Carter Starocci teases UFC debut weeks after confirming return to Penn State for a fifth year

Carter Starocci recently said he will soon make his UFC debut. The development comes weeks after the 4xNCAA Champion announced his return to Penn State University for a fifth year, extending his eligibility as a college athlete.

Starocci was on a quest to make his debut at the upcoming Paris Olympics. However, his Olympic dream was cut short at the U.S. Olympic Trials, where he lost to Trent Hilday in the Men's 86kg category by a score of 4-6. Since then, the Penn State wrestler has turned his focus back to the upcoming collegiate season as he got back in the gym for offseason training.

Amid the wrestling off-season, Starocci dropped a surprise for fans on his social media handle. He spoke about the brilliance of UFC 303 where Alex Pereira knocked out Jiří Procházka in round two of the main event in the light heavyweight division. Additionally, Carter Starocci teased his appearance in the UFC and claimed to make the octagon his own soon.

He shared a series of pictures and teased his possible UFC appearance on X, writing:

"UFC 303, what a great show. Soon, I will be taking over that octagon and making it home."

Carter Starocci speaks on his return to Penn State for a fifth-year

After a disappointing campaign at the U.S. Olympic Trials, 4-time NCAA Champion Carter Starocci announced his return to Penn State University as a student-athlete by extending his collegiate eligibility. He posted a detailed note for his fans, thanking his coaches, family, and supporters.

“My journey here at Penn State has meant the world to me. When I stepped foot in the PSU wrestling room, I set a goal to dominate, and that's what I have done for the past four years. Since being in Happy Valley, I have racked up 7 NCAA Championships - 3 team and 4 individual titles. Even though this is an individual sport, none of this would've been possible without the support of my teammates, coaches, staff, and family," he wrote on X.

“I'm here to take over. With one year of eligibility left, I want to end my collegiate career on my terms. Healthy, in style, and in a dominant fashion. With this in mind, I'm excited to announce that I will be returning to Penn State to bring another national title to State College, Pennsylvania,” he added.

Starocci will be in action in the upcoming NCAA season in a quest to clinch his fifth consecutive title.