Craig Jones, the renowned coach of UFC welterweight contender Jack Della Maddalena, recently offered his thoughts on the combat sport of sambo.
Jones gave a rather humorous and straightforward description of sambo, stating:
“Sambo is the kind of sport where literally two judokas decided to take off their pants to wrestle. I have only respect for that. However, De Ridder has already debunked the myth of the strength of American wrestlers [by defeating Bo Nickal], and Australians have done the same regarding the strength of Russian wrestlers. Is there any country where people can really wrestle?”
His remarks suggest a lighthearted, yet perhaps slightly provocative, view on sambo`s origins and a challenge to traditional notions of national wrestling dominance, particularly following recent high-profile bouts.
Gareth Tenby