Jordan Oliver (fighter)

Jordan Oliver
BornJordan Michael Oliver
(1990-05-08) May 8, 1990
Easton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Other namesThat Dude
Height5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Weight145 lb (66 kg; 10 st 5 lb)
DivisionFeatherweight
Reach70.5 in (179 cm)
StyleFreestyle and Folkstyle
Fighting out ofState College, Pennsylvania, U.S.
TeamKill Cliff FC
Gator Wrestling Club (Kenny Monday)
WrestlingNCAA Division I Wrestling
Years active2023–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total3
Wins3
By submission1
By decision2
Losses0
Other information
UniversityOklahoma State Cowboys
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Medal record
Men's freestyle wrestling
Representing the United States
Dan Kolov & Nikola Petrov Tournament
2019 Ruse 65 kg
Yasar Dogu Tournament
2015 Istanbul 70 kg
US National Championships
2019 Fort Worth 65 kg
2013 Las Vegas 66 kg
2015 Las Vegas 65 kg
2022 Las Vegas 70 kg
Junior World Championships
2009 Ankara 60 kg
Collegiate Wrestling
Representing the Oklahoma State Cowboys
NCAA Division I Championships
2011 Philadelphia 133 lb
2013 Des Moines 149 lb
2012 St. Louis 133 lb
Big 12 Championships
2010 Norman 133 lb
2011 Ames 133 lb
2012 Columbia 133 lb
2013 Stillwater 149 lb

Jordan Michael Oliver (born May 8, 1990) is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter and former freestyle and folkstyle wrestler who competes in the featherweight division.[1]

In freestyle, he was a two-time U.S. national champion and a medalist at multiple international tournaments.[2] In folkstyle, Oliver was a two-time NCAA Division I national champion, a Schalles Award winner, and a four-time Big 12 Conference champion with Oklahoma State.[3]

Early life and education

Oliver was born and raised in Easton, Pennsylvania. He attended Easton Area High School, where he was a member of the school's wrestling team, which competes in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, one of the nation's top wrestling divisions.[4] In his four year wrestling career at Easton High School, he posted a record of 175-5, setting the record for the most victories in AAA-level high school wrestling in Pennsylvania history.[5]

After a 42–4 campaign as a freshman, where he placed second in the PIAA state tournament, Oliver won three consecutive Pennsylvania state championships, posting annual records of 48–0, 45–1 and 40–0 as a sophomore, junior, and senior, respectively.[6]

In 2008, as the nation's top high school wrestling recruit, he committed to the Oklahoma State Cowboys.[7][8]

Oklahoma State University

2008–2009

As a redshirt freshman, Oliver compiled a 19–1 record and won the Missouri Open, the Oklahoma Open, and the Roger Denker Open, and earned runner-up honors at the Central Missouri Open and the Loper Open.[9]

Switching to freestyle, Oliver became the U20 US World Team Member and National champion and the U.S. university national champion.[10] He then claimed a bronze medal from the U20 World Championships.[11]

2009–2010

During his freshman year, Oliver posted a 32–4 record, won his first Big 12 Conference title and became an All-American after a fourth-place finish at the NCAA National tournament.[12]

2010–2011

As a sophomore, Oliver went 29–0 with 24 wins coming with bonus points, became a two-time Big 12 Conference champion and claimed his first NCAA Division I National title, after a perfect 5–0 run at the NCAA tournament.[13][14]

2011–2012

As a junior, Oliver went 28–2, with 18 of his victories coming via fall, setting a single-season school record.[15] After grabbing a third Big 12 Conference title, Oliver fell to eventual four-time NCAA champion Logan Stieber in the finals of the NCAA tournament, claiming runner-up honors.[16] After the season, he received the Schalles Award as the nation's best pinner.[17]

Returning to freestyle, Oliver competed at the US Olympic Team Trials, though was unable to win either of his two matches.[18]

2012–2013

Moving up from 133 pounds to 149 pounds, Oliver went 38–0 throughout the season, closing off his collegiate career as a four-time Big 12 Conference champion and a two-time NCAA Division I National champion.[19][20][21]

Freestyle

2013

Fresh off his second NCAA title, Oliver placed second at the US Open National championship in April, notably defeating fellow two-time NCAA champion Brent Metcalf in the semifinals.[22]

