US Wrestling Gold Medalist Henry Cejudo to Skip MMA for Olympic Run

U.S. Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo's on-again, off-again flirtation with mixed martial arts has apparently reached an end, and the decorated wrestler will stick with his area of expertise.

In a story published in The New York Times, writer Greg Bishop states that Cejudo recently committed to continue wrestling in hopes of representing the U.S. during the 2012 London Games.

Perhaps more interesting in the story is the potential impact of a new medal fund that would pay wrestlers $250,000 for an Olympic gold medal, which the theory goes will keep wrestlers from bailing on the sport for the potentially bigger payouts of MMA.

The "Living the Dream Medal Fund" will also pay $50,000 for silver, $25,000 for bronze and also distribute cash prizes for world championship medals.

Cejudo was indecisive about his decision for several months, at one time voicing a desire to fight MMA, then talking about potentially boxing professionally. Late in 2008, he was serious enough about MMA that his representatives had talks with Japanese promoters about possibly fighting legendary featherweight Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto.

The 22-year-old Cejudo won gold in the 55 kg (121-pound) weight class.

To date, four U.S. Olympic gold medal wrestlers have transitioned to MMA: Rulon Gardner, Kevin Jackson, Mark Schultz and Kenny Monday. Only Jackson (4-2) fought more than five times.

While increasing the cash awards of medal winners is a positive development for USA Wrestling, it seems unlikely that alone would stop wrestlers intent on fighting in MMA from making the change. Amateur wrestling has never been a sport where money was a real option, so either world-class competitors will stay in it for the love that helped them achieve their high level of success, or they will decide its time to capitalize on their credentials and fight MMA.

USA Wrestling will never be able to offer the money that top-flight MMA fighters can make, but they will always be able to dangle something that its athletes consider priceless: Olympic gold. All things being equal, the decision will come down to finances or idealism.