Bellator 297’s Kyle Crutchmer explains latest transfer from AKA to Fortis MMA

DALLAS – Once you’re one of the crucial extremely touted up-and-coming wrestlers in MMA, a transfer from one elite coaching camp to a different goes to lift a number of eyebrows.

However when Bellator welterweight standout Kyle Crutchmer made the shift from American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Calif., to Fortis MMA in Dallas, he stated it was solely so he might put his household first, forward of what had change into his gymnasium household.

He stated his longtime wrestling coach at AKA, Daniel Cormier, who’s Crutchmer’s mentor and a former two-division UFC champ, helped facilitate the transfer from California to Fortis below head coach Sayif Saud. Cormier, like Crutchmer, is an Oklahoma State wrestling alum.

“I’ve a daughter that lives in Dallas, and that was the principle purpose,” Crutchmer just lately advised MMA Junkie. “(It was) nothing in opposition to AKA or something, however I heard about Coach Sayif. I talked to DC they usually bought us right here, and we had been right here for a couple of month, simply attempting it out, checking every thing out. We simply form of slot in with these guys. I’m a Midwest man, myself, so it was a simple transition.”

Crutchmer began his MMA profession sizzling at 5-0 earlier than he dropped a choice to Kemran Lachinov at Bellator 294. After three straight determination wins, Crutchmer was upset by Jaleel Willis this previous December.

Subsequent month, Crutchmer (9-2 MMA, 5-2 BMMA) will attempt to get again within the win column when he takes on Bobby Nash (12-4 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) at Bellator 297 in Chicago. Nash fill be making his Bellator debut, however he has three UFC fights on his resume in 2017 – all three knockout setbacks to Li Jingliang, Danny Roberts and Track Kenan.

However as a result of Nash is a Michigan State wrestling product and there’s a built-in Massive 10 (MSU) vs. Massive 12 (Oklahoma State) rivalry, this one has some further intrigue.

“He wrestled at Michigan State,” Crutchmer stated. “He’s a Massive 10 wrestler vs. Massive 12. There’s a rivalry there a bit of bit with that. However I respect all of the wrestlers. I’m simply able to exit and carry out after which put a unique present on than possibly what I’ve placed on earlier than.

“Coming from AKA, all people is aware of that fashion. So I’m simply form of mixing the Fortis fashion of Coach Sayif, studying from these guys, and attempting to mix every thing. I’m about 5 years into this. Loads of these guys have been preventing a very long time. I’m nonetheless mixing this stuff. I’m nonetheless studying and I’m nonetheless excited. That’s the perfect factor about me proper now’s I nonetheless get enthusiastic about coming and studying this stuff.”

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