UFC star Ronda Rousey’s American trainer has described rugby league as “like blending wrestling, mixed martial arts and NFL all into one sport.”
Mike Dolce arrived in Sydney on Monday for a wrestling session with Manly Sea Eagles players after watching Rousey get knocked out by underdog Holly Holm in a UFC world title bout in Melbourne on Sunday.
Dolce has worked closely with some of the America’s greatest combat athletes for the past decade but was startled at the NRL’s ferocity and toughness.
“We see these guys ramming their heads into each other with no helmets on. It’s not just the collision (in rugby league) but a lot of the infighting also. It’s the scramble,” said Dolce, who is also weight management coach and nutritionist for Rousey.
“It’s a different energy demand. It’s not just the anaerobic bursts, big explosions, but also the grind that is going on on the inside, the constant pressing and pushing. It’s a constant fight. It (NRL) is like blending wrestling and mixed martial arts with NFL all into one sport. I definitely see that.
“There are different energy systems being used (in NRL), which is different from a lot of other sports where they just use a singular energy system. The rugby league athletes have to be complete athletes, which is pretty rare.
“The average play in the NFL is somewhere like three seconds. Three to five seconds. Rugby league is quite a bit more than that. From athletic standpoint, you guys definitely have it.
“I’m extremely impressed, the talent of the athletes and the physical demands that they under, it is absolutely amazing. Their 32-week season, which is just a grind. And they way they are able to stay in shape during pre-season workouts like this. It’s something I am very respectful of and I am going to continue to educate myself on the sport. Now, you’ve got me as a fan, how could I not be?”
Dolce was amazed at the athleticism shown by Manly players in Monday’s wrestle session.
“(The wrestle) is constant. They look like cheap shots, not knowing the rules, but obviously they are not being called for a foul, so it’s part of the game,” he said. “I’m familiar with the NFL in the United States, our version of football
“I see a lot of similarities. As a strength coach, I look at the physical demands, the energy output that the athletes are undergoing. And it’s massive. I know the workload that these athletes are putting forth in their games, it’s tremendous.
“Now I am very excited to learn more. Spending the two weeks that I have over here, there is an education process. Next time you see me I will know every team, every athlete and I will be screaming at my television watching the games.”
Manly stars Brett Stewart and Steve Matai don’t enjoy the wrestling side of rugby league but still learnt from Dolce yesterday.
“It was interesting hearing from someone from America,” Stewart said. “I try and stay away from the wrestling side. Let the big boys do that. The wrestling side is obviously a big part of rugby league now, especially over the last five years.”
Matai added: “It was good to get a different perspective but I’m not really a wrestler myself.”
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