Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Rosholt ready for WEC debut tonight

Rosholt

Rosholt

Jake Rosholt will be making his World Extreme Cagefighting debut tonight in Hollywood, Fla., and also likely his only fight in the UFC’s sister organization.

Shortly after the standout three-time NCAA champion wrestler signed with the WEC, the organization decided to discontinue its middleweight division at the end of the year.

That means the 2006 Oklahoma State graduate, who is 4-0 with three stoppages in his brief MMA career, is auditioning for his future tonight when he takes on undefeated submission artist Nissen Osterneck at Hard Rock Live. The card, which features a main event of Urijah Faber defended his featherweight crown against Mike Brown, airs live on VERSUS at 5 PDT.

“I definitely think it’s a great chance to go out there and show them that I deserve the opportunity to go into the UFC and fight for them,” Rosholt said.

“I was really looking forward to getting a few fights in with the WEC and possibly even finishing out my contract and gaining that experience. But there’s nothing I can do about it. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to fight in the UFC and just work my way up from there.”

That’s a complete 180 from where the Idaho-born Rosholt’s mindset was two years ago.

The avid hunter was burnt out of wrestling and didn’t know his future, if any, in any competitive sport. A little prodding from Ted Ehrhardt of Team Takedown (a fighting contingent of elite collegiate wrestlers) convinced Rosholt to head to Las Vegas to train at Randy Couture’s gym.

Immediately he fell in love with the sport and moved to Las Vegas to train full time shortly thereafter.

After months of work on his stand-up game and nonwrestling skills, the 26-year-old Rosholt finds himself on his biggest MMA stage to date.

“Honestly I feel like I’m gonna be the better fighter out there,” Rosholt said. “Now it’s time to prove that.”

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