What happens when the sport that shaped you is suddenly wiped from existence? Stipe Miocic, former UFC heavyweight champion and Ohio native, is facing that harsh reality after Cleveland State University (CSU) announced the discontinuation of its wrestling program. For the former UFC heavyweight champion, who once wrestled for CSU before making his name in MMA, this isn’t just a loss, it’s personal. And he’s not alone in the fight.

MMA analyst and former UFC fighter Chael Sonnen wasted no time rallying behind Miocic’s cause. “Sorry for this loss, Champ,” Sonnen wrote on X (formerly Twitter), urging Miocic to take the battle straight to the top. “The pain doesn’t go away. Time does NOT make these things better. FIGHT them NOW. Don’t let up and don’t be nice.” Sonnen, always outspoken, even hinted at a political change, saying, “There will be a Governor in Oregon soon that will restore wrestling. Take this to your state’s highest office and do it TODAY.”

The message was clear, Miocic couldn’t just mourn the loss of CSU’s wrestling program. He needed to mobilize. For Miocic, this isn’t about nostalgia, it’s about the opportunity such programs present. Wrestling was the foundation of his combat sports career, the stepping stone that led to his dominance inside the UFC’s Octagon. His reaction to CSU’s decision was one of heartbreak and urgency.

“I’m sick to my stomach and heartbroken for these young men and coaches,” Miocic wrote on X. “As a former wrestler at CSU, this program was a huge chapter of my life and shaped me into the person I am today.” The heavyweight legend called for action, rallying supporters with, “Let’s save the program!”

The fight to keep collegiate wrestling alive isn’t just about Stipe Miocic or CSU, it’s a battle playing out across the nation, literally all over the country. Smaller schools are finding it hard to keep up in today’s NCAA landscape, where the big bucks flow toward powerhouse programs and high-revenue sports. CSU says budget cuts forced them to drop wrestling, women’s golf, and softball, but is this just the start of a bigger trend?

Is Stipe Miocic’s college wrestling program losing the fight in the institution’s money game?

Cleveland State’s decision didn’t come out of nowhere. The university has been struggling financially for years, with budget cuts looming since 2023. And with the rise of the ‘Name, Image, and Likeness’ (NIL) system, college sports have become more commercialized than ever, again leaving underdog programs like CSU’s wrestling team fighting just to stay alive and relevant enough to be considered.

While Miocic and Sonnen are rallying for action, CSU Athletics Director Kelsie Gory Harkey admitted how tough the call was. “It is a tough day for Cleveland State Athletics,” she said. “The student-athletes and coaches in the impacted programs have been an important part of the Cleveland State community, and the decision today is not a reflection of the commitment or passion they, our staff, or our alumni have to our program.”

She assured that CSU would stand by its athletes during the transition. “We will be doing everything we can to assist and support the student-athletes in deciding what is best for them to meet their academic and athletic needs.” But is support really enough? Sure, CSU is letting affected athletes keep their scholarships, but that doesn’t replace the lost opportunities for future wrestlers. For Miocic, this isn’t just about saving a program alone. It’s about protecting the sport or rather the road that shaped him.

And then there’s Chael Sonnen, whose call for political action might seem extreme, but does he have a point? Can smaller institutions even afford to keep wrestling alive in today’s college sports landscape? If the UFC’s “greatest heavyweight” and his supporters push hard enough, could CSU be forced to rethink its decision? What do you think, should CSU fight to keep wrestling, and should Stipe Miocic lead the fight? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!