Pendleton had beaten Askren in the majority of their meetings, and he provoked some controversy after telling a reporter that there was no "rivalry" between them. He is the son of Bill Pendleton of Fresno and Lisa Cervantez of Lemoore. He has two younger brothers, Willy and Jacob, who are both wrestlers.
Competing for Oklahoma State University, Pendleton won the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I wrestling titles at 174 pounds in 2004 and 2005 and was a 3-time collegiate All-American. He defeated future two-time National Collegiate Athletic Association champion, Dan Hodge Trophy winner and Mobile Marketing Association World Champion "Funky" Ben Askren of Missouri for both of his titles. Pendleton also won the 145-pound California State Championship in his senior year at Lemoore High School.
