Travis Wiuff
Travis James Wiuff (born March 15, 1978) is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Heavyweight division. A professional competitor since 2001 and a longtime veteran of the sport, Wiuff has competed for the UFC, PRIDE, Bellator, World Victory Road, and the Quad Cities Silverbacks and San Jose Razorclaws of the IFL. Background. Wiuff is from Owatonna, Minnesota, and is of Danish and Irish descent. As his father was a professional wrestler, Wiuff also began wrestling when he was five years old, and continued through high school and college. While at Owatonna High School, he also  played football. He was injured during his senior year and had to miss out on the state wrestling championship tournament despite being ranked number one in the state of Minnesota. Wiuff continued to wrestle and also continued to play football for two years in junior college, at Rochester Technical Community College, finishing second in the national championship in 1999. After the junior college, Wiuff attended Minnesota State University but dropped out a year before graduating with a law enforcement degree. Mixed martial arts career. Early career. Applying for a bouncer job in his early adulthood, Wiuff bumped into Brad Kohler  who tried to lure the accomplished wrestler into fighting. Over time and several attempts, Kohler succeeded and Wiuff begun training at Kohler's gym Lion's Lair. Rapidly after starting the sport, Wiuff made his professional debut in September 2001. Over the next year, he amassed a record of 12–2 before making his debut for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Ultimate Fighting Championship. Wiuff made his UFC debut in November 2002 as he faced Vladimir Matyushenko at UFC 40. He lost the fight via submission due to punches late in the first round. Wiuff was released from the promotion following the  loss. Post-UFC release. Following his release from the company, Wiuff fought schedule on the independent MMA circuit. He fought 24 times over the next three years, and went 22–2. Return to UFC. Wiuff was invited back to the UFC in April 2005 when he faced Renato Sobral at UFC 52. He lost the fight via armbar submission in the opening minute of the second round. He was again released from the promotion. Independent Promotions. Wiuff continued his fight schedule after his second UFC release fighting in more independent promotions. Before joining Bellator, he fought 39 times in the ensuing  six years. He added an additional 29-9 with one no-contest to his record during this period. Wiuff won the YAMMA Eight-Man Heavyweight Tournament as well as the IFO Light Heavyweight Championship twice, IFC Americas Cruiserweight Championship and IFC United States Light Heavyweight Championship once. Wiuff fought Mike Kyle on May 24, 2013, at CFA 11, Wiuff lost via knockout in 21 seconds of the first round. Bellator Fighting Championships. Wiuff signed to a contract with Bellator. He debuted in October 2011 where he defeated reigning Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion Christian M'Pumbu in a non-title superfight at  Bellator 55, marking the first time a reigning Bellator Champion had lost to someone not under an ongoing contract with the promotion. Bellator signed Wiuff to a contract that December, and he returned to the promotion in March 2012 where he defeated Anthony Gomez in a unanimous decision at Bellator 60. In the summer of 2012, Wiuff entered Bellator's . In the opening round at Bellator 71, he faced Chris Davis and won via KO in the first round. Wiuff faced Tim Carpenter in the semifinals at Bellator 72. He won the fight via unanimous decision. On August 24, 2012 , Wiuff faced Attila Vegh in the tournament finals at Bellator 73 and lost via KO in 25 seconds of round one. On March 21, 2013, Wiuff faced Ryan Martinez at in a Heavyweight bout, He lost via KO in 18 seconds of round one. Independent promotions. Wiuff faced Brett Murphy at VCF: Countdown to War on December 31, 2013. He won the fight via unanimous decision, snapping his four fight losing streak. Wiuff signed with the Driller Promotions organization in March 2014, and made his debut against Terry Davinney at DP: O-Town Throwdown 1 on April 12, 2014. He  won the fight via first-round TKO. He then faced Brian Heden at Driller Promotions: No Mercy 11 on May 24, 2014, for the DP Heavyweight Championship. He won the fight via first-round TKO, and won his first championship since 2009. He then faced Dallas Mitchell at Dakota FC: Beatdown 11 on June 7, 2014, which he won in a unanimous decision. Wiuff made his first title defense on June 27, 2014, when he faced Danyelle Williams at Driller Promotions: A-Town Throwdown III. He won the fight via unanimous decision. Wiuff then faced Chris Barnett at Inoki Genome  Fight 2 on August 23, 2014. Wiuff lost the bout via TKO after being struck by a right hand from Barnett. Wiuff faced Timothy Johnson at Dakota FC 19: Fall Brawl on October 25, 2014, for the DFC Heavyweight Championship. He was defeated via TKO due to punches in the first round. Wiuff faced Kevin Asplund at Driller Promotions: O-Town Throwdown 2 on April 18, 2015. He won via submission in round three. Personal life. Wiuff has two daughters. Wiuff is a special needs teacher and a football and wrestling coach in the Kasson-Mantorville School District. Travis Wiuff