Steve Mocco


Steve Mocco 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.

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. 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.

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.

Oklahoma State

In the next season, he decided to take an Olympic redshirt season to focus on the 2004 Summer Olympics.
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 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.
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.
In 2019, Mocco was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

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.
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.

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.

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.
Mocco faced Smealinho Rama at on February 21, 2014. 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. 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.

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. He is also an assistant coach of the Mountain Hawks's wrestling team at Lehigh University.

Championships and accomplishments

Freestyle wrestling