eye towards O’Connor as the next fighter. O’Connor has encountered challenging opposition in the NCAA during his collegiate career, displaying adaptation on the mat. O’Connor won 3x conference titles and 2X national titles in his name. Additionally, he earned the title of All-American five times in his college career.

Moreover, O’Connor has all the creating of a potential UFC contender with his stellar background and successful career. Fans can only dream about what might be in hand for Austin O’Connor going forward at this point. O’Connor was a dominant wrestler in high school, representing St. Rita of Cascia High School in Chicago. He won the crown of Illinois 4x state champion. O’Connor has signed a management agreement with the esteemed American Kickboxing Academy as he explores the move to the mixed martial arts arena. This adds a thrilling twist to his sports adventure by positioning him in the defined company of famous wrestlers like B.J. Penn, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Daniel Cormier.

O’Connor’s bond with Daniel Cormier

Ryan Bader, Mark Coleman, Daniel Cormier, Randy Couture, Johny Hendricks, and more are notable names from NCAA wrestlers who made an impact on the UFC. In a conversation, David Taylor stated, “MMA is something that’s very interesting to me”. Taylor considers shifting to MMA, but DC asked him not to. But now the legendary UFC fighter Daniel Cormier is here with some razor-sharp advice. Cormier expressed his thoughts, mentioning, “Make your money in wrestling. Stay away from this”. However, the internet exploded with his thoughts and opinions.

Moreover, Austin O’Connor is excited about MMA despite being in contact with DC. The 2X NCAA Wrestling Champion, O’Connor, conveyed his thoughts recalling his meet. O’Connor said, “I’ve gotten a chance to meet Daniel Cormier for the first time last year and go out to AKA and train with Islam (Makhachev) before one of his fights.” O’Connor continued. “I met with Khabib (Nurmagomedov) and all the other dudes who train out of there and that was really cool. I’m in contact with DC all the time now.”

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Adapting to cage problems is the focus of O’Connor’s insights regarding the move from wrestling to MMA. More than only wrestling prowess are needed for success; athletes also need to develop their hitting, submission, and cage tactics. “Some of the better wrestlers who have competed in MMA and the UFC have done a little bit better when they take their time a little bit and get some cage experience,” O’Connor stated. “It doesn’t matter how great of a wrestler you are, MMA is going to be a different thing. You could be the best wrestler in the world but you’re not going to just hop in the cage and be the best all-around combat athlete in the world.” Getting experience in the cage emphasizes the MMA learning curve. Dominance in wrestling doesn’t guarantee success on its own. Finally, success demands commitment and the ability to change with these times.