James Wilks: Difference between revisions
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==Mixed Martial Arts== |
==Mixed Martial Arts== |
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Wilks began training TaeKwonDo and Bruce Lee's |
Wilks began training [[TaeKwonDo]] and [[Bruce Lee]]'s [[martia]]l art style, [[Jeet Kune Do]] while living in the United Kingdom. He moved to the United States and began training under [[Erik Paulson]] with ''Combat Submission Wrestling''. Wilks moved so he could get better at his [[jiu-jitsu]] and other ground skills. Wilks holds a [[black belt]] in TaeKwonDo and a [[brown belt]] in [[Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu]].<ref name="ufc.com"/> |
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He had his first professional fight against [[The Ultimate Fighter 5]] competitor, [[Roman Mitichyan]]. Wilks won the fight via armbar submission in the second round. After the fight he took around a year break from fighting so he could focus on training his students. He came back to have his second fight and lost to [[Jimmy Smith (fighter)|Jimmy Smith]]. Before going to tape the ''The Ultimate Fighter 9'', Wilks won the [[Gladiator Challenge]] welterweight title.<ref>http://www.jameslightningwilks.com/biograph/</ref> |
He had his first professional fight against [[The Ultimate Fighter 5]] competitor, [[Roman Mitichyan]]. Wilks won the fight via [[armbar]] submission in the second round. After the fight he took around a year break from fighting so he could focus on training his students. He came back to have his second fight and lost to [[Jimmy Smith (fighter)|Jimmy Smith]]. Before going to tape the ''The Ultimate Fighter 9'', Wilks won the [[Gladiator Challenge]] welterweight title.<ref>http://www.jameslightningwilks.com/biograph/</ref> |
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After filming of the ''Ultimate Fighter'' ended, Wilks opened up his own gym, [[Lightning MMA]] in [[Laguna Hills, California]]. |
After filming of the ''Ultimate Fighter'' ended, Wilks opened up his own gym, [[Lightning MMA]] in [[Laguna Hills, California]]. |
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Revision as of 17:38, 8 December 2009
| James Wilks | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 5, 1978 Leicestershire, England |
| Other names | Lightning |
| Nationality | English |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Weight | 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st) |
| Style | Submission Wrestling, TaeKwonDo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
| Fighting out of | Laguna Hills, California |
| Team | Lightning MMA |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 9 |
| Wins | 6 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| By submission | 4 |
| By decision | 0 |
| Losses | 3 |
| Draws | 0 |
| No contests | 0 |
James Brett Wilks (born April 5, 1978 in Leicestershire) is an English professional MMA fighter. He was the winner of SpikeTV's The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom. Wilks currently fights for Ultimate Fighting Championship in the UK welterweight division.
Biography
Wilks was born and raised in Leicestershire, England. He attended Uppingham School. After leaving Uppingham in 1996, Wilks went to Bournemouth University, obtaining a degree in Business and Land Management.[1] He moved to the United States in June 2000.[2]
Mixed Martial Arts
Wilks began training TaeKwonDo and Bruce Lee's martial art style, Jeet Kune Do while living in the United Kingdom. He moved to the United States and began training under Erik Paulson with Combat Submission Wrestling. Wilks moved so he could get better at his jiu-jitsu and other ground skills. Wilks holds a black belt in TaeKwonDo and a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.[1]
He had his first professional fight against The Ultimate Fighter 5 competitor, Roman Mitichyan. Wilks won the fight via armbar submission in the second round. After the fight he took around a year break from fighting so he could focus on training his students. He came back to have his second fight and lost to Jimmy Smith. Before going to tape the The Ultimate Fighter 9, Wilks won the Gladiator Challenge welterweight title.[3]
After filming of the Ultimate Fighter ended, Wilks opened up his own gym, Lightning MMA in Laguna Hills, California.
The Ultimate Fighter
After starting his pro career with a 5-2 mark in local shows in California, Wilks was chosen to compete on The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom. Representing Team UK under coach Michael Bisping. He defeated the highly-regarded Che Mills by submission in an elimination match earning him a trip to Las Vegas, Nevada to compete on the show. Wilks had his second fight against Team United States fighter Frank Lester. Wilks won the fight by submission in the second round. In the semi-finals, Wilks faced Lester in a for a second straight time, after Lester returned to the tournament to defeat David Faulkner while substituting for Jason Pierce, who was removed from the competition by Dana White. In the rematch, Wilks defeated Lester by TKO via Knees in the third round, earning a spot in the live finale.
Ultimate Fighting Championships
Wilks made his debut for the UFC winning against DaMarques Johnson at the TUF 9 Finale on June 20, 2009. The fight crowned Wilks as the TUF 9 welterweight champion. Wilks dominated the fight against Johnson showing off strong striking and good submission attempts. Wilks finished the fight with Johnson via a rear naked choke submission in the closing seconds of the first round.[4]
Wilks lost to Matt Brown in a fight on November 14, 2009 at UFC 105.[5]
Mixed Martial Arts Record
| 9 matches | 6 wins | 3 losses |
| By knockout | 2 | 1 |
| By submission | 4 | 1 |
| By decision | 0 | 1 |
| Result | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss |  Matt Brown
|
TKO (Punches) | UFC 105: Couture vs. Vera | November 14, 2009 | 3 | 2:27 | Manchester, England | |
| Win | DaMarques Johnson
|
Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | UFC: The Ultimate Finale 9 | June 20, 2009 | 1 | 4:54 | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA | Became the TUF 9 Champion |
| Win | Mike Robles
|
Submission (Armbar) | GC 85: Cross Fire | October 25, 2008 | 2 | 4:27 | San Diego, California, USA | |
| Win | John Cole
|
TKO (Knees) | Apocalypse Fights 1: The First Sign | August 7, 2008 | 1 | 0:26 | Coachella, California, USA | |
| Win | Shawn Nagano
|
Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | UAGF 4: Kaos on the Kampus | May 20, 2006 | 2 | 4:22 | Los Angeles, California, USA | |
| Loss | Patrick Speight
|
Decision (Unanimous) | Total Combat 13: Anarchy | March 11, 2006 | 3 | 3:00 | Del Mar, California, USA | |
| Win | Ray Lizama
|
TKO (Cut) | KOTC 41: Relentless | September 24, 2004 | 1 | 1:14 | San Jacinto, California, USA | |
| Loss | Jimmy Smith
|
Submission (Kneebar) | KOTC 37: Hitmaster | August 6, 2004 | 1 | 1:40 | San Jacinto, California, USA | |
| Win |  Roman Mitichyan
|
Submission (Armbar) | UAGF Ultimate Cage Fighting 4 | October 12, 2003 | 2 | Upland, California, USA |
Titles and Accomplishments
- Mixed Martial Arts
- Winner of The Ultimate Fighter 9 (Welterweight)
References
- ^ a b http://www.ufc.com/JamesWilks
- ^ "James "Lightning" Wilks". Myspace.com. Retrieved June 20, 2009.
- ^ http://www.jameslightningwilks.com/biograph/
- ^ "The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale live round by round updates and official results". MMAJunkie.com. June 20, 2009. Retrieved June 20, 2009.
- ^ ""TUF 8" winner James Wilks vs. Matt Brown in the works for UFC 105 main card". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved 2009-08-19.