Match of the Day: Daniel Cormier and Mo Lawal wrestle in the 2007 U.S. Open finals
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by USA Wrestling
Daniel Cormier and Mo Lawal are two of the best-known wrestlers turned mixed martial arts stars. Cormier was a two-time Olympian, four-time Senior World Team member and 2007 World bronze medalist, who went on to become one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time. Cormier holds a career record of 22-2 and at one point simultaneously held the UFC Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight titles.
Lawal was a 2005 Senior World Team member and three-time Senior Nationals champion. Lawal holds a 21-10 record in MMA and earned the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight title and was the RIZIN Heavyweight Grand Prix champion. He also was a Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament champion.
The pair both wrestled collegiately at Oklahoma State and both earned All-American status. Lawal was a Division II runner-up at Central Oklahoma in 2001 and a National champion in 2002. He transferred to Oklahoma State and finished third at the D1 NCAA tournament in 2003.
Cormier was a two-time JUCO champion at Colby Community College in 1998 and 1999 before transferring to Oklahoma State. In 2001, Cormier was the NCAA D1 runner-up to Cael Sanderson.
Watch Cormier and Lawal wrestle in the 2007 U.S. Open finals below:
