David Heath (fighter)

Last updated
David Heath
Born (1976-02-10) February 10, 1976 (age 49)
Nowata, Oklahoma, United States
Other namesThe Headhunter
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight205 lb (93 kg; 14.6 st)
Division Light Heavyweight
Middleweight
Reach72.5 in (184 cm) [1]
Stance Orthodox
Fighting out of Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
TeamAbsolute Combat Alliance
Years active2003–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total25
Wins18
By knockout7
By submission8
By decision3
Losses7
By knockout1
By submission3
By decision3
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

David Alan Heath (born February 10, 1976) is an American former mixed martial artist who last competed in the Light Heavyweight division. A professional competitor since from 2003 until 2012, he fought for the UFC, MFC, and King of the Cage.

Contents

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Heath began training in mixed martial arts in 2002 and made his professional debut in 2003. Heath compiled a record of 7-0, which included a win over Sean Salmon, while mostly fighting in his home-state of Oklahoma before being signed by the UFC.

UFC

Heath made his debut for the organization at UFC 62 on August 26, 2006, against Cory Walmsley won the bout via rear-naked choke submission in the first round. Heath next fought at UFC Fight Night 7 against Canadian Victor Valimiki and won via split decision. Heath then fought against future UFC Light Heavyweight Champion against then-undefeated Lyoto Machida at UFC 70 in England. Heath was a replacement for Machida's original opponent, Forrest Griffin, who withdrew from the bout due to a nagging staph infection. Heath was handed his first professional loss via unanimous decision and the fight was pulled off the air, being replaced for more entertaining fights. Heath apologized in post-fight interview for a "boring" and "frustrating" performance, and also said that Machida has an "ultra-boring style" of fighting. [2]

Heath then fought longtime veteran Renato Sobral at UFC 74 . Prior to the fight, Heath taunted Sobral over his recent legal difficulties and then wore a shirt displaying Sobral's police mugshot to the Octagon. While angered by the display, Sobral defeated Heath by anaconda choke in the second round after horrifically beating and bloodying his opponent to the point of grotesquerie. Sobral continued to hold the choke for four seconds after Heath tapped out, which is illegal, and ignored the commands of referee Steve Mazzagatti, who tried to physically break the hold. Renato stated during the post-fight interview that "He (Heath) has to learn respect. He deserved that. He called me 'motherfucker'." Sobral also disregarded the boos from the over 11,000 fans, saying "The crowd didn't like it? Who cares! At least they had a reaction." [3] Sobral was released from the UFC for his actions. In a later interview, Heath has stated that he does not hold a "grudge" against Sobral but is disappointed about the "black eye" that the sport of mixed martial arts suffered after the incident. [4]

In his next bout for the UFC a year later, Heath fought Tim Boetsch at UFC 84 and was defeated in the first round after he was thrown against the cage and hit with numerous punches. Heath, having lost three consecutive fights, was released by the UFC.

Post-UFC

After a TKO win, Heath was signed by the Canada-based MFC and lost his debut against current Bellator fighter, Emanuel Newton. Heath then bounced back with a win over former MFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Roger Hollett.

Heath lost his next two fights for the organization before defeating Solomon Hutcherson at MFC 26: Retribution via knockout from a superman punch. Heath lost his last appearance for the organization against Rodney Wallace before signing with King of the Cage.

King of the Cage

Heath signed with King of the Cage and won his first two fights for the organization in 2012.

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
25 matches18 wins7 losses
By knockout71
By submission83
By decision33
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Win18–7Chad HerrickDecision (split)KOTC: UnificationDecember 8, 201235:00 Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
Win17–7Sidiah ParkerTKO (punches)KOTC: BreakthroughMarch 10, 201224:48 Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
Loss16–7 Rodney Wallace Decision (unanimous) MFC 27 November 12, 201035:00 Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaReturn to Light Heavyweight.
Win16–6 Solomon Hutcherson KO (Superman punch) MFC 26: Retribution September 10, 201023:46 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Middleweight debut.
Win15–6Jason KucheraTKO (strikes)Heat XC 5: PunishmentJuly 16, 201034:45 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Win14–6Jason FreemanKO (head kick)FCF: Freestyle Cage Fighting 38January 20, 201014:18 Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
Loss13–6Mike NickelsSubmission (rear-naked choke) MFC 22 October 2, 200934:02 Enoch, Alberta, Canada
Win13–5Wayne ColeKO (punch)FCF: Freestyle Cage FightingAugust 8, 200922:42 Oklahoma, United States
Win12–5Shawn DezeeKO (punches)FCF: Freestyle Cage FightingJune 27, 200912:47 Durant, Oklahoma, United States
Loss11–5Travis GalbraithDecision (split) MFC 21 May 15, 200935:00 Enoch, Alberta, Canada
Win11–4 Roger Hollett Submission (guillotine choke) MFC 20 February 20, 200911:58 Enoch, Alberta, Canada
Loss10–4 Emanuel Newton Submission (rear-naked choke) MFC 18: Famous September 26, 200821:19 Enoch, Alberta, Canada
Win10–3Shepard OwensTKO (punches)Freestyle Cage FightingJune 14, 200811:19 Shawnee, Oklahoma, United States
Loss9–3 Tim Boetsch TKO (throw and punches) UFC 81 February 2, 200814:52 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss9–2 Renato Sobral Technical Submission (anaconda choke) UFC 74 August 25, 200723:30 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss9–1 Lyoto Machida Decision (unanimous) UFC 70 April 21, 200735:00 Manchester, England, United Kingdom
Win9–0Victor ValimakiDecision (split) UFC Fight Night: Sanchez vs. Riggs December 13, 200635:00 San Diego, California, United States
Win8–0 Cory Walmsley Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 62: Liddell vs. Sobral August 26, 200612:32 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win7–0 Sean Salmon SubmissionFF 5: Korea vs USAJuly 15, 200610:50 McAllen, Texas, United States
Win6–0Rob WinceTKO (doctor stoppage)FCF: Clash of the TitansJune 30, 200625:00 Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
Win5–0Chase WatsonSubmission (armbar)EFL: Battle at the Brady 4May 20, 200611:40 Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
Win4–0Rudy LindseySubmissionEFL: Extreme Fighting LeagueMarch 19, 200611:40 Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
Win3–0Doug SourSubmission (achilles lock) KOTC 42: Buckeye Nuts October 23, 20041N/A Concho, Oklahoma, United States
Win2–0Rob WebbDecisionEFL 12: Extreme Kickboxing 12May 16, 200435:00 Dayton, Ohio, United States
Win1–0Adam GreggTKO (referee stoppage)Rock and Rumble 1April 26, 20032N/A Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States

References

  1. ↑ "David Heath's ESPN.Go Profile". ESPN . Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  2. ↑ http://www.mmajunkie.com/news/2007/04/ufcjunkiecom-exclusive-david-heath-apologizes-for-boring-ufc-70-fight [ bare URL ]
  3. ↑ There should be no room for Babalu's antics - Boxing - Yahoo! Sports
  4. ↑ "Whatever Happened to David Heath?". 28 November 2007.
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