UBCNews - Business - Pat Miletich's Champion Factory: UFC Legend Leads Shoot Pro Wrestling

Episode Date: February 4, 2026

Alright, here's something that caught my attention this week - Pat Miletich, UFC Hall of Famer and the guy behind the legendary Champion Factory, just got named President of Shoot Pro Wrestling. This is huge for the catch wrestling world. Scientific Wrestling City: Arvada Address: 5610 Ward Road, Ste 300 Website: https://scientificwrestling.com

All right, here's something that caught my attention this week. Pat Militich, UFC Hall of Famer, and the guy behind the legendary champion factory just got named president of Shoot Pro Wrestling. This is huge for the catch wrestling world. Right, and this isn't just a title. Shoot Pro Wrestling is in a commitment partnership with a major force in catch wrestling education. Miletish is bringing that same blueprint that created 14 world champions across MMA to CatchCon, in 2026 in Las Vegas.

14 world champions. That's an insane track record. So for anyone listening who maybe doesn't know, what exactly is shoot pro wrestling? How does it differ from what we typically see in pro wrestling? Great question. Shoot pro wrestling is the world's first competitive professional wrestling league that delivers authentic, unscripted combat.

The term shoot in wrestling refers to real competition where participants abandon scripted storylines. So you're watching elite level grappling with real stakes and real rules. So it's bringing back the authentic spirit of Catch as Catch Can Wrestling. Exactly. And that lineage goes deep. The curriculum behind all this traces back to Carl Gotch and Billy Robinson, two of the most respected names in catch wrestling history. That's decades of grappling wisdom being preserved and applied. Mm-hmm. Fascinating stuff. Now you mentioned CatchCon, 2026. What's happening there?

It's a three-day immersion training camp scheduled for May 1st through 3rd in Las Vegas. The focus is on building what they call anti-fragile grapplers, athletes who actually get stronger through controlled stress and deliberate exposure. I love that concept. Instead of avoiding difficulty, you're using it as a tool. Definitely, and the coaching lineup is stacked. You've got Pat Millettich, obviously, but also Frank Shamrock, the first UFC middleweight champion who retired undefeated after successfully defending his title four times,

plus other elite coaches bringing their expertise. That point about elite coaching sets up our next piece, the competition formats, and what makes them unique. But first, a quick word from our sponsor. Looking to master Catch's Catch Can Wrestling with a curriculum tied to legends like Carl Gotch and Billy Robinson, CatchCon 2026 offers dual certifications in Catch Wrestling coaching, and Mayspell training, plus competition opportunities in the King of Catch singles and Shoot Pro

Tag Team tournaments, limited capacity to maintain personalized instruction. Find out more at www. Scientific Wrestling.com. Picking up on that elite coaching, how does Militeek's Champion Factory Blueprint actually apply to these shoot pro wrestling tournaments? Well, his approach at Miletic fighting systems produced over 80 television level athletes. The blueprint focuses on technical mastery, pressure systems, and creating an environment where athletes push each other to new levels. At CatchCon, you're seeing that same methodology applied to catch wrestling competitions. And there's real money on the line, right? Absolutely. The King of Catch singles Tournament offers $1,000 prizes for each division champion, under 80 Keter and over 80KU.

Then there's the Shoot Pro Tag Team Tournament with another $1,000 team prize. That's $4,000 total in prize money. So we've established their serious competition, but let me ask you, how do the actual rules work? I mean, can you win by pin or submission? Both. The tournaments use the official king of catch rule set, which allows victory by submission or pinfall. For pins, it's a three count. It's a true test of grappling skill under real competitive pressure. You can't just stall or play points. You have to finish. Right. Make a sense. And this whole event, it's designed for all skill levels? Yeah, from complete beginners to season competitors. The event features coaching

intensives and training sessions across all three days. Day one includes sessions with coaches like J.J. Howland and Carolyn Wester. Day two brings clinics with Maledish and Shamrock plus the Mass Bell certification training. Day three focuses on tournament competition. What's the Mesa Bell certification about? The Steel Mace has become a popular training tool for grip strength and conditioning. At CatchCon, Rick Brown, known as Mr. Mace Man, runs a certification course. The training bulletproofs your body and builds capacity that translates directly to grappling performance. I remember the first time I picked up a mace, I thought, how hard can this be? Within about 30 seconds my forearms were screaming.

Ha! Yeah, those things are deceptive. So you're getting technical training. Certification. and competition experience all in one weekend. Have you ever wondered what separates a good grappler from a champion? That's the million dollar question. From what I've seen studying Miletic's career, it comes down to three things. Technical depth, the ability to adapt under pressure, and being part of a community that pushes you forward. You know, Miletic fighting systems created five UFC world champions

because everyone in that room was raising the bar. I see, go on. CatchCon is trying to try and. CatchCon is trying to recreate that environment. With limited capacity to maintain personalized hands-on attention, you're getting direct feedback in building relationships with serious operators. This isn't a seminar where you're watching from the back of a crowded room. I remember reading that Frank Shamrock is involved with this mission of preserving catch wrestling.

What's his role beyond his coaching responsibilities? He's teaching one of the clinics on day two. Shamrock was also interim king of pancras, WEC light heavyweight champion, strike force middleweight champion. The guy knows what works at the highest levels. His involvement signals that this isn't just nostalgia. The focus is on applying proven combat techniques in modern context.

So to everyone listening, whether you're an aspiring grappler or someone who's been training for years, this event offers something unique. real competition, real mentorship, and credentials that actually means something in the combat sports world. And the timing matters. Catch wrestling is experiencing a renaissance right now. The founder behind this curriculum launched his organization in 2003, and over the past two decades, we're seeing athletes from BJJ, MMA, and wrestling backgrounds all wanting to add these tools to their game.

They're hungry for techniques that actually work under pressure. Why do you think Catch Wrestling is having this moment? Honestly, because it works. The techniques are brutally effective in submission grappling in MMA. Plus, there's something appealing about an art form that values substance over colored belts. You earn your status through actual performance, not participation. You could say it's performance-based credibility rather than just showing up. That's a refreshing approach in today's martial arts scene.

All right, we're running up on time. here. Pat Militich, taking the helm of shoot pro wrestling, bringing his champion factory blueprint to Vegas this May. This is definitely one to watch. Thanks for breaking this down with me today. My pleasure. Exciting times ahead for catch wrestling.