Olympic Wrestler Finalist Forrest Molinari Seeks MMA Gold at RUF 61

After an illustrious wrestling career, Molinari’s transition to MMA seemed almost predestined. Her first exposure to the sport came in 2021 when she trained at the Pitbull Brothers gym in Natal, Brazil. There, she had her first sparring session with none other than Patricio Pitbull, one of the sport’s most accomplished fighters.

“My first time ever sparring, didn’t know a thing, couldn’t even get a proper stance right, was with Patricio Pitbull,” Molinari shares. Despite her inexperience, she displayed the heart of a champion, going five rounds with the veteran fighter. “Most people would be very nervous their first time sparring, and I felt very calm… I remember thinking to myself, like, this is what I was meant to do.”