Could Oklahoma State Ever Host a MMA Event in the Future?

I saw a back and forth on Twitter between former Oklahoma State Wrestler Kyle Crutchmer and former Iowa State/Iowa (sorta) wrestler Pat Downey recently about a possible MMA fight between them. It got me thinking, could this ever happen at OSU?

IIIIIIIIIIIIIT’S TIME!! 918 vs 410 pic.twitter.com/w4UVXj45Mv

— Jake Kadel (@JakeKadel) February 12, 2018

Could it? I think so. Should it? Probably. Will it? No idea.

Here are four reasons why I think it could happen. When I say “could,” I mean in a world where all the powers that be wanted it to happen it could be put together.

1. It’s happened on a college campus before. A few months ago PSU hosted Bellator 186. The card featured a number of fights, but included two former Penn State wrestlers. I point this out to say the precedent has been set that MMA can happen on campus.

2. Bellator fights in Oklahoma a lot. The reason I point that out is I know little on the legality of hosting an MMA fight in the state, but given that they have MMA fights here pretty often one would assume it’s legal as long as there are no City of Stillwater rules preventing it.

3. OSU has plenty of guys in MMA that could fight in this. I’m not aware of UFC doing any on-campus fights, but both UFC and Bellator have guys from OSU on their payroll that they could put on a fight card similar to what they did at PSU.

Simply since they’ve done it before the most likely candidate would be Bellator. Bellator has former Cowboy King Mo (Muhammed Lawal), Ryan Couture (former OSU wrestler Randy Couture’s son), Jake Hager, an OU wrestler from Perry, OK who would naturally draw fans. Plus they could sign an up and comer like Crutchmer as another part of the undercard. Add to that the fact that UFC legend Randy Couture has a contract with Spike TV and could be a part of the broadcast.

4. It would draw fans. The last fight Bellator had at Winstar only had 1,274 in attendance. I don’t know what GIA would get, but you have to think between Tulsa and OKC and all the local flavor we described GIA could draw at least 5,000+ which would make for a better gate for them than they get at Winstar.

Should OSU do it?

Personally I think it would be a good showcase for OSU in that regard. We’ve covered the OSU footprint in that sport. A chance to showcase it would be great. It would also enhance the brand a bit IMO. Everyone knows our history in wrestling is impressive. I don’t necessarily know that fans realize how impressive OSU has been in MMA though and here would be an opportunity to market that a bit. It would also make some money for OSU from an outside source which is huge.

Will they?

I’d love to say yes, but feel it’s unlikely, there’s definitely nothing currently in motion  that I’m aware of. It would take a lot of people in the right spots moving things in that direction for it to happen.

Maybe it eventually will? I’d personally love to see it and think it would be great for Oklahoma State and its recent success with wrestlers-turned-MMA athletes.