NCAA champ Anthony Cassar laying groundwork to join Penn State teammate Bo Nickal in UFC

Penn State University wrestling alumnus Anthony Cassar hopes to make a name for himself in the MMA world, following in the footsteps of fellow Nittany Lion, Bo Nickal. Cassar will be making his second professional MMA appearance at Fury Challenger Series 8 in Houston. MMA has always been a passion for Cassar, even before his successful wrestling career. The allure of a fruitful MMA career matches his personality, as he enjoys the big moments, the entertainment factor, the money, and the fame. While wrestling provided some of these elements at the college level, MMA takes it to a whole new level.

Cassar’s journey in wrestling began at a young age, introduced by his father. He was immediately drawn to the one-on-one nature of the sport, where there was no middle ground between complete glory and complete failure. Despite initially being behind in training, Cassar’s hard work paid off, and he eventually won an NCAA Division I championship in 2019. He faced doubt and skeptics along the way, but he proved them wrong and cherished those moments of triumph.

Although Cassar’s transition from wrestling to MMA was not ideal due to a severe shoulder injury, he believes it was a blessing in disguise. After reevaluating his options and praying about it, Cassar felt that MMA was the path he was meant to take. He saw the success of his close friend, Bo Nickal, in the sport and felt confident that wrestlers have an advantage in MMA. However, he acknowledges the learning curve in striking and jiu-jitsu and has been focusing on improving those skills. Cassar made his pro MMA debut in December and won by first-round submission. While finding opponents has been a challenge due to his weight class change, Cassar remains focused on his goals and believes that his success is inevitable.

Cassar is not in a rush to achieve his goals but is open to whatever comes his way. He feels that his purpose in life is to compete on the biggest stage in MMA.

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Sarah Foster

Sarah Foster is your guide to the world of Mixed Martial Arts. With a deep understanding of MMA’s intricacies and a passion for the sport, she offers comprehensive coverage of MMA events, fighter profiles, and in-depth analysis of fights. Sarah’s commitment to the octagon ensures that readers stay engaged with the latest developments in the MMA world.