Daniel Cormier and the 10 Best Wrestlers in MMA

Wrestling is considered to be the strongest base in all of MMA. It allows you to control your opponent with strength, technique and strategic positioning.

Commonly, wrestlers are criticized for a style of fighting known as "lay and pray," where they control their opponent and ride out the clock in hopes of securing a victory from the judges instead of trying to end the fight.

The reason that lay and pray is so effective is due to the fact that a wrestler has spent his life training to be the guy on top. Once they are in your guard, it can be impossible to better your position. In jiu-jitsu, guard is a neutral position, but the utilization of wrestling has turned it in favor of the boys who have competed in the NCAA.

On Saturday night, Olympic wrestler Daniel Cormier squared off with Josh Barnett in the finals of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. Although Barnett had a distinct submission grappling advantage, the wrestling of Cormier proved to be stifling, to say the least.

Here is a look at the 10 best wrestlers in MMA today.

Daniel Cormier

Now standing 10-0 in his mixed martial arts career, heavyweight Daniel Cormier went from tournament alternate to tournament champion by shutting down Jeff Monson, Bigfoot Silva and Josh Barnett in consecutive bouts.

Cormier placed fourth in the Olympics in 2004, and he was voted team captain of the squad in 2008, although he did not compete due to kidney failure.

Cormier broke his hand yet again when he beat former UFC champion Josh Barnett on Saturday night, but he hopes to return to fight again before the end of the year.

Mark Munoz

Middleweight Mark Munoz was successful as an amateur throughout high school, winning two state championships and a national title as well. Continuing into college, Munoz became a two-time All American, and he won an NCAA National Championship in the 197-pound weight division.

Chael Sonnen wrestled Mark Munoz in college and in an interview, he recalled how he once attempted a kneebar as a way to stifle the superior wrestling prowess of The Filipino Wrecking Machine.

The wrestling ability of Mark Munoz is horrifying when you acknowledge his devastating ground-and-pound abilities. Munoz will attempt to take the undefeated record of prospect Chris Weidman in the main event of UFC on Fuel 4 in July.

Georges St. Pierre

The longtime kingpin of the UFC's welterweight division is one of the best well-rounded fighters in all of MMA, and he has used his immense wrestling skills to shut down very dangerous opponents.

Probably the most impressive thing about GSP's wrestling skills is his lack of credentials. Despite possessing some of the most relentless takedowns in the sport, GSP is the only member of this list who did not wrestle in college.

The champ is currently rehabbing his knee after surgery. Estimates for his return range from November to early next year. He is expected to take on interim champion Carlos Condit.

Johny Hendricks

The bearded warrior with major knockout power might be best known for his 12-second knockout of Jon Fitch, but his wrestling credentials are extraordinary. A four-time Division I All-American with the NCAA, Hendricks won national championships at 165 pounds on two occasions.

Hendricks' biggest wrestling-related accomplishment in the UFC very well could be his successful takedowns against fellow wrestling standout Josh Koscheck in their May 5 contest.

The next move for Hendricks is uncertain. While Dana White claims that Hendricks earned a title shot by edging Josh Koscheck via split decision, logic dictates that he will fight again in the ultra-crowded welterweight division before next spring—the earliest reasonable date that he could anticipate a crack at the belt. 

Cole Konrad

Undoubtedly the least known fighter on this list, Bellator Heavyweight Champion Cole Konrad suffers from a lack of competition and long periods of inactivity. Since winning his championship in the Season 3 heavyweight tournament back in October of 2010, he has only competed once. The bout saw Konrad dominate over-the-hill striker Paul Buentello en route to a unanimous decision.

Konrad is one of the best wrestlers that the heavyweight division has ever seen, along with former DeathClutch teammate Brock Lesnar. A four-time All-American, Konrad won NCAA championships twice, three Big Ten Conference championships along with several other national titles.

With a perfect 8-0 record, Konrad will look for his first title defense against de facto tournament winner Eric Prindle at Bellator 70 on Friday night.

Ben Askren

Konrad isn't the only undefeated wrestler who holds gold in Bellator. Welterweight champion Ben Askren is another four-time All-American who won two NCAA championships. However, Askren surpassed Konrad's wrestling accolades when he competed in the 2008 Olympic games.

Askren has yet to stray from his bread and butter, as he uses wrestling at all costs to win his bouts, much to the chagrin of most fans watching.

Holding a flawless 10-0 record, Askren was majorly tested by Jay Hieron in his first title defense, but he pulled off the split-decision victory. Askren will compete against the winner of Karl Amoussou vs. Bryan Baker in hopes of defending his belt for a third time.

Jake Rosholt

You may notice a common theme among the fighters on this list. Jake Rosholt is also a four-time All-American wrestler. He holds three NCAA National Championships, winning two of them at 197 pounds and the other at 183 pounds.

His MMA record stands at 12-3 (1), with one of his losses later avenged against Matt Horwich. He is one of only two men to ever submit ultra-popular middleweight Chris Leben.

Jake Rosholt is not employed by any of the top MMA organizations in the world, and that is a travesty.

Josh Koscheck

Another four-time All-American is Ultimate Fighter veteran Josh Koscheck. During his collegiate career, Koscheck ranked first, second, third and fourth in the NCAA Division I 174-pound division.

Evolution has definitely been the story of Koscheck's career, as he has transformed from a one-dimensional fighter into a well-rounded contender who can handle most opponents standing and on the canvas, depending on their strengths.

Koscheck has run into back-to-back road blocks after losing a split decision to Johny Hendricks earlier this month and having his attempts at securing a fight with the legendary BJ Penn quickly shut down by the Hawaiian mega-star.

Phil Davis

I could have chosen a picture of Phil Davis using his wrestling to achieve superior positions and submit Alexander Gustafsson or Tim Boetsch. I could have selected a picture of him systematically shutting down former WEC champion Brian Stann. Instead, I chose a photo from his illustrious amateur career in hopes that we can all share a laugh at his terrible haircut.

All jokes aside, Mr. Wonderful is another member of the prestigious "four-time All-American" club. Davis won his first national championship in his senior year at 197 pounds.

Holding a 5-1 record in the UFC. Davis will welcome banger Chad Griggs to the light-heavyweight division later this summer at UFC on Fox 4.

Dan Henderson

Although Dan Henderson has evolved into a powerhouse striker who is perfectly content testing the chins of his unfortunate opposition, his Olympic-caliber wrestling is something that truly cannot be denied.

A two-time team trials winner at the Olympic games, Henderson began his career with a wrestler's mentality: put him on the ground and stay off of your back. Since that time, he has become one of the most beloved and decorated knockout artists in MMA history.

Henderson faces arguably the toughest challenge of his career when he squares off against reigning light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones this September. Considering the massive reach advantage of the champion, there is a strong possibility that Hendo will show us what his wrestling is really capable of.