James Te Huna

Last updated

James Te Huna
JAMES TE HUNA (11914727385).jpg
Te Huna in 2014
Born (1981-09-29) 29 September 1981 (age 43)
Darfield, New Zealand
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Division Middleweight
Light Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Reach75 in (190 cm)
Fighting out ofSydney, Australia
Years active2003–2016
Mixed martial arts record
Total25
Wins16
By knockout10
By submission3
By decision3
Losses9
By knockout3
By submission5
By disqualification1
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

James Te Huna (born 29 September 1981) is a New Zealand retired professional mixed martial artist, best known for competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He was the first Australian-based fighter to win a UFC fight on Australian soil, and the first person to headline a UFC fight in New Zealand.

Contents

Te Huna is now a Rugby League contact wrestling coach who has already worked alongside several NRL clubs. He also founded New Wave Engage that provides Support Programs to vulnerable teens in Out-Of-Home Care (foster teenagers).[ citation needed ]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career and background

Te Huna racked up victories on the local circuit, in Australia, as well as suffering a submission loss (via shoulder dislocation) to Bellator season one middleweight champion Hector Lombard.

Te Huna defeated veteran journeyman Antony Rea while competing for the Cage Fighting Championship promotion. He became the Cage Fighting Championship Light Heavyweight World Champion at CFC 10 by defeating Anthony Perosh by first-round KO. Te Huna was later sanctioned by the promotion for illegally stomping on Perosh after the referee had stopped the bout. Cage Fighting Championship promoter Luke Pezzutti issued the following statement concerning Te Huna's behaviour, "To Anthony Perosh and the supporters/ Fans of Cage Fighting Championship, we apologize and do not condone nor tolerate the un-sportsman like actions of James Te-Huna at the CFC 10 August 21 event where the referee Ivan Walton stepped in to stop the fight between James and Anthony, and as a result of his actions that evening he has been fined 20% of his fight purse and has offered to write a letter of apology to Anthony Perosh, CFC officials and the supporters of CFC. CFC officials will amend rules, regulations to further prevent this type of behavior from our athletes." A formal letter of apology was duly issued on Te Huna's behalf.

Te Huna escaped serious injuries after a twenty-foot shop glass panel fell on top of him while walking to training alongside a Sydney mall. [1]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Te Huna then signed a contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship and made his debut at UFC 110 against Igor Pokrajac. [2] Te Huna was victorious via a controversial TKO stoppage. The referee stopped the bout when he hit Pokrajac with nine consecutive punches, which he did with his broken arm.

His next fight was scheduled to be at UFC 120 against UFC newcomer Tom Blackledge, [3] but Te Huna withdrew from the fight due to injury and was replaced by James McSweeney. [4]

Te Huna made his return on 27 February 2011 at UFC 127 against Alexander Gustafsson, [5] where was defeated by first-round submission due to a rear-naked choke. He donated his fight purse to the Christchurch earthquake victims, and the UFC matched his donation. [6]

He faced Ricardo Romero on 24 September 2011 at UFC 135 [7] and won by KO due to punches 47 seconds into the first round.

Te Huna next faced Aaron Rosa on 3 March 2012 at UFC on FX 2. [8] He won by TKO in the first round.

He was expected to face UFC veteran Brandon Vera on 11 July 2012 at UFC on Fuel TV 4. [9] However, Vera was tapped to fight Maurício Rua at UFC on Fox 4 [9] and was replaced by returning veteran Joey Beltran. [10] Te Huna knocked Beltran down once and had him rocked throughout the first round. Despite breaking bones in his left hand and left foot [11] and having his endurance tested, Te Huna won the fight via unanimous decision (30–26, 30–27, 30–27).

Te Huna fought Ryan Jimmo on 16 February 2013 at UFC on Fuel TV: Barão vs. McDonald. [12] He survived an early scare in round one after getting hit with a head kick. Te Huna then rebounded by controlling rounds two and three with his wrestling, winning via unanimous decision (29–27, 29–28, 29–28).

He next faced Glover Teixeira at UFC 160 on 25 May 2013, coming in as an injury replacement for Ryan Bader. [13] He lost the fight via submission due to a guillotine choke in the first round. [14]

Te Huna faced Maurício Rua on 7 December 2013 at UFC Fight Night 33. [15] He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.

Following those two consecutive losses, Te Huna announced that he would drop down to middleweight for his future fights. [16] He made his middleweight debut and faced Nate Marquardt in his home country of New Zealand on 28 June 2014 at UFC Fight Night: Te Huna vs. Marquardt. [17] He lost the fight via first round armbar.

After being sidelined for all of 2015 due to a litany of injuries, Te Huna returned to face Steve Bossé on 20 March 2016 at UFC Fight Night 85. [18] Te-Huna lost the bout via KO in the first round. [19]

