Steve Mocco
Steve Mocco (born December 28, 1981) is an American former amateur wrestler, judoka and mixed martial artist. As a collegiate wrestler, he is a 2-time NCAA National champion, 4-time finalist and was awarded the Dan Hodge Trophy. In freestyle, he represented the US at the Olympics and is a 3-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.
| Steve Mocco | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 28, 1981 North Bergen, New Jersey, United States |
| 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, United States |
| 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 | ||
|---|---|---|
Representing  | ||
| Men's freestyle wrestling | ||
| Pan American Championships | ||
.svg.png){kind=icon} | 2006 Rio de Janeiro | 120 kg |
| 2009 Maracaibo | 120 kg |
| 2011 Rio Negro | 120 kg |
| United States Championships | ||
.svg.png){kind=icon} | 2004 Las Vegas | 120 kg |
| 2005 Las Vegas | 120 kg |
| 2006 Las Vegas | 120 kg |
.svg.png){kind=icon} | 2007 Las Vegas | 120 kg |
| 2008 Las Vegas | 120 kg |
| 2009 Las Vegas | 120 kg |
| Collegiate Wrestling | ||
| Representing the Iowa Hawkeyes | ||
| NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships | ||
| 2002 Albany | 285 lb |
| 2003 Kansas City | 285 lb |
| Big Ten Championships | ||
| 2002 Illinois | 285 lb |
| 2003 Wisconsin | 285 lb |
| Representing the Oklahoma State Cowboys | ||
| NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships | ||
| 2005 St. Louis | 285 lb |
| 2006 Oklahoma City | 285 lb |
| Big 12 Championships | ||
| 2005 Ames | 285 lb |
| 2006 Ames | 285 lb |
Wrestling
High School
As a high schooler, Mocco was one of the most dominant heavyweights in recent history. In folkstyle, he won four NJSIAA titles and four national titles, two of which were at wrestling powerhouse Blair Academy.[1] In freestyle, he became a 3-time Junior and 1-time Cadet National champion. He also won a Junior National title in judo.
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 as an Iowa Hawkeye with coach Jim Zalesky.[2]
College
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 an undefeated champion at the 2003 NCAA's and Big Ten's.[3]
Oklahoma State
In the next season (2003-2004), he decided to take an Olympic redshirt season to focus on the 2004 Summer Olympics (see section below).
After the Olympic redshirt and successful seasons at Iowa, he decided to transfer to their bitter rivals, Oklahoma State University.
In his first season competing as a Cowboy, he won the Big 12 Conference championship and NCAA championship. Post-season, he received the Dan Hodge Trophy winner as the best collegiate wrestler in the country.
In his last season (2005-2006) he also won the Big 12 Conference championship but lost at the finals of the NCAA Division I Championships. He graduated with a 137-6 record.[4]
In August 2006, with one year of college eligibility left, Mocco joined the Oklahoma State football team. Listed 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.[5]
In 2019, Mocco was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.[6]
Freestyle
Mocco is also an accomplished freestyle wrestler, he medaled at the US Senior Nationals since 2004 to 2009, competed at numerous US Team Trials and won 3 Pan American Championship in 2006, 2009 and 2011. He is also a 3-time Dave Schultz Memorial champion and 4-time finalist.
In 2008, Mocco competed at the Summer Olympics, where he advanced to the quarterfinals and kept advancing in the repechage matches until a defeat, getting eliminated from the tournament and placing 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. Afterwards, he won another gold medal at the Pan American Championships.
In 2011, he won another Pan American title and his third and last Dave Schultz Memorial championship.
After being unable to find international success afterwards, he retired of the sport.[9]
Mixed martial arts
Steve Mocco was brought into the 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 greatly by American Top Team. After being unable to get past the trials to enter the 2012 Olympics in London, Steve Mocco stayed at American Top Team and transitioned into mixed martial arts.[10][11]
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.[12]
Mocco faced Smealinho Rama at WSOF Canada 1 on February 21, 2014.[13] He lost the fight 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 hasn't 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.[14]
Wrestling
Mocco is the head coach and founder of the Mocco Wrestling Academy, where he teaches youth wrestlers and collegiate wrestlers at the American Top Team facility.[15] He is also an assistant coach of the Mountain Hawks's wrestling team at Lehigh University.[16]
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 U.S Olympic Team Trials Bronze Medalist
- 2011 US World Team Trials Silver Medalist
- 2009 US World Team Trials Silver Medalist
- 2009 U.S National Championships Gold Medalist
- 2008 U.S Olympic Team Trials Gold Medalist
- 2008 U.S National Championships Silver Medalist
- 2007 US World Team Trials Silver Medalist
- 2007 U.S National Championships Bronze Medalist
- 2006 U.S National Championships Silver Medalist
- 2005 U.S National Championships Silver Medalist
- 2004 U.S 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
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
- "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."
- "RFA signs Olympian and two-time NCAA Division I national champion Steve Mocco". On The Mat. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
- Smith, Earl (2019-05-29). "Four DI Wrestlers that Transferred After Winning NCAA Titles". The Open Mat. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
- "Steve Mocco - Wrestling Coach". Lehigh University Athletics. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
- "Steve Mocco College Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
- "Steve Mocco | National Wrestling Hall of Fame". Retrieved 2020-04-30.
- Magaraci, Joel. "North Bergen's Steve Mocco has rough ending in freestyle wrestling", NJ.com, August 21, 2008.
- "Freestyle wrestling - Steve Mocco (United States)". www.the-sports.org. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
- Content, Submitted (2012-07-15). "TASTY TIDBITSNB native Mocco retires from wrestling, heads to MMA". Hudson Reporter Archive. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
- Olympian Steve Mocco Joins American Top Team for Transition Into MMA | MMAWeekly.com
- RFA 4 - Griffin vs. Escudero
- Ariel Helwani (2014-01-17). "Heavyweight Steve Mocco signs with World Series of Fighting". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2014-01-17.
- "WSOF Canada: Ford Vs. Powell Set For Feb. 2, Rama Vs. Mocco Completes Main Card". TopMMANews.com. 2014-02-06. Retrieved 2014-02-06.
- "Wrestling coaches behind fighters on Saturday's UFC card". InterMat. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
- "About | Mocco Wrestling Academy". Retrieved 2020-05-01.
- "Steve Mocco - Wrestling Coach". Lehigh University Athletics. Retrieved 2020-05-01.