Jordan Burroughs, one of the most decorated wrestlers in U.S. history, is currently tearing through the Real American Freestyle promotion, proving exactly why he believes he “would have been freaking good” if he ever stepped into the UFC octagon. At 38 years old, Burroughs has already locked in two dominant wins with RAF since signing in June, and he is not slowing down.
The MMA Road Not Taken
Before his current run in RAF, Burroughs carved out a resume that few can match in wrestling: a 2012 Olympic gold medal, six world championships, two NCAA Division-I titles at Nebraska, and the coveted Hodge Trophy as the nation’s top wrestler. But here is the kicker: he almost traded the singlet for the cage. Burroughs admitted to MMA Junkie Radio that he “started training,” taking striking classes and regularly doing jiu-jitsu. He never reached the contract stage or started talking opponents, weight classes, or catch weights, but he prepared his body and mind for it. His confidence is clear, saying, “I think I would have been freaking good.” He points to his movement, aggression, double leg, explosiveness, strong chin, grit, toughness, fluidity, and dynamic movement as reasons he “would have been a problem for a lot of fighters.”
Dominating the Freestyle Mat
Instead of stepping into the Octagon, Burroughs decided his unfinished business was on the wrestling mat. That is where Real American Freestyle comes in. After signing with RAF in June, he debuted in August and immediately secured a technical fall victory over UFC standout Sean Brady. Just two weeks later, he continued his winning streak by beating Magomed Kurbanaliev in Moscow. This Friday, Burroughs is set to have his third RAF match in just two months, facing Michael Caliendo at RAF 14. The event is happening at the Fountainbleu in Las Vegas and will be available on FOX Nation and in select AMC Theatres.
Wrestling’s Payoff, MMA’s Respect
Burroughs has been open about why he never made the full jump to MMA. The RAF now provides a platform where he does not have to consider switching sports just to make a living, a path many other wrestlers took before today’s massive NIL payouts were even a thing. He has tremendous respect for the MMA game and the bravery it takes to step into the octagon, stating, “I know it’s considerably harder than it looks from the outside.” Burroughs emphasizes that he loves wrestling, and RAF is “so special” because it allows him to continue his craft. He has another match booked for RAF’s show in Abu Dhabi next month. Get ready, because Burroughs is clearly not done proving his point on the wrestling mat.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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