Back in the day Grappling was the gateway in to Fighting. Check out these two American Legends who both went on to HUGE careers in MMA. John Fitch Vs. Jake Shields.

Shields is a BJJ black belt but is also a high level Wrestler. Shields began amateur wrestling at age nine. He has competed in over 601 folk, freestyle, and submission wrestling matches. Shields was a four-year varsity wrestler and state qualifier at Calaveras High School, finished 2nd place at the Amateur Athletic Union National Freestyle Championships, qualified for U.S.A./ FILA Nationals & World Team Trials in both the junior & university men’s divisions. He is also a two time All American wrestler from Cuesta College, placing 4th in the state tournament in the 177 lb weight class in 1997 and 3rd in the 197 lb weight class a year later.

After graduating from Carroll High School (Fort Wayne, Indiana), Jon Fitch enrolled at Purdue University in 1997 and graduated in 2002 with a bachelor’s in physical education and a minor in history. As a walk-on to the Purdue wrestling team, Fitch – a four-year letterman – wrestled under the tutelage of Tom Erikson and eventually became the team captain of his wrestling squad. Fitch secured a starting spot early on in his career, but struggled to find initial success. Compiling an 8-23 record his sophomore season, Fitch impressively turned that around to compile an 18-12 record in his final year. He finished with a 45-51 record overall for his collegiate wrestling career.

Tom Erikson– a former PRIDE fighter – would occasionally bring other mixed martial artists to the wrestling gym, and Fitch would be introduced to such fighters as Mark Coleman and Gary Goodridge. The sport, and the money that the top-tier fighters were making interested Fitch, and he started his mixed martial arts career in 2002. Fitch is also a black belt in Guerrilla Jiu-Jitsu.

Superfight Gracie Open 2005.