As a high schooler, Mocco was one of the most dominant heavyweights in recent history. In folkstyle, he won four national titles, two at wrestling powerhouse Blair Academy.[1] In freestyle, he was a three-time Junior and one-time Cadet national champion.[citation needed]
He received multiple awards, including 2001 ASICS Tiger High School Wrestler of the Year, the 2001 Junior Dan Hodge Trophy winner, NHSCA National High School Wrestler of the Year, and Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award. He was one of the most sought-after recruits in history and committed to wrestle at Iowa for coach Jim Zalesky.[2]
Mocco also competed in judo. In 1999, he placed first at the New York Open in the over 100 kg category, and third at the US National Championships in Spokane in the open category.[3]
College career
Iowa
Mocco arrived to University of Iowa as a true freshman in the 2001–2002 season. In his first year of competition, he earned runner-up honors at the 2002 NCAA's and Big Ten's and in his sophomore year he became the undefeated champion at the 2003 NCAA's and Big Ten's.[4]
In his last season (2005–2006), he again won the Big 12 Conference championship but lost in the finals of the NCAA championships. He graduated with a 137–6 record.[5]
In August 2006, with one year of college eligibility left, Mocco joined the Oklahoma State football team. As a senior defensive lineman, he played in five games for the Cowboys and was credited with two total tackles, one solo, according to the university's athletic web site.[6]
Freestyle wrestling
Mocco is also an accomplished freestyle wrestler, he medaled at the US Senior Nationals from 2004 to 2009, competed at numerous US Team Trials, and won three Pan American Championships (2006, 2009, 2011). He is also a three-time Dave Schultz Memorial champion and four-time finalist.[citation needed]
In 2008, Mocco competed at the Summer Olympics, where he advanced to the quarterfinals and eventually placed seventh.[7][8]
In 2009, he won championships at major world-wide tournaments, the Ivan Yarygin Memorial Golden Grand Prix and the Alexander Medved Invitational. He later won another gold medal at the Pan American Championships.[citation needed]
Steve Mocco was brought into American Top Team to help Antônio Silva prepare for his fight with Cain Velasquez at UFC 146. He had a nice experience in training and was welcomed by American Top Team. After being unable to get past the national wrestling trials to enter the 2012 Olympics in London, Steve Mocco stayed at American Top Team and transitioned into mixed martial arts.[11][12]
World Series of Fighting (PFL)
On January 17, 2014, it was announced that Mocco had signed a four-fight contract with World Series of Fighting.[13]
Mocco faced Smealinho Rama at WSOF Canada 1 on February 21, 2014.[14] He lost by unanimous decision. Mocco returned to the promotion following his first loss to face Juliano Coutinho on April 10, 2015, at WSOF 20. He won the fight via TKO in the first round.
Even though he never formally retired, Mocco has not competed since.
^"Mocco captures NCAA title", The Record (Bergen County), March 23, 2003. Accessed December 1, 2007. "Mocco, a sophomore from North Bergen who competed for Blair Academy, scored a 7-3 decision over the Air Force's Kevin Hoy at the NCAA Division I wrestling championships Saturday before 16,436 at Kemper Arena."
