Bengals rookie shows off his high school wrestling background while sparring against former UFC champion in the Octagon

If it looks like Fairchild can hold his own here, there's a reason or two. For starters, Fairchild outweighs Strickland by nearly 100 pounds. Strickland posted on his Instagram he weighs 230 pounds, and Fairchild is listed at 318 on the Bengals' home website.

Fairchild also has from a strong wrestling background. A really strong background.

Before becoming a starting guard at Georgia, Fairchild wrestled at West Forsyth High School for all four years and earned All-State honors every year according to Dane Brugler's "The Beast" 2025 NFL Draft guide. Fairchild posted an undefeated record of 47-0 as a junior and repeated as the Class 7A state champion as a senior with a 22-0 record.

Wrestling in the 285 pound division back in high school is one thing, but going toe to toe against a professional MMA fighter for half a minute is something else entirely. Strickland boasts a career 29-7 record in UFC and took home a title belt in 2023 at UFC 293. Fairchild held his own against the 34-year old.

When Fairchild returns to Cincinnati for training camp, he'll be wrestling on the field against the Bengals' starting defensive line. He's positioned to be the Week 1 starter at left guard after handling the position for all of the offseason workout program. 

Expectations are high for Fairchild, the team's third-round pick. Cincinnati hadn't drafted a true guard in the first three rounds since selecting Kevin Zeitler in the first round back in 2012. The former wrestler-turned-NFL rookie will look to fulfill those expectations starting next month.