3 Likes
1 Like
It is the stuff of legends… Ron Tripp defeated Rickson Gracie in a Sambo match in the early 1990’s. Ron Tripp ws also a coach at Oklahoma University for wrestling and he won a World Championship in Judo. The LytesOut crew is joined by Dr Ron Tripp to talk about his storied career and his connections to the world of Mixed Martial Arts.
There You Go Guy
1 Like
On a slight tangent, RIP Mark Tripp. He was a big staple of the original underground forum back in the day.
1 Like
Same episode ?
The Only Man to Officially Beat Rickson Gracie — And Didn’t Even Know It
In this episode of the MMA History Podcast, host Mike Davis and Joey Venti sit down with Dr. Ron Tripp — one of the most accomplished American grapplers of all time. A Sambo world medalist, judo champion, and the only man with an official victory over Rickson Gracie, Ron shares how he defeated Gracie in the semi-finals of the Pan Ams without even realizing the significance of the win until years later.
Ron details his remarkable combat sports journey, beginning with basement training sessions on a concrete floor in Michigan, transitioning to high school wrestling as a junior, and excelling in college at Hillsdale. He discusses his deep involvement in Sambo, competing at World Championships and earning multiple medals, as well as his long tenure as assistant wrestling coach at the University of Oklahoma alongside legends like the Schultz brothers (Dave and Mark) and Andre Metzger.
The conversation covers unforgettable stories from the OU wrestling room, coaching elite athletes, the early days of mixed martial arts with C3 Fights, and his work with fighters including Melvin Guillard and Joe Stevenson. Ron also reflects on his time as president of USA Judo, his experiences with figures like Pat Burrus, Steve Nelson, Anthony Johnson, and Danny Hodge, and the evolution of combat sports.
This episode is packed with raw history, behind-the-scenes insights, and wisdom from a true pioneer who has shaped champions across wrestling, Sambo, judo, and MMA.
Like and subscribe for more in-depth interviews and stories from the early days of mixed martial arts. Drop a comment with your thoughts on Ron Tripp’s incredible career.
1 Like
Different episode
We are updating some of the old interviews with new questions and a different approach
1 Like
Looking forward to this one tomorrow! Thanks HKP! 
1 Like