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James Wilks

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James Wilks
File:James Wilks UFC 105.jpg
BornJames Brett Wilks
(1978-04-05) April 5, 1978 (age 46)
Leicestershire, England
Other namesLightning
NationalityEngland English
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight170 lb (77 kg; 12 st)
DivisionWelterweight
Reach75 in (190 cm)
StyleTaekwondo, Submission Wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Fighting out ofLaguna Hills, California, United States
TeamLightning MMA
Rank  black belt in Taekwondo
  brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Years active2003-present
Mixed martial arts record
Total11
Wins7
By knockout2
By submission4
By decision1
Losses4
By knockout1
By submission1
By decision2
Draws0
No contests0
Other information
Websitehttp://www.jameslightningwilks.com/
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Last updated on: October 17, 2010

James Brett Wilks (born April 5, 1978) is an English professional mixed martial artist. He was the winner of Spike TV's The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom. Wilks currently fights for Ultimate Fighting Championship in the 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 career

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 Championship

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 via 3rd round TKO, on November 14, 2009 at UFC 105. After being knocked down in the second and being saved by the bell from a submission attempt, Wilks came back early in the third round, attempting a kimura, before losing top position. Brown then, from top position, secured the TKO victory. Prior to UFC 115, Wilks revealed that Brown had broken his orbital bone with an elbow strike after just 30 seconds of the first round.[5]

Wilks then faced Peter Sobotta at UFC 115.[6] After three rounds, the fight went to the judges scorecards, which Wilks took 30-27, 30-28, 30-27.[7]

Wilks next fought Canadian prospect Claude Patrick at UFC 120 in London.[8] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Wilks was expected to face Rory MacDonald on April 30, 2011 at UFC 129.[9] However, Wilks was replaced on the card by Nate Diaz.[10]

Wilks was expected to replace an Duane Ludwig to face Amir Sadollah at UFC Fight Night 24.[11] However, Wilks was also injured and replaced by DaMarques Johnson.[12]

Personal life

Wilks has a wife named Alicia and a son named Joseph.[13]

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
11 matches 7 wins 4 losses
By knockout 2 1
By submission 4 1
By decision 1 2
Result Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 7-4 Canada Claude Patrick Decision (Unanimous) UFC 120: Bisping vs. Akiyama October 16, 2010 3 5:00 England London, England
Win 7-3 Germany Peter Sobotta Decision (Unanimous) UFC 115: Liddell vs. Franklin June 12, 2010 3 5:00 Canada Vancouver, British Columbia
Loss 6-3 United States Matt Brown TKO (Punches) UFC 105: Couture vs. Vera November 14, 2009 3 2:26 England Manchester, England
Win 6-2 United States DaMarques Johnson Submission (Rear Naked Choke) UFC: The Ultimate Finale 9 June 20, 2009 1 4:54 United States Las Vegas, Nevada, USA Won TUF 9: Welterweight
Win 5-2 United States Mike Robles Submission (Armbar) GC 85: Cross Fire October 25, 2008 2 4:27 United States San Diego, California, USA
Win 4-2 United States John Cole TKO (Knees) Apocalypse Fights 1: The First Sign August 7, 2008 1 0:26 United States Coachella, California, USA
Win 3-2 United States Shawn Nagano Submission (Rear Naked Choke) UAGF 4: Kaos on the Kampus May 20, 2006 2 4:22 United States Los Angeles, California, USA
Loss 2-2 United States Patrick Speight Decision (Unanimous) Total Combat 13: Anarchy March 11, 2006 3 3:00 United States Del Mar, California, USA
Win 2-1 United States Ray Lizama TKO (Cut) KOTC 41: Relentless September 24, 2004 1 1:14 United States San Jacinto, California, USA
Loss 1-1 United States Jimmy Smith Submission (Kneebar) KOTC 37: Hitmaster August 6, 2004 1 1:40 United States San Jacinto, California, USA
Win 1-0 Armenia Roman Mitichyan Submission (Armbar) UAGF Ultimate Cage Fighting 4 October 12, 2003 2 United States Upland, California, USA

Mixed martial arts exhibition record

Professional record breakdown
3 matches 3 wins 0 losses
By knockout 1 0
By submission 2 0
By decision 0 0
Result Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 3-0 United States Frank Lester TKO (Knees) The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom 3 United States Las Vegas, Nevada Semi-finals
Win 2-0 United States Frank Lester Submission (Armbar) The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom 2 3:06 United States Las Vegas, Nevada Quarter-finals
Win 1-0 England Che Mills Submission (Heel Hook) The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom 1 0:30 England Cheshire, England Elimination bout

Titles and accomplishments

  • Mixed Martial Arts
    • Winner of The Ultimate Fighter 9 (Welterweight)

References

  1. ^ a b http://www.ufc.com/JamesWilks
  2. ^ "James "Lightning" Wilks". Myspace.com. Retrieved June 20, 2009.
  3. ^ http://www.jameslightningwilks.com/biograph/
  4. ^ "The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale live round by round updates and official results". MMAJunkie.com. June 20, 2009.
  5. ^ "Previously spurned by lady luck, James Wilks ready for UFC". mmajunkie.com. June 11, 2010.
  6. ^ "UFC 115 full card set. Main card includes Cro Cop vs. Barry; Condit vs. MacDonald". mmajunkie.com. April 12, 2010.
  7. ^ "UFC 115 Prelim card recap: Dunham remains unbeaten; Wiman wins controversially". mmajunkie.com. June 13, 2010.
  8. ^ http://mmajunkie.com/news/19926/tuf-9-champ-james-wilks-meets-claude-patrick-at-ufc-120.mma
  9. ^ "UFC 129: Brookins-Makdessi, MacDonald-Wilks Set for April 30 in Toronto". mmafrenzy.com. January 4, 2011.
  10. ^ "Nate Diaz meets Rory MacDonald at UFC 129". mmajunkie.com. January 14, 2011.
  11. ^ http://mmajunkie.com/news/22722/injured-ludwig-out-at-ufc-fight-night-24-wilks-now-faces-sadollah.mma
  12. ^ "UFC Fight Night 24: Amir Sadollah vs DaMarques Johnson booked with James Wilks out". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2011-03-13.
  13. ^ "Interview With James Brett Wilks (The Ultimate Fighter : Season 9 Winner)". NEELAMATIQUE.wordpress.com. 2010-07-28. Retrieved 2010-10-04.
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