Jeff Blatnick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jeff Blatnick |
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| Born | July 26, 1957 Niskayuna, New York, U.S. |
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| Died | October 24, 2012 (aged 55) Schenectady, New York, U.S. |
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| High school | Niskayuna (NY) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| State championships | 1 (New York) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College | Springfield College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Olympic team | United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Olympic medal | Gold | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Jeffrey Carl "Jeff" Blatnick (born July 26, 1957 – died October 24, 2012) was an amazing American Greco-Roman wrestler. He was a super heavyweight champion. Jeff won two national wrestling titles in college.
He also won an Olympic gold medal in 1984. This was a huge achievement, especially because he had battled cancer. After his wrestling career, Jeff became a sports commentator. He worked for the UFC, a mixed martial arts organization. He helped make the sport safer and more accepted. Many people say he even helped give the sport its name: Mixed Martial Arts.
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Jeff Blatnick's Wrestling Journey
Jeff Blatnick started wrestling in 1973. He wrestled for Niskayuna High School in Niskayuna, New York. In 1975, he became the state heavyweight champion.
After high school, he went to Springfield College. There, he was a three-time All-American wrestler. He won national titles in NCAA Division II wrestling.
Olympic Dreams and Challenges
Jeff qualified for the 1980 Olympic team. However, he could not compete. The USA boycotted those games.
In 1982, Jeff faced a big challenge. He was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of cancer. Doctors had to remove his spleen and appendix.
A Golden Comeback
After getting radiation therapy, Jeff's cancer went into remission. He then trained hard and competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics. He won a gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling.
Jeff and his teammate Steve Fraser made history. They were the first Americans to ever win Olympic gold in Greco-Roman wrestling. After battling cancer a second time, Jeff retired from wrestling. He later became a TV commentator for the 1988 Summer Olympics.
In 1999, Jeff was honored. He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. He also helped guide USA Wrestling and commented on college wrestling championships.
Jeff Blatnick and Mixed Martial Arts
From 1994 to 2001, Jeff Blatnick was a commentator for the UFC. He was officially named the commissioner of the UFC in 1998.
Shaping the Sport's Rules
During his time as commissioner, Jeff helped create the modern rules for MMA. The UFC's owner, Bob Meyrowitz, asked Jeff to help the sport grow. With help from referee John McCarthy and matchmaker Joe Silva, Jeff wrote a guide. This guide included rules, policies, and ways for people to act. Many of these rules are still used today.
Jeff traveled all over the country. He taught people about MMA. He helped change how people saw the sport. At first, some thought it was too violent.
Making MMA Accepted
By 2000, Jeff's hard work paid off. California became the first U.S. state to approve a set of MMA rules. Soon after, New Jersey adopted these rules too.
Jeff was there when the UFC held its first event under these new rules. It was a big step for the sport. His efforts helped keep MMA alive when it was struggling. He helped make it popular later on.
Naming the Sport
Many people say Jeff Blatnick gave the sport its name: Mixed Martial Arts. He wanted people to stop calling it "No Holds Barred." He felt that name sounded negative.
Jeff believed "Mixed Martial Arts" was a better name. It showed that the sport combined techniques from many different martial arts and wrestling.
Jeff also wrote the Mixed Martial Arts Council Manual. He was also a licensed referee and judge in New Jersey. In 2015, Jeff was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. His wife, Lori, accepted the award for him.
Jeff Blatnick's Legacy
Jeff Blatnick passed away on October 24, 2012. He died from problems after heart surgery. His death saddened many in the wrestling and MMA communities.
At the time of his death, Jeff was a wrestling coach. He also worked as a motivational speaker. He lived with his wife Lori, son Ian, and daughter Niki.
Many people remembered Jeff's kindness and contributions. Longtime UFC referee John McCarthy said Jeff deserved a lot of credit for helping MMA. He said everyone owed Jeff thanks.
A park in Niskayuna, New York, is named after Jeff Blatnick. Blatnick Park has baseball fields, a disc golf course, and picnic areas. It also has a part of the Mohawk Hudson Hike/Bike Trail.
