NCAA heavyweight champion Mark Ellis signs with MMA management company Zinkin Entertainment

2009 NCAA wrestling champion Mark Ellis will join fellow University of Missouri Tiger alum Ben Askren under the guidance of the Zinkin Entertainment group. Standing 6'2 and weighing 247 pounds, Ellis is an athletic long-term MMA prospect. Ellis is prepping for his MMA debut at American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, CA.

Zinkin Entertainment currently manages numerous MMA fighters including: Cain Velasquez, Josh Koscheck, Jon Fitch, Mike Swick, Phil Davis, Josh Thomson and Daniel Cormier.

Press release

Zinkin Entertainment is proud to announce the signing of 2x All-American, NCAA Heavyweight Champion, Mark Ellis of the University of Missouri to its' team. Ellis joins former college teammate, Ben Askren to Zinkin's roster of elite MMA prospects.

At 6'3, 265 lbs, Ellis is known for his athleticism, endurance and explosiveness. During his years as a Mizzou Tiger, Ellis was consistently ranked amongst the top 20 in the nation, making four appearances at NCAA's. In 2009, he became Missouri's second-ever wrestling National Champion.

With ambitions to enter MMA following his final season, the former HS all-conference defensive lineman first accepted an invitation to rookie minicamp with the NFL's Cleveland Browns, fulfilling another life-long dream of playing in the NFL.

After speaking with Zinkin, Ellis packed his bags and headed out west to dedicate himself to MMA full-time. He is training at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, CA, alongside other elite Zinkin fighters, Cain Velasquez, Josh Koscheck, Jon Fitch, Mike Swick, Phil Davis, Josh Thomson and many others.

Zinkin expects Ellis's transition into MMA to be very successful under the eye of head trainer "Crazy" Bob Cook, world-renowned kickboxing coach, Javier Mendez and Jiu-Jitsu expert, Dave Camarillo. The advantages of training with one of the best MMA camps in the world, not to mention daily training with UFC Heavyweight star, Cain Velasquez and 2x Olympic Wrestler & Strikeforce Heavyweight, Daniel Cormier will fuel Ellis's transition into MMA.