Ed Ruth wrestling Deron Winn at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Penn State wrestling champs-turned-MMA stars Ed Ruth and Phil Davis could return to their college alma mater for an on-campus Bellator MMA event, according to multiple media reports.
On Monday, Brett Okamoto, who covers mixed martial arts for ESPN, posted this message on Twitter: "This is neat. Per @ScottCoker, talks underway for a live event at Penn State campus in 2017. Would feature PSU alums Phil Davis and Ed Ruth." (Scott Coker is President of Bellator MMA, the organization where Davis and Ruth now compete.)
Okamoto also tweeted: "Coker said Penn State is very interested in having @PhilMrWonderful and @EdwardLeeRuth back on campus to compete. Hope to do it this year."
Penn State did not immediately return a message seeking comment, according to the Centre Daily Times, adding that no potential time, date and location have yet been announced as talks are still underway.
The Onward State website which covers Penn State sports speculates that Bryce Jordan Center -- the school's 15,000-seat arena -- would be the site of the event, although it has never hosted an MMA event in its 21-year history. Onward State went on to report that Bellator has fights booked through August 25, so any possible Bellator event in Happy Valley would presumably take place no earlier than this fall.
Davis and Ruth are among the most accomplished Penn State wrestling alums to find success in pro MMA.
The 32-year-old Davis, currently Bellator MMA's light-heavyweight champ (205 pounds), was a four-time NCAA All-American for the Nittany Lions, winning the 197-pound title at the 2008 NCAAs. Later that year, Davis launched his professional MMA career, where he now sports an overall record of 17-3-1, with three knockouts, five submissions, and nine victories by decision.
Since signing with Bellator MMA just two years ago, Ruth, 26, has compiled a perfect 3-0 pro record as a middleweight (185 pounds), with all wins by TKO. Prior to entering MMA, Ruth became the first three-time NCAA Division I champ in the long history of Penn State wrestling, winning the 174-pound championship in 2012, and back-to-back titles at 184 in 2013 and 2014.
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