Here is a list of the California high school wrestlers who have gone on to compete in MMA. If there are any we are missing, please contact us so we can add them to the list.
Aaron Pico
Height: 5’8″
Weight: 145 lbs.
High School: St. John Bosco (SS)
College: N/A
CIF State Champion as a Freshman, SS Masters Champion & Cadet World Champion
Antonio Banuelos
Height: 5’3″
Weight: 125 lbs.
High School: Clovis West (CS)
College:
3rd State
Chad “Money” Mendes
Height: 5’6″
Weight: 145 lbs.
High School: Hanford (CS)
College: Cal Poly
3rd, 5th & 8th in the State, 2nd NCAA D1 Championships, Pac-10 Wrestler of the Year
Charlie Valencia
Height: 5’3″
Weight: 135 lbs.
High School: Mark Keppel (CCS)
College: Fresno State
6th State, Jr. College State Champion
Chuck Liddell “The Iceman”
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 205 lbs.
High School: San Marcos (SS)
College: Cal Poly
Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion
Cody Bollinger
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 135 lbs.
High School: Sultana (SS)
College: Cerritos College
Cody Gibson
Height: 5’7″
Weight: 135 lbs.
High School: Mt. Whitney (CS)
College: Bakersfield JC, Menlo College
2 Time State Qualifier, Top 12 in state, 2nd in C.S, Two time JC all American, JC state finalist. MMA record is 11-3
Dan Henderson
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 205 lbs.
High School: Victor Valley (SS)
College: Arizona State
2x State Placer, Former Olympic Wrestler
Daniel “el Leon” Hernandez
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 155 lbs.
High School: Arroyo (SJS)
College: Cal State Fullerton
4th State
Dean Lister
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 220 lbs.
High School: San Diego (SDS)
College: NA
Danny “Last Call” Castillo
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 155 lbs.
High School: Laguna Creek (SJS)
College: Menlo
NAIA All-American
Freddie “Bigg” Aquitania
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 238 lbs.
High School:
College: Skyline CC
2x State Placer & NHSCA All-American, 3rd JC State
Gilbert “El Nino” Melendez
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 153 lbs.
High School: Santa Ana (SS)
College: San Francisco State
2x State Qualifier, Master Champion, Former WEC Lightweight Champion
Hector Ramirez “Sick Dog”
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 205 lbs.
High School: John Glen (SS)
College: East Los Angeles
Jake Shields
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 170 lbs.
High School: Calaveras (SJS)
College: Cuesta College
Four-year varsity wrestler and CIF state qualifier. 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.
Joe “One Bad Mofo” Soto
Height: 5’6″
Weight: 135 lbs.
High School: Porterville (CS
College:
CIF State Champion, Junior Collegiate Championship Runner-up (2007), Junior Collegiate Championship 3rd Place (2006),NHSCA Senior All-American (2005)
Joe Stevenson
Height: 5’6″
Weight: 135 lbs.
High School: Silverado (SS)
College: Victor Valley JC
He won season 2 of the ultimate fighter and eventually lost to B.J Penn in a title fight.
Joey Beltran “The Mexicutioner”
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 205 lbs.
High School: Carlsbad (SDS)
College:
Height: 5’5″
Weight: 135 lbs.
High School: James Logan (NCS)
College: Fresno State
3x State Champion, 4x state placer, NHSCA National High School Champion, 3x NCAA D1 National Champion, 4x NCAA D1 All-American, Silver in 2004 Olympics
Joe Stevenson- graduated from Silverado High school and also wrestled at Victor valley Jr. college. He won season 2 of the ultimate fighter and eventually lost to B.J Penn in a title fight.
Joe Stevenson- graduated from Silverado High school and also wrestled at Victor valley Jr. college. He won season 2 of the ultimate fighter and eventually lost to B.J Penn in a title fight.
luke rockhold soquel high
Thank you very much for letting us know. Cody you’ve been added now.
I heard that Chuck isnt from the San Marcos in San Diego..it’s a San Marcos somewhere else.
If you find out where he’s from, we can update it. Thanks for looking into this for us.
Southern section – Santa Barbara
Also forgot
Bryan Cobb- CSUB
Joe stevenson -victor valley cc
Gary Padilla – palomar college/monte vista HS
Lloyd marshbanks – vista HS / palomar college
I sent them your name at the contact us link! 😉
Ya what the hell?! I’m from Cali guys.
Cody Bollinger