Bo Bassett’s story is far from written. But when the final chapters are complete, he wants to make sure “UFC” is included somewhere within the pages.
At 18 years of age, Bassett has taken the wrestling world by storm. An undefeated high school wrestler at Bishop McCort Catholic High School (Johnstown, Penn.) with insane cardio and pace, he’s the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2026. Bassett has already taken steps up to the national and international levels, with high-profile victories over various notables.
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Initially a commit to University of Iowa, Bassett later committed to Virginia Tech instead. The pivot was not one he took lightly.
“The whole recruiting process was pretty crazy,” Bassett recently told MMA Junkie. “It was not what I expected. It was a lot of time and I think that was time that we needed. So it was taking a lot of time out of our training and coming back to your phone every day with missed calls and texts that you had to get back to almost was a little challenging. .. It was a whole family decision. We started off and went one way and that was Iowa, and then we had to make a big decision. I think a decision that took a lot of guts and and so we decided to decommit from there and now we are home at Virginia Tech. I am in an amazing situation. I can’t say enough amazing things about the staff about Blacksburg, and about the future and so I’m very excited to work with them and keep it rolling.”
Bassett is currently mid-season in his final year of high school. Even with academics a priority, Bassett has found time to not only build an impressive social media following but also embark on athletic side missions – like Saturday’s RAF 5 where he’ll wrestle Cayden Henschel.
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“Competing is one thing, but training and trying to build your brand is another,” Bassett said. “Social media has been a big part of that. I think that having the opportunity to compete at RAF in some of these college and senior level tournaments has been huge in building that. And I think that just consistent hard work has really been the base on what we’re built on and how we’re trying to handle all of it.”
With an unusual ability to handle the bright lights, pressures, and criticisms at such a young age, Bassett has risen to the occasion for as long as he’s competed. Born in Western Pennsylvania, the heart of wrestling country, Bassett always competed up. That mindset has not changed. While his collegiate career has not yet begun, the 2028 Olympic Games are already on his mind – and so is fighting, likely at bantamweight.
“2028 is coming up,” Bassett said. “That’s the next Olympic cycle, and so. I think by that time I’m going to be ready to go prep to be on that senior team. I got fourth on the ladder last year, senior level, at 18 years old. … I’m on the track to be ready to go to win that spot in 28 and go to the Olympics in 28 in LA. There couldn’t be a better dream than that compete for Virginia Tech, get my four years done there, my degree, be in a good situation. With where I’m at there on a school level. Then after that, I think I want to transition possibly into fighting in the UFC.”
Friday, Bassett spent some time brushing shoulders with MMA royalty at Kill Cliff FC in Deerfield Beach, Fla. and one of his role models in wrestler-turned-fighter Jordan Oliver.
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“It was pretty awesome to see a lot of legends there, like Robbie Lawler, Gilbert Burns, just to name a few, and then a couple of rising stars as well,” Bassett said. “To throw hands with some of those guys, they taught me a lot. I have a lot to learn. I think there’s a big transition to be made, but I think being a wrestler and a wrestler background will make that easy to do and so I’m really excited to keep the transition going.”
Many times wrestlers express interest in fighting, but the financials make more sense for them to remain in the wrestling world. Bassett acknowledged this, but said his declared quest for the UFC is authentic, particularly after a recent conversation with UFC star Michael Chandler.
“Absolutely (it’s legit), I think I’m pretty set on it,” Bassett said. “I think being in high level gyms like Kill Ciff today was pretty awesome and that got me even more excited, even more motivated to do it. Being around JO a lot as well. JO spent some time in the flight world. Jordan Oliver is a big role model for me and someone that I look up to a lot. So talking to him about those types of things and I think that that’s been awesome.
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“I was on an RAF card as well with Michael Chandler. One thing I was a little bit hesitant on was the stand-up and, and the boxing side of fighting, and Michael Chandler told me he didn’t take his first punch till he was like 22 or 23 years old. So that was pretty cool to see one. One of the best fighters out there, Michael Chandler, had a wrestling background just like me, and so his transition was smooth right into it, and the success that he had was amazing. So these connections that I’ve been able to develop have kept me really excited about that transition, and I definitely see myself making that in the years to come.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Wrestling phenom Bo Bassett reveals UFC intent – even if a decade away
