• 72Aggie
    325
    Not really sure what to make of this......

    Combat U: Sacramento State and Urijah Faber announce nation’s first college fight school
    By Joe Davidson
    Updated January 18, 2024 2:54 PM
    Luke Wood promised to make changes and additions for the betterment of students at his alma mater, and the first-year Sacramento State president hasn’t pulled any punches.
    On Thursday, Wood, a boxer at heart, and UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber announced the formation of the school’s first university-backed development program for combat sports. They’re calling it Combat U.
    Sacramento State’s aim is to offer a full menu of academics and “high-level opportunities for combat sports training and competition,” the school said in a press release leading up to a news conference at Hinde Auditorium.
    The Combat U program will start in the 2024 fall semester with workouts for prospective students starting next month. It will be the first such collegiate course offered in the country. This concept is a partnership between Sacramento State and Faber’s Ultimate Fitness, the Folsom Boulevard gym, located less than two miles from campus, where Faber can be found working out, coaching and mentoring.
    A Placer County native and UC Davis graduate, Faber is Combat U’s executive coach. Current fighters, including those in the UFC, and former champions will serve as Combat U coaches at Sacramento State. Combat U will be open to those with any level of athletic experience and those just looking for a hardy workout.
    The instruction will include boxing, jiu-jitsu and wrestling.
    “Combat athletes are some of the most dedicated and focused on the planet, but until now, fighters seeking professional careers have had to put their education on hold to pursue their dreams,” Wood said in a statement.
    He added: “Sac State, in its effort to be at the forefront of creating academic opportunities for a diverse and engaged student body, will attract, develop, and mentor the brightest prospects from around the world, creating a legacy of champions and building on our legacy of educational accessibility. While students will be fighting for Sacramento State, we will be fighting for them to achieve their educational goals and to create a better life for themselves and their families.”
    Wood and Faber came up with the idea of Combat U after a number of conversations in understanding that students from across the world train at Ultimate Fitness and take courses at Sacramento State.
    “Combat U participants will not only receive elite training, but will be on a strong educational path,” Faber said. “Whether they choose to pursue professional fighting careers or not, they will have the educational background to succeed.”
    Added Sacramento State athletic director Mark Orr: “We are thrilled to be offering Combat U to the students at Sacramento State. This program reflects our commitment to supporting the holistic development of our students, shaping character, instilling discipline, and building skills that extend well beyond the classroom.”
    Combat U students will have the opportunity to compete on campus as promoted by Faber’s A1 Combat and streamed worldwide on UFC’s Fight Pass. Prospective students curious about Combat U can email Sacramento State’s Athletic department at .
    https://www.sacbee.com/sports/college/article284404920.html
  • 69aggie
    377
    A few questions come to mind. State / federal funding for a fight club? A nonstarter. Effect on education and healthcare when a participant suffers a concussion or worse. Not good. Title IX. How many young college women are willing to work in this field. Zero. Really sorry to see Uriah get into this situation. Actually a very bad idea.
  • movielover
    539
    Well, they can use Sacs extensive facilities for workouts ... s/
  • agalum
    336
    Actually, there are plenty of women in boxing these days. Many of which are successful enough to be main event participants.
  • MTBAggie
    121
    Zero, really? Have you seen the rise in women's wrestling and MMA/UFC? I don't quite understand what Urijah is promoting here and specifically what Combat U is. But if it gets people who are already training in to college courses, why is that a bad thing?

    Meet the newest college women's wrestling team

    Tamyra Mensah-Stock (along with Gable Steveson) went on to make boatloads of money in the WWE after winning an Olympic gold medal in wrestling.

    Photos: Every American woman to have won an Olympic medal in wrestling

    Just my two cents, but I feel like Davis (and many other schools, including Fresno St.) should bring back wrestling programs with coed squads, or even female only if Title IX is an issue.

    Also, you can't argue about concussions when colleges put billions of dollars into football. If concussions are concerning, time to drop football, soccer, competitive cheer, equestrian, etc.
  • MTBAggie
    121
    This popped up in our local paper today. My friend's daughter also just joined the first all-female team at Saint Francis in Menlo Park, after participating in the youth wrestling program at Serra for the last 5 years or so.

    "Aguilar has paved quite a path in the sport. She’s been engaged in combat sports most of her life, growing up studying Muay Thai. Since getting serious about wrestling in middle school, she has steadily grown into not just a force on the varsity mat, but on the Greco-Roman national scene as well."

    https://www.smdailyjournal.com/sports/local/daily-journal-athlete-of-the-week-burlingame-s-lauren-aguilar/article_6d2239ba-b9c3-11ee-9dae-4fef9e18ec0d.html?fbclid=IwAR2EPiIHHlNcK4xpVxLDbTyQWAGQtZbumDLOF8kct2WPa0Q8bSUjRV7-Ybk
  • fugawe09
    196
    At first I thought this was satire piece from The Onion. Sac State Fight Club… isn’t that basically the Hornet Stadium parking lot after about half a keg of warm Natural Ice?
  • BaseballAtDobbins
    63
    Pretty much on brand for Sac State. Are we really surprised?
  • 69aggie
    377
    OK here we go: you get an A for a first round KO. The other fighter a 0. No credits for possible brain damage from a concussion. An A for an arm lock submission. Zero for the loser. Again no credit for possible oxygen deprivation to the brain (which is apparently not an issue with sac state education). Look we are not here talking about women’s wrestling, or boxing which are acceptable sports, but full contact no holds bar fighting. Uriah Faber style. Really sad to see him a UC Davis grad advancing this really stupid program. Oh, by the way who do they compete against? Answer: Them selves. No other school would even consider this ridiculous program.
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