After wins over U20 World champion Magomed Kurbanaliev and two-time Olympian Haislan Garcia at Beat the Streets in May, Oliver fell in the US World Team Trials Challenge Tournament finals to Brent Metcalf.[23]

2014

After a sixth-place finish at the US Open in April, Oliver defeated NCAA runner-up Borislav Novachkov at Beat the Streets in May.[24] In June, he notably defeated Reece Humphrey at the US World Team Trials before falling to Brent Metcalf in the best-of-three finals. In November, he placed third at the Bill Farrell Memorial International, notably defeating Georgi Ivanov.[25]

2015

To start off the year, Oliver recorded wins over two-time US National champion Reece Humphrey and U17 World champion Zain Retherford to earn a gold medal from the Dave Schultz Memorial International, in January.[26] In March, he earned a bronze medal from the Yasar Dogu International, where after a first-round loss to Evgheni Nedealco, he battled back with three wins, including one over returning World medalist Bekzod Abdurakhmonov.[27]

In May, he reached the finals of the US National Championships, falling to Brent Metcalf, and in June, he made the finals of the US World Team Trials, where after defeating U20 World medalist Joseph McKenna and returning US World Team Member Jimmy Kennedy, he once again fell to Metcalf in a best-of-three series.[28] He closed off the year in November, grabbing a Bill Farrell Memorial title with wins over four-time NCAA champion Logan Stieber, NCAA champion Frank Molinaro and three-time NCAA (DIII) champion Nazar Kulchytskyy.[29]

2016

In April, Oliver fell in the first round of the US Olympic Team Trials to U17 World champion Aaron Pico, and in November, he bumped up to 70 kilograms to compete at the Bill Farrell Memorial in an attempt to make the US World Team, though fell in the best-of-three finals to returning World medalist James Green.[30][31]

2017

After repeating as Dave Schultz Memorial champion in January, Oliver had become a US National champion with wins over returning Olympian Frank Molinaro, two-time NCAA champion Zain Retherford and All-American Jaydin Eierman.[32] However, it was later announced that Oliver had been stripped of his title and suspended for a year due to amphetamines.[33] Before the suspension, he had been defeated by World champion Frank Chamizo at Beat the Streets in May.[34]

2018

Following his suspension, Oliver defeated Olympic champion Toghrul Asgarov at Beat the Streets in May.[35] In September, he placed fifth at the Poland Open, notably having a close high-scoring match with Akhmed Chakaev.[36]

2019

In March, Oliver placed second at the Dan Kolov Memorial, defeating U20 World champion Selahattin Kılıçsallayan in the semis before falling to returning World finalist Bajrang Punia in the finals.[37] After a sixth-place performance at the US Open, Oliver failed to defeat two-time Dan Hodge Trophy winner Zain Retherford in a best-of-three series to advance to Final X.[38]

In November, Oliver claimed the Bill Farrell Memorial title, with wins over NCAA runner-up Frank Molinaro, U23 World medalist Joseph McKenna and two-time NCAA runner-up Bryce Meredith.[39] In December, Oliver once again claimed a crown, now from the US National Championships, scoring technical falls over all four of his opponents, including McKenna and Meredith.[2]

2020

In January, Oliver placed second at the Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series, defeating U20 World champions Erik Arushanian and Selahattin Kılıçsallayan, though falling to returning World medalist Bajrang Punia.[40] In the first event since the COVID-19 outbreak, Oliver fell to three-time NCAA champion Jason Nolf at Rumble on the Rooftop.[41]

By the end of the year, he competed at the Flo 8-Man Challenge: 150 lbs, where he was upset in the first round by All-American Alec Pantaleo.[42]

2021

In April, Oliver competed at the rescheduled US Olympic Team Trials, in an attempt of represent the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics.[43] After defeating reigning NCAA champion Nick Lee, Oliver was able to upset two-time NCAA champion Yianni Diakomihalis to advance to the finale, where he faced US National champion Joseph McKenna in a best-of-three series.[44] After shutting him down twice, Oliver became the US Olympic Team Trials winner.[45]

