Mike Wessel

Last updated
Mike Wessel
BornMichael Wade Wessel
(1977-12-02) December 2, 1977 (age 46)
Celina, Ohio, U.S.
Other namesThe Juggernaut
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight255.5 lb (115.9 kg; 18.25 st)
Division Heavyweight
Reach71 in (180 cm)
Fighting out of Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
TeamWestside Fight Team
Years active2007-present
Mixed martial arts record
Total23
Wins15
By knockout8
By submission1
By decision6
Losses8
By knockout7
By submission1
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Michael Wade Wessel (born December 2, 1977) is an American mixed martial artist who last competed in 2016. A professional competitor since 2007, Wessel formerly competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Bellator, and was a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights.

Contents

Background

Born and raised in Celina, Ohio, Wessel played football at Celina High School as a defensive tackle and was talented, earning a scholarship to the University of St. Francis where he played nose tackle. Wessel also went to training camps for both the Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers but was cut in both appearances. Wessel later competed for Arena Football League teams in North Dakota and San Diego for three-and-a-half seasons before accepting a strength and conditioning coaching job at the University of Arkansas. It was during his time in Arkansas when Wessel began to train mixed martial arts. [1]

Mixed martial arts

Ultimate Fighting Championship

He made his UFC debut against Antoni Hardonk at UFC 92. He accepted the fight on a week notice after Hardonk's original opponent dropped out due to injury. [2] UFC's Dana White offered the fight to Wessel and he quickly accepted, signing a four-fight deal.[ citation needed ] Wessel lost in the second round via TKO stoppage after tiring from only having a few days to train. [3]

The Ultimate Fighter

After losing to Hardonk in his UFC debut, Wessel took a spot on the Spike TV reality show, The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights. He was the last pick for Team Rashad Evans. [4] Wessel had his first fight on the show against Marcus Jones, losing via first round submission armbar. [5]

Wessel was not given a chance to fight on the finale card. After losing to Jones, Wessel was released from his contract.

Post-UFC

Wessel's first fight after his stint on The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights, was against another Ultimate Fighter alumni, Dan Christison. Wessel lost the fight via submission kimura. [6]

Wessel also faced Bellator's veteran Scott Barrett and Strikeforce's veteran Matt Kovacs, losing against Barrett and winning against Kovacs. [7] [8]

In the second half of 2012, Wessel signed with Bellator. [9]

Bellator MMA

Wessel made his debut on August 24, 2012, at Bellator 73 against fellow newcomer Ryan Martinez. He won via split decision (29-28 Wessel, 30-27 Martinez, 29-28 Wessel). [10]

Wessel next entered the Bellator season seven heavyweight tournament, facing Rich Hale on October 5, 2012, at Bellator 75 for a spot in the semifinals. Hale defeated Wessel via TKO in the first round. [11]

Wessel faced Alexei Kudin on December 7, 2012, at Bellator 83. He won via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28). [12]

Wessel then faced Justin Frazier at Bellator 120 on May 17, 2014. He defeated Frazier via first round TKO. [13]

Wessel faced Josh Diekmann at Bellator 123 on September 5, 2014. [14] He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.

