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Bellator has revealed that 2x NCAA Division 1 national champion Jordan Oliver will join their featherweight division.
Bellator is establishing a reputation for signing elite NCAA wrestlers hoping to succeed in MMA. Some have succeeded, while others have struggled to make the transition. The newest potential superstar signed to Scott Coker’s promotion is Oliver, who is one of the best pure wrestlers on the roster. The official announcement was made on Twitter:
“𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝙎𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 Bellator MMA is pleased to announce the signing of former U.S. Olympic wrestling team member and 4x NCAA All-American, Jordan Oliver. @that_dude_JO will make his Featherweight debut later this year.”
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Oliver is 32 years old and hasn’t fought in a mixed martial arts bout. With that said, the former Oklahoma State wrestler trains at Kill Cliff FC and has plenty of wrestling experience to make up for his lack of MMA fights. Along with being a member of the 2020 U.S. Olympic team, he was a 4x NCAA All-American, a 4x Big 12 conference champion, and the 2019 U.S. National Champion.
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Fans react to Bellator signing Jordan Oliver
Collegiate wrestling has a diehard fanbase that continues to help the sport grow. As a result, wrestler-turned-fighters often come with a lot of fans hoping to see them succeed. Once Bellator announced they had signed Jordan Oliver, fans were thrilled on Twitter, including some saying:
“D*mn dude….didn’t even know he was getting into fighting. This is awesome”
“6JO fan for decades! Can’t wait to see him wrecking dudes in the cage.”
“This dude has always been a problem. Great signing”
“Wooow my favorite wrestler getting into MMA!! Let’s go!! @that_dude_JO”
Oliver will join the featherweight division, with Patricio Pitbull as the reigning champion. The top five ranked 145-pounders are Adam Borics (1), Jeremy Kennedy (2), AJ McKee Jr/Aaron Pico (T-3), and Pedro Carvalho (5).
Before focusing on the elite fighters in the featherweight division, Oliver will need to prove he’s a legitimate future contender. The 32-year-old will likely get a lower-level opponent in his first couple of fights to get his feet wet. Nonetheless, the former 2x NCAA D1 national champion is a prospect to watch.
