Wrestling is not just a base for MMA - it is a complete rewiring of how you fight, think, and survive. Jacob Alexander Torres breaks down what it really takes to translate elite wrestling into the cage, from stance changes and fence work to the brutal adjustments that separate a great mat wrestler from a dangerous mixed martial artist.

Raised in Ontario, shaped by boxing, and forged through years of grinding in the SFU wrestling room, Jacob shares how wrestling pulled him out of anger, chaos, and low confidence and gave him direction. He opens up about being chased back into the sport by a coach who saw something in him, then building himself into a national-level wrestler while adapting to the demanding blend of Canadian freestyle, Greco, and American folkstyle.

You’ll discover:

- Why folkstyle teaches a different kind of pressure, scrambling, and top control than freestyle

- How wrestlers have to change their stance and body mechanics for MMA

- Why head position, feints, and footwork make striking feed grappling instead of competing with it- How to attack on the cage without getting trapped by guillotines, triangles, or guard specialists

- The role of upper-body trips, inside trips, and foot sweeps in modern MMA clinch work

Jacob also talks about training at the UFC Performance Institute, working with pro fighters, and the mindset that keeps him evolving instead of getting stuck in what already works. He shares the unforgettable Olympic Trials run that changed how he sees competition, plus the conditioning methods, team rivalries, and daily discipline that fuel his relentless pace.

This episode also highlights the bigger mission behind Jacob’s journey - using wrestling to build confidence, discipline, and hope for the next generation. He is not just chasing medals and future MMA opportunities, he is also stepping into coaching at SFU and helping others find the same path that changed his life.

Essential listening if you care about wrestling, MMA, or the mindset it takes to turn adversity into momentum. Jacob Alexander Torres brings the kind of honest, technical, and motivational conversation that makes you want to train harder and think deeper about the fight game.

Here are Jacob Torres’s social media accounts as well as where you can find him online:

Instagram: @jacobalexandertorres

Facebook: @jacob.a.torres.58

TikTok: @jacobalexandertorres

If you want to get some AWESOME Grapplezilla merch, check out our Grapplezilla Store in the link below:https://grapplezilla-shop.fourthwall.com/

If you would like to support the Grapplezilla Podcast and buy me a coffee, I’ll leave a link below as any support is always appreciated:

https://buymeacoffee.com/grapplezilla

Also, if you enjoyed this episode of the Grapplezilla Podcast, we invite you to subscribe to Grapplezilla’s YouTube channel for more great Grappling and Wrestling content updated regularly.

Until next time…Grab, Throw, Tap!

#canadawrestling #wrestling #luttecanada #fighttalk #grapplezilla #grapplingpodcast #wrestlingpodcast #flowrestling #rudis #wrestlingcanada #jacobalexandertorres #SFU #sfuwrestling #wrestlingcanada #canadianathlete

Kyven Gadson is bringing elite wrestling mechanics into the cage, and if you care about MMA grappling, this is the blueprint.

The NCAA champion and undefeated heavyweight breaks down how he is turning world-class takedowns, overhooks, and chain wrestling into a dangerous pro MMA game.From his Iowa wrestling lineage to training under USA Wrestling Legend Kevin Jackson, Kyven Gadson shares how a lifetime of pressure-tested grappling shaped the way he fights now.

He explains why the overhook is more than a tie-up, how heavyweight opponents change leverage and timing, and why the smartest fighters are the ones who can set traps instead of forcing chaos.

You’ll discover:

- How his legendary Kyle Snyder throw was built on film study, timing, and positional manipulation

- Why folk style translates so well to MMA, and where freestyle still gives him an edge

- How he is reengineering his stance to defend leg kicks without losing shot power

- The adjustments needed for wall wrestling, dirty boxing, and clinch control against bigger men

- Why fatigue, calm, and accountability matter as much as athleticism in a long MMA career

Kyven also talks about the coaches and training partners helping him level up, including his Father and World Class Wrestler - Jerome Ward, Mike Rhodes, Ben Cash, Duran Wynn, and others who keep his game sharp.

