Three-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion Jason Nolf is about to make his professional grappling debut at the Paradigm Open 3 on June 9th, 2024. Nolf will be facing off against B-Team Jiu-Jitsu blue belt Andrew Simmons, who has plenty of experience as a competitive wrestler himself. Although he didn’t achieve the same success that Nolf did during his wrestling career, Simmons is a two-time NAIA All-American and his high level of knowledge allowed him to serve as an NCAA Division II coach as well. Simmons does have the advantage in BJJ experience though, as he actually competed at ADCC Trials for the first time earlier this year.
Simmons gave a great account of himself at the ADCC North American West Coast Trials 2024, especially considering the fact that he was competing in an incredibly tough under 88kg division. He went 2-1 in that tournament and showed that he has been able to adapt to ADCC rules brilliantly, signalling that he might be one to watch at more rounds of ADCC Trials in the future. Nolf has also been pretty busy this year of course, as he recently made a run at the US Olympics Team Trials at under 74kg and came away with a silver medal.
Although Nolf has spent the majority of his time focusing on competing at the highest level possible in wrestling, he’s also managed to put a gi on and get some Jiu-Jitsu training in with his old teammate Bo Nickal. It’s not clear exactly how much BJJ training he’s been able to get in while his focus has been set on making it to the Olympic Team, but he’s definitely tested himself against some of the best around already. He has actually dropped into Simmons’ own academy in the past and got some sparring in with Craig Jones, and there really isn’t much better preparation around than that.
Paradigm Combat Sports Training Center announced the news that Jason Nolf would be facing Andrew Simmons in his professional grappling debut in a recent post to their official Instagram account:
