NAAFS News

Courtesy of Standthemup.org: NAAFS bantamweight Tyler Saltsman(4-0) is set to face his toughest test to date in standout Isaiah Chapman.    Tyler is a former Penn State wrestler and four time New Hampshire state champion.  Tyler took time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions about his upcoming bout,wrestling career and future opponents. 

STU: What team do you represent?

TS: I represent Team Titan PA

TS: I feel extremely confident. I know that I am bigger, stronger, and I have a better gas tank.  I also know that I have stronger wrestling as well and I will be able to take him down and control the fight. I will be looking to pound him for three straight rounds and make him not want to fight me ever again.

TS: I have continued to really work on my stand up. I work with the Penn state boxing team as well as my muay thai through Titan MMA. I have also been training with fighters from Balance and Fight Factory out of Philly.  I will also be going to Pittsburgh all weekend to be training with Ed Schriner who has put numerous fighters in Strikeforce.  He is a level 6 certified coach under the legendary Eric Paulson so I am looking forward for him to continue to evolve my game.  I am a Catch Wrestler. I look for the Takedown the ground and pound and whatever submissions open up.  The only way Chapman will win this fight is if he is world class off his back and even so I still do not like his odds. Not only am I training at a higher level but my nutrition and weight training are unmatched as well.  This is not just another amateur fight, and everyone knows it. They say he is the best in Ohio, the best in the mid west and some say hes the best 135lb amateur mma fighter in the country. We’ll see about that. All I can tell you is win or lose I’m putting on a show, and win or lose he will never want to fight me again.

STU: This is a big step up in your already impressive amateur career,do you feel wrestling at such a high level has helped you deal with the pressure leading up to this fight?

TS: Absolutely, Being a 4X state champion and an opportunity to wrestle at Penn State for 2.5 years going to battle with All Americans everyday has been a blessing and has been awesome training. Unfortunately I got caught up in the politics of wrestling after I won my wrestle off and was the varsity 133 lb starter. With Penn State wrestling leaving such a sour taste in my mouth I feel like it just continues to give me fuel for the fire for my next opponent. Wrestling against great teams such as Edinboro where I won and Lehigh where I lost as well as University Free Style Nationals (where I was a match away from placing) has really helped me prepare for top level competition. I also get to continue to work out and wrestle with with Penn State wrestlers such as #5 Frank Molinaro at 149 lbs. Preparing for a fight is no different than preparing for a big wrestling match in terms of your strength, conditioning, weight management,watching film on your opponent, etc.

TS: Due to my great workout partners, excellent coaching instruction from various coaches, and Titan mma, my transition has been going extremely smooth. I get better every time I step in the cage and I will continue to improve on the areas that need work.

TS: That is funny you mention this and I have no idea how you know this but absolutely. Cody called me out in a Facebook message as well as some of his fans saying “hes going to have his way with me.” I think it makes the sport fun as long as you do it in a respectful manner and I appreciate that they were in messages and not publicly on my wall because my grandmother reads my Facebook haha.  I sense the rivalry and heated match up has to do with our wrestling abilities clashing. What does not make sense to me though is he is just a high school wrestler who has not been in a division 1 room for an extended period of time.  I will take him down and pound him as well.

TS: I feel like it’s a bad match up for him. Cody is used to having the luxury of being comfortable on his feet because he has never really been threatened of a takedown. I will take him down and Cody better hope he is very good off his back if he is going to win this one. I feel that I am also bigger, stronger, a better wrestler, and have a better gas tank as well. Just like I said about Chapman, win or lose I’m going to put on a show and win or lose Cody will not want to fight me ever again.

TS: Absolutely. Although I’m taking it one fight at a time and right now all I can think about is Chapman.  I even have dreams where I’m fighting him.  I’m so excited I can’t wait!

TS: My toughest fight was Ray Yanez. He had a good game plan and made it difficult for me to ground and pound him even when I full mounted him. Even though I still got the unanimous decision he was a tough opponent for sure. He was crafty off his back and stayed in good position. That’s where I have really improved is my submission game and the utilization of arm traps to be more devastating on my ground and pound.

TS: Chapman and Garbrandt come to mind while I’m an amateur and I am thankful NAAFS will be giving me the opportunity to fight both of them. I’d also like to fight Brandon Poindexter just because he was being disrespectful via Facebook message as well. I do not take haters personally, it makes the sport fun.  After I destroy him I will shake his hand and thank him for taking the fight. When I turn pro I want to fight anyone that best helps my chances at getting a shot to compete in the bantamweight division. You may think I am being ridiculous but I honestly think I could beat Miguel Torres right now even though I’m just an amateur; so I would like to fight him in the near future as well and whoever holds that UFC bantam weight belt. My wrestling is solid, my submission defense is great, and my stand up is improving everyday.

TS: The top collegiate level for sure. Anyone can fight ami mma, but not anyone can wrestle at the top collegiate level. That takes a world class athlete to do that. A better question would be a top pro elite level mma fighter and a top collegiate level of wrestling. Wrestling is the hardest thing I have ever done especially against guys in the Big 10; there is no time to relax, no time to think, its just 420 seconds of straight war. Wrestling in the college room for hours against the best guys in the country is no easy task and is still underrated. You can never really understand it until you have been through it. Frankie Edgar for example never All Americaned out of Clarion but he is the Champ in the UFC. On the contrary there are also many great wrestlers that would also get destroyed in mma, so it’s a tough question.

 STU: What your fighting aspirations?

TS: The fact that I did not live up to my NCAA Division 1 wrestling goals is what gives me that drive to fight and run through everyone. I am extremely salty about it and will forever be hungry due to falling short of my goals. MMA is a great outlet for my athletic frustration and a great way to quench my thirst for top level competition.

TS: My friends and family, all the fans, my training partners, coaches, and Bruce Lombard for introducing me to CSW (Combat submission Wrestling)

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