Cormier to make MMA TV debut September 25

September 7, 9:34 PMCollege Wrestling ExaminerMark Palmer

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Daniel Cormier as the 211 lb champ in Season 1 of RealProWrestling
(Photo/Danielle Hobeika)

Less than a month ago, Daniel Cormier -- 2001 NCAA Division I  finalist and two-time Olympian -- signed a deal with a management firm to launch his MMA (mixed martial arts) career.

That move may already be paying dividends. The website MMAjunkie.com is reporting that Cormier has filled the final slot on the TV portion of the September 25 "Strikeforce Challengers: Kennedy vs. Cummings" event.

Strikeforce Director of Communications Mike Afromowitz confirmed Cormier's signing with MMAjunkie.com and said the fighter's opponent should be finalized in the next day or two.

Cormier will make his pro debut at the event, which airs on Showtime and takes place at SpiritBank Event Center in Bixby, Oklahoma.

AOL FanHouse first reported last week that Cormier was expected to debut as a light heavyweight at the upcoming show.  As an Oklahoma State wrestler, Cormier competed at 184 pounds; at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, he was in the 96 kg/211.5 lbs weight class.

Cormier enters MMA with with an impressive amateur wrestling resume. The Louisiana native was a three-time state high school champion, a two-time junior-college champ at Colby Community College, and an NCAA Division I national runner-up at Oklahoma State in 2001, losing in the finals to Cael Sanderson (then an Iowa State wrestler, now Penn State head coach). Among Cormier's many post-college accomplishments: earning a place on the 2004 U.S. Olympic team and being selected as the 2008 Olympic team's captain.

Cormier can hope to follow in the footsteps of fellow former Oklahoma State wrestlers. Among the Cowboy mat veterans who have recently found MMA success include Mark Munoz, Jake Rosholt, King "Mo" Lawal, Johny Hendricks and Shane Roller.

Resources

College Wrestling Examiner: Cormier training for MMA career

Danielle Hobeika's photos for Real Pro Wrestling

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