Jeff Blatnick

Olympic medal record
Men's Greco-Roman wrestling

Jeff Blatnick
Jeff Blatnick
Weight	+100 kg (220 lb)
Born	July 26, 1957
Died	October 24, 2012
State championships	1
College	Springfield College
Olympic team	United States
Olympic medal	Gold
Status	Retired

Jeff Blatnick (July 26, 1957-October 24, 2012) was a former American Super Heavyweight Greco-Roman wrestler and sports commentator. He won NCAA Division II heavyweight wrestling championships in 1978 and 1979 and an Olympic gold in 1984. As a commentator, Blatnick worked UFC 4 through UFC 32 for the Ultimate Fighting Championship.^[1] He was born in Niskayuna, New York, and was most recently an MMA judge for the New Jersey athletic commission.

Wrestling

Blatnick began his career wrestling in 1973 at Niskayuna High School in Niskayuna, New York. While wrestling for Niskayuna, Blatnick became the state heavyweight champion in 1975.[1] After graduating from Niskayuna, he attended and wrestled for Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts. After winning national titles in NCAA Division II, he qualified for the 1980 Olympic team which boycotted the games. In the summers of 1980-81 he worked as a bouncer at the Thirsty Whale in Minocqua, WI. In 1982, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, prompting the removal of his spleen and appendix.

After radiation therapy helped to hold the cancer in remission, Blatnick competed in and won a gold medal in the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California. He and his teammate, Steve Fraser, were the first Americans to ever win gold in Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling history. Blatnick retired from wrestling after a second round with cancer, which required chemotherapy. He served as a television commentator during the 1988 Summer Olympics.

Mixed martial arts

From 1994 to 2001 for UFC 4 to UFC 32, Blatnick served as a commentator for the Ultimate Fighting Championship,^[1] and was officially named as the commissioner of the UFC during UFC 17. During this time he was involved in the development of the modern rules of the sport.^[1] Jeff authored the Mixed Martial Arts Council Manual. Jeff was licensed as a referee and judge with the New Jersey commission.

Death and legacy

Jeff Blatnick died on October 24, 2012 as a result of complications from heart surgery. At the time of his death, Blatnick was a varsity wrestling coach at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School, and also worked as a motivational speaker. He lived with his wife, son, and daughter in Clifton Park, New York.

A municipal park in Niskayuna, New York is named after Blatnick. Blatnick Park contains several baseball and softball fields, a pavilion and picnic area, and a small section of the Mohawk Hudson Hike/Bike Trail.