Forrest Molinari, a top U.S. wrestler, is set to make her MMA debut, aiming to inspire more female wrestlers to transition into MMA, a path less commonly taken by women compared to men, due to the evolving stages of women’s wrestling and its recent explosive growth at the international level.
One of the top wrestlers from the United States is gearing up for her MMA debut. Forrest Molinari, a U.S. Olympic trials runner-up, steps into the cage for the first time at the Borroka 1 event in Las Vegas on Friday.
Molinari’s move to MMA is a bit unusual. Unlike many male wrestlers from the U.S., who often transition to MMA post-wrestling careers, female wrestlers don’t make this shift as frequently.
Sara McMann, an Olympic silver medalist from 2004, was a trailblazer. She remains one of the few women with Olympic wrestling experience to compete at the UFC level. Tatiana Suarez, a two-time World bronze medalist, also made waves but still, women’s wrestling hasn’t transitioned en masse to MMA like men’s wrestling has.
“I think in the states, men and women’s freestyle wrestling is top-notch,” Molinari shared. “The sports are at different stages in their life cycles. Women’s wrestling is growing rapidly, proving we’re a force globally.”
On the men’s side, it’s a different story. “We’re so deep that some guys wrestle for other countries because they can’t make our teams,” she noted. This depth pushes many to try their luck in MMA.
Women’s wrestling has seen explosive growth internationally. Yet, it’s easy to forget that the Olympics only introduced a women’s division in 2004.
Over two decades, women’s wrestling evolved exponentially. Molinari observes this growth mainly led to more involvement in collegiate athletics and international competitions.
However, Molinari believes more women will eventually transition to MMA as participation increases. “I just think where the sports are at in their life cycles is why you’re seeing that difference,” she said.
Many men switch to MMA due to the intense competition in wrestling. They feel they might have better chances to shine in MMA.
With her debut imminent, Molinari hopes to inspire more female wrestlers to consider fighting. Not everyone will take to MMA, but she’s embraced every aspect since dedicating herself six months ago.
“I’m hoping I can change that,” Molinari expressed. Her fight marks a significant moment—turning aspirations into reality after years of anticipation.
She aims to put women’s wrestling on the map within MMA. By doing so, she hopes it encourages others to follow suit after their wrestling careers end.
“Hopefully more girls see me fight and dominate like I did in wrestling,” she added. There are many gritty girls out there who could excel in MMA.
Perhaps what’s most encouraging about Molinari’s transition is her newfound love for the sport. Despite initial frustrations—especially with jiu-jitsu—she’s grown fond of it.
“We’re only six months into MMA, but I feel the same hunger,” Molinari remarked. Her passion for being the best hasn’t waned; it’s just redirected from wrestling to MMA.