Daniel Cormier and the 5 Best Olympic Wrestlers Who Moved to MMA

Wrestling is known as one of the original Olympic sports and a pillar to mixed martial arts. Many athletes with a strong base in wrestling have been successful in the world of MMA.

With standout wrestler Daniel Cormier in the main event of UFC 182 against Jon Jones on Saturday, here is a look at five individuals who attained great success when competing on the Olympic mats. Some are past names, and others are present competitors. These individuals deserve consideration as some of the best Olympic wrestlers to transition into mixed martial arts.

Sara McMann

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Sara McMann may be the best American female wrestler to ever compete.

Sara McMann has already earned a position in sports history. She is the only American woman to earn a silver medal in Olympic wrestling. She won this award during the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

Since moving over to MMA in 2010, she has had a strong showing in the sport. She earned a shot at Ronda Rousey at UFC 170 but fell to the current champion in the first round.

McMann can earn her way back to another title shot, as the UFC ranks her as No. 3 in the women's bantamweight division. She's facing No. 2-ranked Miesha Tate on January 31 at UFC 183. A win can put her back in the title picture and give her the opportunity to boast both an Olympic medal and a UFC belt.

Yoel Romero

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Yoel Romero is a middleweight to watch in 2015.

Yoel Romero is another Olympic silver medalist who is currently competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He earned his medal in 2000 during the Sydney Games. Since moving over to MMA, he's put together a 9-1 record and has jumped to No. 6 in the UFC middleweight division.

Marc Raiondi of Fox Sports is firmly behind Romero's wrestling chops. He stated that “Romero has the best wrestling credentials of any fighter in the UFC today." Even though Romero is 37 years, he is a fighter to watch in 2015.

Henry Cejudo

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December 13, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Henry Cejudo punches Dustin Kimura during UFC Fight Night at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

UFC newcomer Henry Cejudo reached the top of Olympic wrestling. In 2008 he won a gold medal while wrestling in the 121-pound weight class. What's interesting about Cejudo is that he did not take the traditional route of wrestling in college. Instead, he trained full-time at the Olympic Training Center to prepare for those 2008 Games.

Cejudo had a positive debut in the UFC against Dustin Kimura at UFC on Fox 13. Rather than using a wrestling-based attack, he stuck to his striking skills and showed that he will not be the “lay and pray” type of wrestler that the sport has seen in the past. Whether it is at 125 or 135 pounds, Cejudo is a competitor who brings a strong wrestling pedigree into the cage.

Matt Lindland

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Matt Lindland had a storied MMA career.

Matt Lindland is a throwback name but certainly deserves to be a part of the conversation about the best Olympic wrestlers to compete in mixed martial arts.

Lindland competed at the 2000 Games in Sydney, where he earned the silver medal in Greco-Roman wrestling. During his career he would participate in many different MMA organizations including the UFC, Strikeforce and IFL. His resume includes wins over many notables such as Travis Lutter, Jeremy Horn and Carlos Newton.

Mark Schultz

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Mark Schultz's wrestling pedigree was of world class quality.

Mark Schultz may not have the long career of many other MMA athletes, but he was a winner nearly everywhere he competed.

Schultz earned a gold medal during the 1984 Olympic Games that were held in Los Angeles. He would win other gold medals during the 1980s while competing in the World Championships and Pan American Games.

His MMA career would be short; he only had two fights, one of which was in the UFC where he stopped Gary Goodridge via TKO due to cuts. Even more impressive is that he took this bout on short notice.

In 2008, Jason Probst of Sherdog spoke highly of Schultz's wrestling abilities, writing, “Equipped with some of the most potent wrestling ever seen in mixed martial arts, Schultz’s sole UFC bout seemed to herald the beginning of a career every bit as good as his credentials." Unfortunately, that career never panned out, but Schultz may be one of the best Olympic wrestlers to ever compete in MMA.