Bryce Meredith was one of the toughest, most successful athletes in the history of the University of Wyoming wrestling program. But he’s always wanted to punch someone, and that doesn’t go over too well on the mat.
Meredith is a two–time NCAA finalist, three-time All-American and a Big 12 champion wrestler with an all-time record of 108 wins and 21 losses. Even during his illustrious collegiate career, however, the Cheyenne native dreamed of one day fighting professionally in the Ultimate Fighting Championship as a mixed martial arts fighter.
The 29-year-old is on that career path now, off to a blistering start. In six fights since turning pro in 2021, Meredith remains undefeated. He’s won two by knockout, two by submission and two by decision.
“It seemed like a cool and honorable thing to chase,” Meredith said of his passion to compete. And he talks about “honor” a lot.
“I went to college because I thought it would be honorable to pursue a business degree. I got into MMA fighting to try to be the baddest man on the planet,” he said. “An honorable man who, when he looks in the mirror, sees someone looking back who is capable of doing things to another man that will subdue him.”
Making The Switch
Pound-for-pound, the 5-foot-9, 135-pound wrestler-turned-fighter has always been difficult to subdue.
He comes from an athletic family. Both his sisters, Ciara and Faith, were soccer standouts in high school and college. Mom Lori taught at Cheyenne Central High School where Bryce wrestled before UW. Meredith’s dad, Bob, works construction.
After graduating from college in 2018, Meredith announced his intentions of competing in MMA. His new professional career would have to wait, however. Post-collegiate wrestling took the fresh grad to Russia, Cuba and all over the United States, where he competed in various tournaments and invitationals.
Wherever he went, he just kept winning, so he just kept wrestling.
“I ended up wrestling longer than I wanted to because I was doing better than I thought. I was good at it and making some money,” Meredith said.
While he clung to wrestling as his day job, Meredith was training in MMA, taking boxing lessons, jujitsu classes and learning an entirely different style of combat sport.
In 2019, Meredith failed to make the 2020 U.S. Olympic team, then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. That’s when the UW grad went all in for MMA. His last wrestling match was in December 2020. By April 2021, he found himself in an octagon cage in his first MMA bout.
“That first six months I had a little doubt. As good as I was in the wrestling world, when I transitioned to MMA I went from champion to eating shit and starting at zero,” Meredith said. “But like with anything new, I just felt like it was more fun and eventually hit a tipping point where I know I am on the right path and excited about where I am going.”
Bryce Meredith is the transformation of an All-American collegiate wrestler at the University of Wyoming into an undefeated MMA fighter. (Courtesy Photo) 
Former UW wrestler Bryce Meredith is 6-0 in his MMA career so far. (Courtesy Photo) 
“My goal is to win and win fast. It’s hard to clip people and take them out with one shot. Sometimes you get a fast choke out. But other times it is grinding on the ground and putting them in deep waters,” Meredith says. (Courtesy Photo)
Learning Curve
The biggest change is the obvious one. Wrestling is governed by a strict set of rules where points are scored for certain advantages gained in a match.
MMA is marginally civilized street fighting where practically anything is allowed. Punching, kicking, elbowing, kneeing, clinching, grappling and submitting opponents with choke holds. The average MMA fighter understands fundamentals of Brazilian jiujitsu, Muay Thai, wrestling and boxing.
Coming in as one of the best technical wrestlers in the world, Meredith felt confident in his grappling skills should he and an opponent get into a clinch. In MMA, grappling in this manner is referred to as one’s “ground game.” And few excel in that arena like Meredith.
“Obviously, I'm always more confident in wrestling. I know there are only so many people in the world that can wrestle with me on my level,” Meredith said. “And to be clear, it is not just wrestling. You still have guys punching you in the face while you are down, kneeing you, elbowing you.”
Realizing that he did not come from a boxing background, Meredith has been working on his striking game. He trains with Team MMA Lab in Phoenix, Arizona, where he says he is surrounded by several fighters in his weight division alone that are world class.
“I’ve learned a lot in three and a half years to where I am just starting to feel comfortable,” Meredith said. “Wrestling guys down and grinding them out is not as easy as some make it out to be. But if you are good at it, why not take it to your strength, you know? Especially because throwing hands is kind of fun. I like hitting guys. I like doing all of it. I don't want to be a one-trick pony.”
As deep as the 135-pound weight class is in MMA, Meredith says no one can afford to rely on just one skillset.
“You don't have a choice anymore to be one-dimensional. Everyone is too good,” he said. “Even the best strikers have a better ground game that most people think. And most wrestlers have decent hands.”
Wrestler Or Fighter?