Since the United States had been unable to qualify the weight class at the 2020 Pan American Olympic Qualification Tournament, Oliver was forced to attempt to do so at the 2021 World Olympic Qualification Tournament in May.[42] After wins over Yun Jun-sik, Hor Ohannesian and Ruhan Rasim to reach the semifinals, Oliver fell to World finalist Magomedmurad Gadzhiev, failing to qualify for the 2020 Summer Olympics.[46]

Set to compete at the Pan American Continental Championships, Oliver chose to forego the tournament due to atorn LCL.[47] Oliver then bulked up to 70 kilograms to compete at the 2021 US World Team Trials in September, defeating three-time NCAA champion Zain Retherford before falling to World finalist James Green and forfeiting out of the tournament.[48]

2022

In February, Oliver competed at the Yasar Dogu International, though was eliminated in the first round.[49] In March, he also fell to Alec Pantaleo at a dual event, before reaching the finals of the US Open in April, though again falling to Pantaleo.[50]

In May, Oliver competed in the last tournament of his career, defeating NCAA champion Ryan Deakin to advance to the best-of-three finals of the US World Team Trials, where he fell to Zain Retherford two matches to one at Final X.[51] In March 2023, USADA suspended Oliver for the second time, now for two years due to THC found in a sample from the US World Team Trials.[52]

Mixed martial arts career

Bellator MMA

On March 1, 2023, it was announced that Oliver had signed with Bellator MMA to start his mixed martial arts career.[53] Oliver made his MMA debut against Andrew Triolo on August 11, 2023 at Bellator 298.[54] He won the fight via an arm triangle choke submission in the first round.[55]

Oliver faced Braydon Akeo on August 16, 2024 at PFL 8.[56] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[57][58]

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
3 matches 3 wins 0 losses
By submission 1 0
By decision 2 0
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 3–0 Calob Ramirez Decision (unanimous) LFA 207 April 18, 2025 3 5:00 Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States
Win 2–0 Braydon Akeo Decision (unanimous) PFL 8 (2024) August 16, 2024 3 5:00 Hollywood, Florida, United States
Win 1–0 Andrew Triolo Submission (arm-triangle choke) Bellator 298 August 11, 2023 1 1:05 Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States Featherweight debut.

Freestyle record

NCAA record

References

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  2. ^ a b "Oliver dominates at Senior Nationals, named OW". InterMat. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
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  4. ^ "WIN's top ten wrestling 'hot spots' in the United States," WIN, November 2, 2010
  5. ^ "Jordan Oliver - Wrestling Coach". Arizona State University Athletics. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
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  7. ^ "Two-time national champion Cody Garcia seeking mor". University of Nebraska Omaha Athletics. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
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  9. ^ "Jordan Oliver". Oklahoma State University Athletics. March 24, 2009. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
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  11. ^ "Bedlam Wrestling Set for Tuesday". Oklahoma State University Athletics. November 30, 2009. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  12. ^ staff, Express-Times (March 20, 2010). "Jordan Oliver, Zach Rey fall in semifinals of NCAA Wrestling Championships". lehighvalleylive. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  13. ^ NewsPress, Chris DayStillwater (December 7, 2011). "Oliver focusing on Hodge Trophy". Stillwater News Press. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  14. ^ lehighvalleylive.com, Brad Wilson | For (March 20, 2011). "Jordan Oliver, Kellen Russell and Zach Rey win NCAA wrestling championships - PHOTO GALLERY". lehighvalleylive. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
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  16. ^ Correspondent, J. CARL GUYMON World (March 18, 2012). "OSU wrestler Jordan Oliver upset in NCAA finals". Tulsa World. Retrieved December 27, 2020. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
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  27. ^ Baranoski, Tom (March 30, 2015). "Turkey Wrap: Yasar Dogu Results". Bloodround. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
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  31. ^ "Martinez, Kennedy Set for World Trials". University of Illinois Athletics. November 9, 2016. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
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  50. ^ "Updated: Men's freestyle finals set after competitive semifinal round at U.S. Open". www.themat.com. April 30, 2022. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  51. ^ "Zain Retherford Returns to the World Championships With Team USA". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
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  54. ^ "2020 U.S. Olympic Team member Jordan Oliver set to make MMA debut at Bellator 298". MMA Junkie. July 11, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
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