Another elite college wrestler appears to be transitioning to mixed martial arts (MMA).
Earlier this month, inside Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Penn State University (PSU) wrestling standout Carter Starocci etched his name in history by accomplishing an unprecedented feat—winning his fifth NCAA national wrestling title, a record that may never be matched. He capped off his remarkable college career with a 104-4 record.
Although he didn’t explicitly discuss a move to MMA during his final college post-fight press conference, Starocci has been dropping hints about the transition for several years.
Today (Mon., March 31, 2025), Starocci was spotted training at one of the world’s premier gyms, American Top Team (ATT), in Coconut Creek, Florida.
Starocci has surrounded himself with top-tier talent, including Bellator champion Johnny Eblen, former champ-turned-free-agent Yaroslav Amosov, and, naturally, his fellow Penn State alumnus Bo Nickal.
As you can see, Starocci has surrounded himself with top-tier talent, including Bellator champion Johnny Eblen, former champ-turned-free-agentYaroslav Amosov, and, naturally, his fellow Penn State alumnus Bo Nickal.
But the connections don’t stop there. UFC lightweight contender Grant Dawson recently posted a photo of Starocci after they trained alongside Mateusz Gamrot.
It’ll be fascinating to see which path Starocci chooses. Will he follow Nickal’s lead and test the waters with a few amateur bouts? Or will he dive straight into the professional ranks?
Regardless of his approach, expect to see him competing on Contender Series soon.
