Cortland Club Wrestling’s own Christian “Creech” Paden has been making waves both on the mat and in the cage. A dedicated athlete with a strong wrestling foundation, Paden has expanded his skill set by diving into the world of mixed martial arts (MMA), training at Brojo MMA gym in New York under coach Zach Burhan.
Paden began his wrestling journey in his junior year of high school and quickly developed a passion for the sport. However, his ambitions didn’t stop there. About a year ago, he transitioned into MMA, recognizing how his wrestling background could give him a competitive edge.
“I came into Brojo with no striking, and just because I had wrestling, that put me ahead of a lot of guys who start without anything,” Paden said.
“Wrestling is a great aspect to have for MMA, but also just the willpower that you get from wrestling does wonders. I have so much more willpower to compete and to train MMA because of wrestling.” Paden said
Despite juggling his commitments to both Cortland Club Wrestling and MMA, Paden has managed to sharpen his skills in both arenas.
“The juggle of doing both is difficult, to be honest,” Paden said.
“Some days you wake up, and you don’t really want to do two workouts, but in my case, I have to. This is just what life is like for me—wake up, go to practice, go to class, go to practice again.” Paden admitted
His dedication is evident in his intense training regimen, as he prepares for his upcoming MMA fight on May 17.
“Right now, I’m just training every day—sometimes two practices a day when I have wrestling and sparring on the same day. I just really want to make sure that I’m sharp, and I’m going to go out there and represent Brojo, my family, and my friends. I just want to go out there and put on a show.”
With his sights set on a future in MMA, Paden remains focused on using his time in college to establish himself as an amateur fighter.
“While I’m here at college, it’s the perfect opportunity. I have nothing but time to get established as an amateur fighter, and after college, we’ll see how things go. I might turn pro—I just have to see how my cards unfold.”
Jonathan Flannery, former president of Cortland Club Wrestling, has witnessed Paden’s dedication firsthand.
“Creech does a lot. He goes to his classes on time. He’s a good student, and then on top of that, he’s always in the wrestling room. I don’t think he’s missed a single practice that I can remember, or if he did, he was sick or had a very good reason to. And on top of that, he has a close association with Brojo, so I know that he’s always in that room. He actually recommended some coaches to me for the potential interview and hiring process, so he has good connections at both Brojo and club wrestling. He really assisted me in the whole coaching process.” Said Flannery
Diego Merlo Jr, the current vice president of Cortland Club Wrestling, also had high praise for Paden.
“Creech, from what I’ve seen, is a very skilled wrestler. I didn’t even know he did MMA, so that’s a surprise, but I’ve seen how it helps when he’s on the ground in terms of grappling and wrist fighting. His shots—he times his shots really well. He’s well-rounded, he’s fast, and he’s not cocky either. He always wants to help or give little tips, so Creech is a good man.”
Whether he’s dominating on the wrestling mat or inside the cage, one thing is certain: Christian “Creech” Paden is a name to watch.