Skills, technique, training — it’s all important in the growth of a fighter. But what sets guys like Meredith apart is a burning desire to be the best by beating the best. And for Meredith, confidence is one thing that is never lacking.
“I have a presence and a bully style that people don't want to deal with,” Meredith boasted.
His mental approach to every fight is the same. Meredith walks a fine line between humility and respect for an opponent, and the desire to crush their will.
“Look, I know how tough men are. But I also know easily they break and what it takes to break them,” Meredith said. “I like to look at both sides. On one side, I tell myself everyone is better than you think they are. They are faster, stronger, tougher, and they will whoop your ass.
“But on the other side, once you get in the cage with them, you see they are just men and they’re not that strong. They’re not that fast. They’re not that good. Both sides are true, and that’s how I kind of look at every fight.”
Meredith has often said MMA suits his personality better than wrestling. There is room to be brash and honorable.
“I like to think I am a man of action, not words, but I can use my words. I'm good in an interview, for example,” Meredith said.
But Meredith draws the line at trash-talking an opponent.
“You don't need to be talking crap unless you are drumming up viewership for a pay-per-view event. I’m already getting paid to fight,” he said. “I don't need to create this theatre of me hating another guy. I'm not a personality like Conor McGregor who needs to always be talking trash and cursing out people and their families. I would rather not be doing that.”
Off To A Fast Start
Meredith began his professional MMA fighting career with a knockout of Steven Merrill on May 21, 2021. The Cheyenne kid — who has used both nicknames “Misfit” and “Money” — was knocked down early in that fight but responded by beating Merrill into submission later in the first round when the fight was stopped.
Meredith tallied his second win April 8, 2022, with another TKO, this one over Jay Viola. Later that year, Meredith scored a submission victory over Nathan Fought in September 2022 using a rear-naked choke.
After the 3-0 start, fight promotion agency Bellator signed the Meredith to a multi-fight deal which has one fight remaining on that contract. Meredith’s first fight with Bellator was March 31, 2023, against Brandon Carrillo. Meredith choked him out in the first round.
Meredith’s last two fights were not as decisive. He won a unanimous decision over Miguel Peimbert on Oct. 7, 2023, and did the same against Ty Johnson last month on April 4, despite having an injured hand.
Meredith studies film on each opponent. Not a lot but enough to know their tendencies, strengths and weaknesses.
“It’s never been a huge part for me. I’ll watch a little bit to figure out their tendencies. To see what they enjoy,” Meredith said. “Are they a stand-and-bang guy? Are they a jujitsu guy? Do they lead with their left or right? Are they headhunters with their kicks?”
As the great boxer Mike Tyson once said, “Everyone has a plan until they’re punched in the face.” Game plans are fine until they’re not. The better fighters adjust on the fly.
“You base your camp a little bit around that, but sometimes when someone gets hit in the face, it all goes out the window. Fighting is chaotic. Weird shit can happen,” Meredith added. “That’s what this sport is. You get thrown in a cage with someone, and when that guy gets backed into a wall like an animal, he might do something pretty crazy to not die.”
Bryce Meredith says he’ll always be a cowboy at heart — a Wyoming cowboy. (Courtesy Photo) 
People are not born with toughness, you get there through training, says Bryce Meredith. (Courtesy Photo) 
Bryce Meredith can still wrestle, he just likes punching and kicking people as well. (Courtesy Photo)
Reppin’ The Cowboy State
Meredith said his conversion from the mat to the cage has been as smooth as he could have wished. Getting into the fight game is not easy nor lucrative in the beginning.
“It’s hard. It’s a weird world. I have guys in my gym that are 8-1 and are still on the regional level where they are not making a lot of money,” he said. “Me, having a bigger name coming from wrestling, it helps. Most people are only fighting two times a year. So, you only get paid two to three times a year, and if you lose, you only get half the money.
“It’s a really, really slow game. It’s hard on families and your financials. But it’s been good for me.”
The former UW Poke is still not a household name in the sport. But as long as Meredith keeps winning, he should be able to sign the more lucrative promotional deals and get the more high-profile fights. His next contest is tentatively scheduled for June 28, but nothing is firmed up yet.
Wherever he goes, wherever his next fight takes him, Meredith will bring a little Cowboy State with him. He’s proud of who he is and where he’s from.
“I have a house here. My parents still live here. I'm a cowboy outlaw ’til the day I die,” Meredith said. “I pull a lot of strength from that cowboy lifestyle. When I wear my cowboy boots and my UW belt buckle, I like everyone to know where I’m from. It’s only become more important to me as I’ve gotten older.”
Jake Nichols can be reached at jake@cowboystatedaily.com.