Wessel faced Frank Tate at Bellator 162 on October 21, 2016. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
23 matches15 wins8 losses
By knockout87
By submission11
By decision60
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Win15–8Frank TateDecision (unanimous) Bellator 162 October 21, 201635:00 Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Loss14–8 Josh Diekmann KO (punches) Bellator 123 September 5, 201410:47 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Win14–7 Justin Frazier TKO (punches) Bellator 120 May 17, 201414:28 Southaven, Mississippi, United States
Loss13–7Michal KitaTKO (punches)Pro MMA Challenge 1: Drwal vs. HelenoMarch 1, 201412:11 Wroclaw, Poland
Loss13–6Robert NealTKO (punches)PFMMAC: PrizeFight MMA ChampionshipsJuly 13, 201310:13 Tunica, Mississippi, United StatesFor the PrizeFight Heavyweight Championship.
Win13–5 Alexei Kudin Decision (unanimous) Bellator 83 December 7, 201235:00 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Loss12–5 Rich Hale TKO (punches) Bellator 75 October 5, 201211:19 Hammond, Indiana, United StatesBellator Season Seven Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
Win12–4 Ryan Martinez Decision (split) Bellator 73 August 24, 201235:00 Tunica Resorts, Mississippi, United States
Win11–4Matt KovacsTKO (punches)SF: ShoFight 20June 16, 201224:50 Springfield, Missouri, United States
Loss10–4Scott BarrettTKO (punches)SportFight X: Middle Tennessee MayhemJanuary 29, 201113:53 Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States
Win10–3Chris HawkTKO (punches)AXC 10: War of the MachinesOctober 9, 201012:19 Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
Win9–3Jack ArmstrongTKO (punches)AXC 8: Friday FuryJune 18, 201012:39 Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
Loss8–3 Dan Christison Submission (kimura)CFC 4: Wessel vs. ChristisonFebruary 26, 201033:56 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Loss8–2 Antoni Hardonk TKO (punches) UFC 92 December 27, 200822:09 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win8–1Aaron WinterleeSubmissionSubzero FightingAugust 2, 200811:59 Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
Win7–1Rudy LindseyDecision (unanimous)Extreme Fighting LeagueMay 17, 200825:00 Oklahoma, United States
Win6–1Patrick CastilloDecision (split)AOW: GIs vs. ProsApril 19, 200835:00 Tunica, Mississippi, United States
Win5–1Mark BierTKO (punches)Ring RulersMarch 8, 200810:45 Shreveport, Louisiana, United States
Win4–1Matt ThomasTKO (punches)Subzero FightingJanuary 12, 20081N/A Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
Win3–1Matt ThomasKO (punches)AOW: Art of War 4October 27, 200712:42 Tunica, Mississippi, United States
Loss2–1Aaron WintterleKO (punch)Xtreme Fighting LeagueAugust 11, 200720:28 Alabama, United States
Win2–0Rudy LindseyDecision (unanimous)Xtreme Fighting LeagueAugust 11, 200732:00 Alabama, United States
Win1–0Jason LeeTKO (punches)Xtreme Fighting LeagueAugust 11, 200731:18 Alabama, United States

Mixed martial arts exhibition record

Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss0–1 Marcus Jones Submission (armbar) The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights 1 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Preliminary Bout.

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References

  1. ↑ "Mike Wessel - Official UFC® Profile | UFC ® - Fighter Gallery". Archived from the original on 2017-04-16. Retrieved 2017-03-24.
  2. ↑ Mike Wessel replaces Mark Burch on UFC 92 preliminary card MMAJunkie.com (December 18, 2008)
  3. ↑ UFC 92 results & recap by Robert Sargent (MMARising.com) on December 28, 2008
  4. ↑ Episode No. 1 recap: "The Ultimate Fighter 10: Heavyweights" by John Morgan (MMAJunkie.com) on September 16, 2009
  5. ↑ Episode No. 8 recap: "The Ultimate Fighter 10: Heavyweights" MMAJunkie.com (November 4, 2009)
  6. ↑ CFC 4 play by play – Christison submits Wessel by Keith Grienke (Topmmanews.com) on February 26, 2010
  7. ↑ “SportFight X: Middle Tennessee Mayhem” results and photo gallery Prommanow.com (January 30, 2011)
  8. ↑ ShoFight 20 live results and play-by-play by Tim Burke (Bloodyelbow.com) on June 16, 2012
  9. ↑ Bellator 73 lineup finalized with title fight, two tournament finals MMAJunkie.com (August 3, 2012)
  10. ↑ Bellator 73 results: Vegh stops Wiuff; Galvao takes Season 6 bantamweight crown by Steven Marrocco (MMAJunkie.com) on August 24, 2012
  11. ↑ Bellator 75 results: Santos, Volkov, Hale, Queiroz advance in heavyweight tourney by Steven Marrocco (MMAJunkie.com) on October 5, 2012
  12. ↑ Bellator 83 results: Martinez vs. Shamhalaev by Bryan Tucker (MMAFighting.com) on December 7, 2012
  13. ↑ "Bellator 120 Results: Rampage vs. King Mo". mmafighting.com. May 17, 2014.
  14. ↑ "BELLATOR MMA - BELLATOR 123". sherdog.com.
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