Steve Mocco

Steve Mocco
Born	(1981-12-28) December 28, 1981 (age 42) North Bergen, New Jersey, U.S.
Nationality	American
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	260 lb (118 kg; 18 st 8 lb)
Division	Heavyweight (265 lbs)
Reach	75 in (191 cm)
Style	Wrestling, Judo
Fighting out of	Coconut Creek, Florida, U.S.
Team	American Top Team
Wrestling	NCAA Division I Wrestling Olympic Freestyle Wrestling
Years active	2012–2015
Mixed martial arts record
Total	6
Wins	5
By knockout	1
By submission	3
By decision	1
Losses	1
By decision	1
University	University of Iowa Oklahoma State University
Notable club(s)	Mocco Wrestling Academy
Notable school(s)	Blair Academy
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Medal record Men's freestyle wrestling Representing the   United States Pan American Championships 2006 Rio de Janeiro 120 kg 2009 Maracaibo 120 kg 2011 Rio Negro 120 kg Collegiate Wrestling Representing the Iowa Hawkeyes NCAA Division I Championships 2003 Kansas City 285 lb 2002 Albany 285 lb Big Ten Championships 2003 Wisconsin 285 lb 2002 Illinois 285 lb Representing the Oklahoma State Cowboys NCAA Division I Championships 2005 St. Louis 285 lb 2006 Oklahoma City 285 lb Big 12 Championships 2005 Ames 285 lb 2006 Ames 285 lb

Steve Mocco (born December 28, 1981) is an American former amateur wrestler, judoka and mixed martial artist. As a collegiate wrestler, he was a two-time NCAA national champion, four-time finalist, and was awarded the Dan Hodge Trophy. In freestyle, he represented the US at the Olympics and was a three-time Pan American Champion. As an MMA fighter, he most notably competed at the WSOF. He is currently a coach at both combat sports, being one of the main coaches at MMA powerhouse American Top Team and an assistant wrestling coach at Lehigh University.

High school career

As a high schooler, Mocco was one of the most dominant heavyweights in recent history. In folkstyle, he won four national titles, two at wrestling powerhouse Blair Academy. ^[1] In freestyle, he was a three-time Junior and one-time Cadet national champion.^{[ citation needed ]}

He received multiple awards, including 2001 ASICS Tiger High School Wrestler of the Year, the 2001 Junior Dan Hodge Trophy winner, NHSCA National High School Wrestler of the Year, and Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award. He was one of the most sought-after recruits in history and committed to wrestle at Iowa for coach Jim Zalesky. ^[2]

Mocco also competed in judo. In 1999, he placed first at the New York Open in the over 100 kg category, and third at the US National Championships in Spokane in the open category. ^[3]

College career

Iowa

Mocco arrived to University of Iowa as a true freshman in the 2001–2002 season. In his first year of competition, he earned runner-up honors at the 2002 NCAA's and Big Ten's and in his sophomore year he became the undefeated champion at the 2003 NCAA's and Big Ten's. ^[4]

Oklahoma State

The next season (2003–2004), he took an Olympic redshirt to focus on training for the 2004 Summer Olympics (see section below).

After the Olympic redshirt and successful seasons at Iowa, he decided to transfer to Oklahoma State University.

In his first season competing as a Cowboy, he won the Big 12 Conference championship, the NCAA championship, and the Dan Hodge Trophy as the best collegiate wrestler in the country.^{[ citation needed ]}

In his last season (2005–2006), he again won the Big 12 Conference championship but lost in the finals of the NCAA championships. He graduated with a 137–6 record. ^[5]

In August 2006, with one year of college eligibility left, Mocco joined the Oklahoma State football team. As a senior defensive lineman, he played in five games for the Cowboys and was credited with two total tackles, one solo, according to the university's athletic web site. ^[6]

Freestyle wrestling

Mocco is also an accomplished freestyle wrestler, he medaled at the US Senior Nationals from 2004 to 2009, competed at numerous US Team Trials, and won three Pan American Championships (2006, 2009, 2011). He is also a three-time Dave Schultz Memorial champion and four-time finalist.^{[ citation needed ]}

In 2008, Mocco competed at the Summer Olympics, where he advanced to the quarterfinals and eventually placed seventh. ^{[7] [8]}

In 2009, he won championships at major world-wide tournaments, the Ivan Yarygin Memorial Golden Grand Prix and the Alexander Medved Invitational. He later won another gold medal at the Pan American Championships.^{[ citation needed ]}

In 2011, he won another Pan American title and his third and final Dave Schultz Memorial championship.^{[ citation needed ]}

After being unable to find further international success, he retired from the sport. ^[9]

In 2019, Mocco was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. ^[10]

Mixed martial arts

Steve Mocco was brought into American Top Team to help Antônio Silva prepare for his fight with Cain Velasquez at UFC 146. He had a nice experience in training and was welcomed by American Top Team. After being unable to get past the national wrestling trials to enter the 2012 Olympics in London, Steve Mocco stayed at American Top Team and transitioned into mixed martial arts. ^{[11] [12]}

World Series of Fighting (PFL)

On January 17, 2014, it was announced that Mocco had signed a four-fight contract with World Series of Fighting. ^[13]

Mocco faced Smealinho Rama at WSOF Canada 1 on February 21, 2014. ^[14] He lost by unanimous decision. Mocco returned to the promotion following his first loss to face Juliano Coutinho on April 10, 2015, at WSOF 20. He won the fight via TKO in the first round.

Even though he never formally retired, Mocco has not competed since.

