In Memory of Jeff Blatnick
“If you can win in adversity, you can win anywhere!” – Jeff
Blatnick
On Wednesday afternoon the MMA community lost one of its
original pioneers and greatest advocates, Jeff Blatnick.
Jeff, along with Big John McCarthy, is largely credited with
coining the term “mixed martial arts”.
He served as a commentator for 29 UFC events (UFC 4 – UFC 32), and
worked tirelessly to help the sport grow and gain mainstream acceptance in its
earliest days.
In 2001, Jeff was one of the critical members in drafting
the sport’s Unified Rules, which led to the acceptance of MMA as a true sport
by major athletic commissions in the United States. He also earned a reputation as one of the top professional MMA judges.
Prior to his involvement in mixed martial arts, Jeff
Blatnick had one of the most storied careers in the history of American
wrestling. In 1980, Jeff made his
first US Olympic team.
Unfortunately, 1980 also happened to be the year that the US boycotted
the Olympic games in Moscow.
Jeff’s Olympic dreams were derailed.
Misfortune struck Jeff again in 1982 when he was diagnosed
with lymphoma cancer and forced to undergo radiation therapy. Jeff not only overcame the cancer, but
also battled his way back on to the 1984 Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling
team. Against all odds, Jeff
became the first American heavyweight to win a gold medal in Greco-Roman
wrestling. Not long after winning
gold, Jeff won a second battle with cancer. After retiring from wrestling in 1988,
Jeff dedicated his life to growing the sports of wrestling and mixed martial
arts.
Thank you Jeff Blatnick for all you have done for the sport
of mixed martial arts. Your life
was an extraordinary one, and a true inspiration to all.
“I learn to win by learning to lose, that means not afraid
of losing.” – Jeff Blatnick
Evolve Mixed Martial Arts® is Asia's premier brand of MMA academies. With World Champions in Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Mixed Martial Arts, Boxing, Wrestling, and No Gi Grappling, Evolve MMA is the top martial arts training organization in Asia. It ranks among the best martial arts academies in the world.
