- Mikey Burnett
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Mikey Burnett Born Michael Wayne Burnett
April 12, 1974
Tulsa, Oklahoma, United StatesOther names The Eastside Assassin Nationality American Height 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) Weight 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st) Division Welterweight Style Wrestling Fighting out of Tulsa, Oklahoma Team Lion's Den Professional boxing record Total 1 Wins 1 Losses 0 Draws 0 Mixed martial arts record Total 7 Wins 5 By knockout 1 By submission 2 By decision 2 Losses 2 By knockout 1 By decision 1 Other information Boxing record from Boxrec Michael Wayne Burnett (born April 12, 1974) is a former American mixed martial artist who was a member of the legendary fight team the Lion's Den. Burnett lost a very controversial decision to Pat Miletich in a UFC title fight for the UFC Welterweight Championship at UFC Ultimate Brazil crowning Miletich the first-ever holder of the UFC Welterweight belt.
Contents
Biography
Burnett was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma and graduated from Nathan Hale High School in 1991. He wrestled for three years in college. Burnett was also an amateur Golden Gloves boxing champion in his home state of Oklahoma. He formerly owned and operated Mikey's Gym in East Tulsa. Burnett was the lead MMA and grappling instructor at Apollo's Karate
Mixed martial arts career
Burnett made his professional MMA debut on April 20, 1996, competing at the third and final Oklahoma Free Fight Federation tournament in Tulsa. Burnett defeated Todd Justice and Tony Hays only to eventually lose to Kevin Nix in the final round of the tournament. Shortly after this, Burnett began to train with Ken Shamrock's Lion's Den in Susanville, California. Burnett's next fight would not take place until the following year at the inaugural World Pankration Championships where Burnett submitted Mike Hipp with a heel hook.
Burnett's success attracted the attention of the UFC, who invited Burnett to fight in their organization. Burnett made his victorious UFC debut at UFC 16, stopping Eugenio Tadeu with strikes in the first round. This fight was nominated by the UFC to appear on the UFC's Ultimate 100 Greatest Fights.
Burnett's impressive performance earned him a title shot against Pat Miletich to determine the first-ever UFC Welterweight Champion. Burnett lost a very controversial decision to Miletich at UFC Ultimate Brazil in a fight that many fans to this day state that Burnett won. Burnett returned at UFC 18 where he won a unanimous decision over Olympic silver medalist Townsend Saunders. Burnett dominated the fight on his feet with his striking and was very impressive because the Olympic silver medal winning wrestler Saunders was unable to take Burnett down.
Burnett would leave the Lion's Den later in 1998 to go back to Oklahoma when he found out he was having a child.[1] Burnett started his own training facility, with brother and trainer Scott Burnett, in East Tulsa called Mikey's Gym. He also began to teach and instruct at various other gyms in the city and surrounding area for the next several years.
The Ultimate Fighter: Season 4
After a seven year hiatus from fighting, Burnett was contacted by UFC President Dana White in 2006 about being on the fourth season of The Ultimate Fighter reality show. Burnett gladly accepted and travelled to Las Vegas for the taping.
Burnett ended up on Team No Love as a member of the welterweight fighters on the show. Burnett ended up breaking his neck during a training session on the show (contrary to popular opinion that Burnett broke it attempting to run through a wall; this is claimed by Burnett to be false.)[2] Burnett was selected to take on Din Thomas in the fifth show of the season. Burnett ended up fighting Thomas with a broken neck. Thomas submitted Burnett with a triangle choke in the first round of the fight. Burnett attempts to run through a wall during the 11th show of the season and ends up denting it. On the final episode, Burnett is informed by a doctor that he required major surgery on his neck before he will be able to continue fighting. Burnett opted to undergo the surgery, which would put him out of action for at least one year. However, Burnett had problems with the insurance company and could not get the surgery done. Burnett later filed suit against the show to help pay for his surgery, but has been unsuccessful in getting the surgery completed.[3]
Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown 7 matches 5 wins 2 losses By knockout 1 1 By submission 2 0 By decision 2 1 Result Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes Win 5-2 Townsend Saunders
Decision (unanimous) UFC 18 January 8, 1999 1 15:00 Louisiana, United States Loss 4-2 Pat Miletich
Decision (split) UFC Brazil October 16, 1998 1 21:00 São Paulo, Brazil For UFC Welterweight Championship Win 4-1 Eugenio Tadeu
TKO (strikes) UFC 16 March 13, 1998 1 9:45 Louisiana, United States Win 3-1 Mike Hipp Submission (heel hook) WPC - World Pankration Championships 1 October 26, 1997 1 0:30 Texas, United States Loss 2-1 Kevin Nix TKO (guillotine choke) OFFF 3 - Oklahoma Free Fight Federation 3 April 20, 1996 3 2:38 Oklahoma, United States Win 2-0 Tony Hays Submission (rear naked choke) OFFF 3 - Oklahoma Free Fight Federation 3 April 20, 1996 1 0:33 Oklahoma, United States Win 1-0 Todd Justice Decision (unanimous) OFFF 3 - Oklahoma Free Fight Federation 3 April 20, 1996 3 3:00 Oklahoma, United States References
- ^ http://www.mmamemories.com/2009/03/24/talkin-mma-with-mikey-burnett.html
- ^ Carson's Corner Interview: Eric Nyenhuis
- ^ http://www.cagepotato.com/2008/07/03/mikey-burnett-sues-the-ultimate-fighter/
External links
Mikey Burnett · Shonie Carter · Rich Clementi · Patrick Côté · Edwin Dewees · Jeremy Jackson · Travis Lutter · Chris Lytle · Charles McCarthy · Gideon Ray · Jorge Rivera · Pete Sell · Matt Serra · Scott Smith · Pete Spratt · Din ThomasCategories:- Living people
- 1974 births
- American mixed martial artists
- Mixed martial artists from Oklahoma
- Welterweight mixed martial artists
- Boxers from Oklahoma
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