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Article: Mixed martial arts provides a stage: WRESTLERS DISCOVER OUTLET, PRO CAREER BEYOND COLLEGE.
- Article from:
- San Jose Mercury News (San Jose, CA)
- Article date:
- December 7, 2006
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 San Jose Mercury News. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Chris Haft
Dec. 7--Wrestlers on the interscholastic level toil in near-anonymity, but they don't have to stay that way. Mixed martial arts, a spectacle that is skyrocketing in popularity, has become a haven for college wrestlers seeking competition -- and a professional career -- beyond the mat. Two of the fighters performing Friday on the Strikeforce Mixed Martial Arts card at HP Pavilion have extensive wrestling backgrounds: Cung Le, the undefeated world San Shou kickboxing champion, and Josh "The Punk" Thomson, who owns an 11-2 professional record. By definition, mixed martial arts demands mastery of various disciplines: not only wrestling, ...