On 24 May 2016 Te Huna announced on both his Instagram and Twitter accounts that he would be retiring from mixed martial arts. [20]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
25 matches16 wins9 losses
By knockout103
By submission35
By decision30
By disqualification01
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss16–9 Steve Bossé KO (punch) UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Mir 20 March 201610:52 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Loss16–8 Nate Marquardt Submission (armbar) UFC Fight Night: Te Huna vs. Marquardt 28 June 201414:34 Auckland, New Zealand Middleweight bout.
Loss16–7 Maurício Rua KO (punch) UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Bigfoot 7 December 201311:03 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Loss16–6 Glover Teixeira Submission (guillotine choke) UFC 160 25 May 201312:38 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win16–5 Ryan Jimmo Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fuel TV: Barão vs. McDonald 16 February 201335:00London, England
Win15–5 Joey Beltran Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fuel TV: Munoz vs. Weidman 11 July 201235:00 San Jose, California, United StatesFight of the Night.
Win14–5 Aaron Rosa TKO (punches) UFC on FX: Alves vs. Kampmann 3 March 201212:08 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Win13–5 Ricardo Romero KO (punches) UFC 135 24 September 201110:47 Denver, Colorado, United States
Loss12–5 Alexander Gustafsson Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 127 27 February 201114:27 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Win12–4 Igor Pokrajac TKO (punches) UFC 110 21 February 201033:26 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Win11–4 Anthony Perosh KO (punches)CFC 10: Light Heavyweight Grand Prix Finals21 August 200912:21 Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaCFC Light Heavyweight Grand Prix Final.
Win10–4Priscus FogagnoloTKO (punches)CFC 9: Fighters Paradise11 July 200922:37 Gold Coast, Queensland, AustraliaCFC Light Heavyweight Grand Prix Second Round.
Win9–4Antony ReaTKO (punches)CFC 8: Light Heavyweight Grand Prix22 May 200911:52Sydney, AustraliaCFC Light Heavyweight Grand Prix First Round.
Win8–4David GibbTKO (punches)XFC: Return of the Hulk14 March 20091N/A Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Win7–4Sam BrownDecision (unanimous)EFG: Weapons of Mass Destruction3 May 200835:00 Penrith, New South Wales, AustraliaReturn to Light Heavyweight.
Loss6–4 Hector Lombard TKO (shoulder injury)Warriors Realm 823 March 200713:50 Geelong, Victoria, Australia
Win6–3Takahiro ObaTKO (corner stoppage)X-plosion18 August 200625:00Sydney, AustraliaReturn to Middleweight.
Loss5–3James LeeSubmission (rear-naked choke) KOTC: Gunfather 10 February 200611:37 Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia Heavyweight debut; for the KOTC Light Heavyweight Championship.
Win5–2Edwin AguilarTKO (punches)Kumite 211 November 20052N/ASydney, Australia
Win4–2Adrian LeatunaTKO (punches)Kumite 12 July 20053N/ASydney, Australia
Loss3–2Matt KnightDQ (fence grabbing) KOTC: Australia 4 February 200514:01Sydney, Australia Middleweight debut.
Win3–1Kym RobinsonSubmission (rear-naked choke)XFC 6: Ultimate Fighting Returns20 November 200412:19 Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Win2–1Rocky HuniSubmission (rear-naked choke)XFC 5: When Worlds Collide13 August 20041N/A Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Win1–1Matt KnightSubmission (rear-naked choke)Xtreme Fight Club 25 June 200421:20 Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Loss0–1Api HemaraSubmission (armbar)Spartan Reality Fight 65 April 200312:20 Perth, Western Australia, Australia

[21]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Simon Plumb (17 April 2011). "UFC dream built on broken limbs". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  2. ↑ "Pokrajac meets UFC newcomer Te-Huna at UFC 110" . Retrieved 11 November 2009.
  3. ↑ "UFC 120 – Tom Blackledge vs. James te Huna in the works for London, England « Wolfslair MMA". Archived from the original on 8 July 2010. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
  4. ↑ "James McSweeney returns to 205 pounds, meets Tom Blackledge at UFC 120". MMAjunkie.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2010.
  5. ↑ "Alexander Gustafsson vs. James Te Huna slotted for UFC 127". mmajunkie.com. 1 December 2010.
  6. ↑ "Officials match UFC 127 fighter James Te Huna's fight-purse donation". mmajunkie.com. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012.
  7. ↑ "James Te Huna vs. Ricardo Romero added to UFC 135 in Denver". mmajunkie.com. 18 July 2011. Archived from the original on 10 July 2012.
  8. ↑ "James Te Huna vs Aaron Rosa possible for March 3 in Australia". mmamania.com. 23 December 2011.
  9. 1 2 "Brandon Vera Returns to Action Against James Te Huna at UFC on FUEL 4". cagepotato.com. 13 April 2012.
  10. ↑ "Joey Beltran returns to octagon, faces James Te Huna at UFC on FUEL TV 4". mmajunkie.com. 11 June 2012. Archived from the original on 15 June 2012.
  11. ↑ "The big Te Huna". SportsFan. 16 August 2012. Archived from the original on 18 January 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  12. ↑ "James Te Huna vs. Ryan Jimmo Added to UFC on Fuel 7 in England". mmaweekly.com. 13 December 2012.
  13. ↑ Alexander, Mookie (11 March 2013). "Ryan Bader injured, James Te Huna fights Glover Teixeira at UFC 160". bloodyelbow.com. Archived from the original on 15 March 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  14. ↑ "Te Huna taps out against Teixeira". 3 News NZ. 26 May 2013. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  15. ↑ Nick Walshaw (12 September 2013). "UFC star Mauricio Shogun Rua heading to Australia". dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  16. ↑ "James Te Huna's new years resolutions: A move to Middleweight". themmacorner.com. 8 January 2014.
  17. ↑ Neil Rooke (7 April 2014). "UFC New Zealand to Feature James Te Huna vs. Nate Marquardt". themmacorner.com.
  18. ↑ Liam Ducey (19 January 2016). "UFC Brisbane gets four more fights". smh.com.au. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  19. ↑ Ben Fowlkes (19 March 2016). "UFC Fight Night 85 results: Steve Bosse obliterates James Te Huna with 1-punch KO". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  20. ↑ "10-fight UFC veteran James Te Huna announces MMA retirement after 13 years as pro". 24 May 2016.
  21. ↑ "James Te Huna MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography". Sherdog.com. 29 September 1981. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
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