He opens up about the mindset shift from pure wrestling to cage fighting, the importance of staying grounded, and why he is still approaching every camp like a student.This episode is perfect for wrestlers transitioning to MMA, grapplers who want more cage-specific insight, and anyone who loves hearing from a fighter who thinks as hard as he competes.

If you want to understand how an NCAA champion becomes a real heavyweight problem in MMA, hit play now.Kyven Gadson is an undefeated professional heavyweight MMA fighter, NCAA Division I national champion at Iowa State, multiple-time Team USA member, and Final X competitor known for his elite wrestling pedigree and technical grappling.

Josh from Grapplezilla hosts the episode and drives the conversation with deep, biomechanics-focused questions that reveal how Kyven’s wrestling translates to MMA.

Here are Kyven Gadsons’ social media accounts as well as where you can find him online:

Instagram: @gadsonstrong

YouTube: @gadsonstrong

Facebook: @gadsonstrong

TikTok: @gadsonstrong

X: @gadsonstrong

If you want to get some AWESOME Grapplezilla merch, check out our Grapplezilla Store in the link below:

https://grapplezilla-shop.fourthwall.com/

If you would like to support the Grapplezilla Podcast and buy me a coffee, I’ll leave a link below as any support is always appreciated:

https://buymeacoffee.com/grapplezilla Also, if you enjoyed this episode of the Grapplezilla Podcast, we invite you to subscribe to Grapplezilla’s YouTube channel for more great Grappling and Wrestling content updated regularly.

Until next time…Grab, Throw, Tap!

#usawrestling #wrestling #iowastate #MMAMindset #jiujitsulife #KyvenGadson #combatsports #fighttalk #iowawrestling #iowamma #grapplezilla #grapplingpodcast #mmapodcast #gadsonstrong #ufcpodcast #wrestlingpodcast #flowrestling #rudis

Sambo is not Russian judo, and Pierre Longblade Shepherd a.k.a. Sambo Shepherd is here to prove it. Sambo Shepherd breaks down why this brutally efficient grappling art rewards urgency, punishes stalling, and produces fighters who can strike, throw, pin, and submit with real-world purpose.Pierre is a three-time National Combat Sambo champion, a Pan American medalist, and a coach who has spent seven years inside the Sambo Nation system. He shares how a movie, a nearby gym, and a mission to become a more complete fighter pulled him into the sport - and why combat sambo’s “grappling first” logic changes everything about how strikes, takedowns, and submissions actually work.You’ll discover:- Why strikes in combat sambo are often just tools to create takedowns, pins, and submissions- How sambo’s tight ground time limits force faster, more decisive attacks-The simple but devastating mechanics behind knee bars, Achilles locks, hip locks, and pin-to-submission chains- What wrestlers and jiu-jitsu athletes get wrong when they walk into a sambo room- Why the American sambo scene is growing, but still fights an uphill battle against visibility, infrastructure, and tribalismPierre also opens up about the bigger picture - from the need for stronger tournament pipelines and better youth development to his bold vision that we speak about in this episode.If you care about grappling, MMA, wrestling, or the future of martial arts in America, this one is packed with sharp takes, practical coaching insight, and a bigger idea that could reshape the sport. Perfect for anyone who wants to understand why sambo keeps producing dangerous, well-rounded fighters - and where it might go next.Here are Sambo Shepherd’s social media accounts as well as where you can find him online:Instagram: @samboshepYouTube: @samboshepFacebook: @facebook.com/people/Sambo-Shepherd/61572963022040/If you want to get some AWESOME Grapplezilla merch, check out our Grapplezilla Store in the link below:https://grapplezilla-shop.fourthwall....If you would like to support the Grapplezilla Podcast and buy me a coffee, I’ll leave a link below as any support is always appreciated:https://buymeacoffee.com/grapplezilla Also, if you enjoyed this episode of the Grapplezilla Podcast, we invite you to subscribe to Grapplezilla’s YouTube channel for more great Grappling and Wrestling content updated regularly.Until next time…Grab, Throw, Tap!Follow Grapplezilla for more world-class combat sports conversations.#sambo #combatsambo #sambopodcast #sambonation usasamb #samboshepherd #grapplingpodcast #GrapplezillaPodcast