Ellis Signs With Zinkin Entertainment
7/19/2010 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
July 19, 2010
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Former Missouri wrestler Mark Ellis, the 2009 NCAA Division I heavyweight champ, has launched his MMA career by signing a contract with Zinkin Entertainment. He will be training with American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California.
Zinkin Entertainment is largely considered to be one of the top sports management teams in Mixed Martial Arts. They represent over 30 fighters, including Chuck Liddell, Cain Velasquez and Forrest Griffin.
At AKA, Ellis will be joining fellow former NCAA All-American wrestlers Daniel Cormier and Velasquez. Ellis is expected to be trained by Bob Cook, Javier Mendez and Dave Camarillo.
Ellis becomes the third ex-Tiger wrestler in recent history to make the switch to MMA, as he follows the post-collegiate success of former Missouri wrestlers Michael Chandler, Tyron Woodley and Ben Askren.
Ellis was a four-time qualifier, winning the NCAA heavyweight crown as a junior in 2009 after defeating Konrad Dudziak of Duke in the finals, becoming only the second Missouri wrestler to win a national collegiate mat title. He finished off his career by taking sixth in the heavyweight bracket this past March, earning NCAA All-American honors for the second straight year.
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