Coaching

MMA

Mocco is the wrestling coach at the training center of multiple high-level fighters, American Top Team. There, he trains MMA fighters such as Junior dos Santos. ^[15]

Wrestling

Mocco is the head coach and founder of the Mocco Wrestling Academy, where he teaches youth and collegiate wrestlers at the American Top Team facility. ^[16] He is also an assistant coach of the wrestling team at Lehigh University. ^[17]

Championships and accomplishments

Freestyle wrestling

• United World Wrestling
  • 2011 Pan American Championship Gold Medalist
  • 2011 Dave Schultz Memorial International Gold Medalist
  • 2009 Pan American Championship Gold Medalist
  • 2009 Ivan Yarygin Golden Grand Prix Gold Medalist
  • 2009 Alexander Medved International Gold Medalist
  • 2008 Dave Schultz Memorial International Gold Medalist
  • 2007 Dave Schultz Memorial International Silver Medalist
  • 2006 Pan American Championship Gold Medalist
  • 2004 Dave Schultz Memorial International Gold Medalist
  • 2003 FILA Absolute Championship Silver Medalist
  • 2003 Sunkist Kids International Open Gold Medalist
• USA Wrestling
  • 2012 US Olympic Team Trials Bronze Medalist
  • 2011 US World Team Trials Silver Medalist
  • 2009 US World Team Trials Silver Medalist
  • 2009 US National Championships Gold Medalist
  • 2008 US Olympic Team Trials Gold Medalist
  • 2008 US National Championships Silver Medalist
  • 2007 US World Team Trials Silver Medalist
  • 2007 US National Championships Bronze Medalist
  • 2006 US National Championships Silver Medalist
  • 2005 US National Championships Silver Medalist
  • 2004 US National Championships Silver Medalist

Folkstyle wrestling

• National Collegiate Athletic Association
  • NCAA Division I All-American out of University of Iowa (2002, 2003)
  • NCAA Division I All-American out of Oklahoma State University (2005, 2006)
  • NCAA Division I 285 lb National Runner-up out of University of Iowa (2002)
  • NCAA Division I 285 lb National Championship out of University of Iowa (2003)
  • NCAA Division I 285 lb National Championship out of Oklahoma State University (2005)
  • NCAA Division I 285 lb National Runner-up out of Oklahoma State University (2006)
• Big Ten Conference
  • Big Ten 285 lb National Runner-up out of University of Iowa (2002)
  • Big Ten 285 lb National Championship out of University of Iowa (2003)
• Big 12 Conference
  • Big 12 285 lb National Championship out of Oklahoma State University (2005)
  • Big 12 285 lb National Championship out of Oklahoma State University (2006)

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown

6 matches	5 wins	1 loss
By knockout	1	0
By submission	3	0
By decision	1	1

Res.	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location	Notes
Win	5–1	Juilano Coutinho	TKO (punches)	WSOF 20	April 10, 2015	1	4:02	Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States
Loss	4–1	Smealinho Rama	Decision (unanimous)	WSOF Canada 1	February 21, 2014	3	5:00	Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Win	4–0	Alonzo Roane	Submission (arm-triangle choke)	Fight Time 17 - Undisputed	November 1, 2013	3	0:47	Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States
Win	3–0	Lew Polley	Decision (unanimous)	RFA 9 - Munhoz vs. Curran	August 6, 2013	3	5:00	Los Angeles, California, United States
Win	2–0	Rashad Brooks	Submission (north-south choke)	Extreme Challenge	May 3, 2013	1	1:03	Bettendorf, Iowa, United States
Win	1–0	Tyler Perry	Submission (kimura)	RFA 4 - Griffin vs Escudero	November 2, 2012	2	1:34	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

References

1. "Mocco captures NCAA title", The Record (Bergen County) , March 23, 2003. Accessed December 1, 2007. "Mocco, a sophomore from North Bergen who competed for Blair Academy, scored a 7-3 decision over the Air Force's Kevin Hoy at the NCAA Division I wrestling championships Saturday before 16,436 at Kemper Arena."
2. "RFA signs Olympian and two-time NCAA Division I national champion Steve Mocco". On The Mat. November 30, 2001. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
3. "Steve Mocco". www.judoinside.com. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
4. Smith, Earl (May 29, 2019). "Four DI Wrestlers that Transferred After Winning NCAA Titles". The Open Mat. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
5. "Steve Mocco - Wrestling Coach". Lehigh University Athletics. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
6. "Steve Mocco College Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
7. Magaraci, Joel. "North Bergen's Steve Mocco has rough ending in freestyle wrestling", NJ.com, August 21, 2008.
8. "Freestyle wrestling - Steve Mocco (United States)". www.the-sports.org. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
9. "TASTY TIDBITSNB native Mocco retires from wrestling, heads to MMA". Hudson Reporter Archive. July 15, 2012. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
10. "Steve Mocco | National Wrestling Hall of Fame" . Retrieved April 30, 2020.
11. Olympian Steve Mocco Joins American Top Team for Transition Into MMA | MMAWeekly.com
12. RFA 4 - Griffin vs. Escudero
13. Ariel Helwani (January 17, 2014). "Heavyweight Steve Mocco signs with World Series of Fighting". mmafighting.com. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
14. "WSOF Canada: Ford Vs. Powell Set For Feb. 2, Rama Vs. Mocco Completes Main Card". TopMMANews.com. February 6, 2014. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
15. "Wrestling coaches behind fighters on Saturday's UFC card". InterMat. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
16. "About | Mocco Wrestling Academy" . Retrieved May 1, 2020.
17. "Steve Mocco - Wrestling Coach". Lehigh University Athletics. Retrieved May 1, 2020.