| Jamie Varner | |
|---|---|
| Born | James Christopher Varner October 12, 1984 Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. |
| Other names | Showtime, The Worm, C-4 |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Weight | 155 lb (70 kg; 11.1 st) |
| Division | 155 170 |
| Reach | 72.0 in (183 cm) |
| Style | Wrestling, Boxing |
| Fighting out of | Whippany, New Jersey |
| Team | AMA Fight Club |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 27 |
| Wins | 18 |
| By knockout | 6 |
| By submission | 10 |
| By decision | 2 |
| Losses | 6 |
| By submission | 3 |
| By decision | 3 |
| Draws | 1 |
| No contests | 2 |
| Other information | |
| University | Lock Haven University |
| Notable school(s) | Deer Valley High School |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
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James Christopher Varner (born October 12, 1984) is a mixed martial artist who fought for World Extreme Cagefighting. He is a former WEC Lightweight champion.
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Varner competed twice in the UFC. His first appearance was against lightweight veteran Hermes Franca, which Varner lost via submission (armbar). His final appearance was against Jason Gilliam, which he won via submission (rear naked choke). After this win, Varner transferred to the WEC.
Varner successfully defended his WEC Lightweight Championship belt against the previously undefeated Marcus Hicks on August 3, 2008.[1]
He retained his title on January 25, 2009 against Donald Cerrone at WEC 38.[2] The fight was highly competitive and won the Fight of the Night award. However, the fight was stopped prematurely in the fifth round when Cerrone hit Varner's temple with an illegal knee while Varner was still on the ground. Varner was given time to recover, but he was unable to continue, noting that he had double vision and had sustained a broken hand.
The controversial nature of the stoppage and many fans' disapproval of the result tarnished Varner's reputation as a tough fighter. The months following led to potential rematch opportunities which never occurred, amidst speculation that Varner was avoiding the fight and exaggerating an array of injuries that preceded the Cerrone match. This, as well as Varner's subsequent inability to perform since the Cerrone fight (despite Cerrone's ability to do the contrary), led the WEC to set up an interim title bout between Cerrone and Henderson. Henderson defeated Cerrone via unanimous decision to win the WEC Interim Lightweight Championship.
Jamie Varner was defeated by fighter Ben Henderson with a guillotine choke on January 10, 2010 at WEC 46 to unify the WEC Lightweight Championship.[3]
Varner was expected to face Kamal Shalorus on April 24, 2010 at WEC 48,[4] but the bout was called off due to an injury sustained by Shalorus. Varner/Shalorus was then rescheduled for June 20, 2010 at WEC 49.[5] The match ended in a decision for a draw, which many believe was the worst judges decision in MMA history and feel Varner clearly won the fight, even without the point deduction. Varner faced Donald Cerrone in their highly anticipated rematch on September 30, 2010 at WEC 51.[6] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Varner faced Shane Roller on December 16, 2010 at WEC 53.[7] He lost via submission in the first round and was subsequently released from the promotion.[8]
In his first post-Zuffa fight, Varner fought Tyler Combs for XFO and won via submission in the first round. He was also in negotiations for a possible fight against Dream lightweight champion Shinya Aoki at the end of May 2011,[9] but the bout did not materialize.
Varner headlined Titan Fighting Championships 20 against late replacement Dakota Cochrane on September 23, losing by decision, and also headlined XFC 14 against Nate Jolly on October 21, winning by a first round knockout.[10]
Varner has signed a three fight contract with XFC. He is scheduled to compete on the XFC 16 High Stakes card which takes place on February 10, 2012 from the Knoxville Civic Auditorium-Coliseum in Knoxville, Tennessee.[11]
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 27 matches | 18 wins | 6 losses |
| By knockout | 6 | 0 |
| By submission | 10 | 3 |
| By decision | 2 | 3 |
| Draws | 1 | |
| No contests | 2 | |
| Result | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 18-6-1 (2) | Nate Jolly | KO (punches) | XFC 14 Resurrection | October 21, 2011 | 1 | 1:09 | Orlando, Florida, U.S. | 160 lb catchweight |
| Loss | 17-6-1 (2) | Dakota Cochrane | Decision (unanimous) | Titan Fighting Championships 20 | September 23, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Kansas City, Kansas, U.S. | Return to Lightweight. |
| Win | 17-5-1 (2) | Tyler Combs | Technical Submission (north-south choke) | Xtreme Fighting Organization 39 | May 13, 2011 | 1 | 1:30 | Hoffman Estates, Illinois, U.S. | Welterweight bout |
| Loss | 16-5-1 (2) | Shane Roller | Submission (rear-naked choke) | WEC 53 | December 16, 2010 | 1 | 3:55 | Glendale, Arizona, U.S. | |
| Loss | 16-4-1 (2) | Donald Cerrone | Decision (unanimous) | WEC 51 | September 30, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Broomfield, Colorado, U.S. | Fight of the Night |
| Draw | 16-3-1 (2) | Kamal Shalorus | Draw | WEC 49 | June 20, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | Shalorus had one point deducted in round 2 for illegal kicks to the groin. |
| Loss | 16-3 (2) | Ben Henderson | Submission (guillotine choke) | WEC 46 | January 10, 2010 | 3 | 2:41 | Sacramento, California, U.S. | Lost WEC Lightweight Title |
| Win | 16-2 (2) | Donald Cerrone | Technical Decision (split) | WEC 38 | January 25, 2009 | 5 | 3:10 | San Diego, California, U.S. | Defended WEC Lightweight title. Illegal knee by Cerrone stopped the fight & went to the judges; Fight of the night. |
| Win | 15-2 (2) | Marcus Hicks | TKO (punches) | WEC 35 | August 3, 2008 | 1 | 2:08 | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | Defended WEC Lightweight title |
| Win | 14-2 (2) | Rob McCullough | TKO (punches) | WEC 32 | February 13, 2008 | 3 | 2:54 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S. | Won WEC Lightweight title |
| Win | 13-2 (2) | Sherron Leggett | TKO (punches and elbows) | WEC 29 | August 5, 2007 | 1 | 4:08 | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| Win | 12-2 (2) | Jason Gilliam | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC 68 | March 3, 2007 | 1 | 1:34 | Columbus, Ohio, U.S. | |
| Loss | 11-2 (2) | Hermes França | Submission (armbar) | UFC 62 | August 26, 2006 | 3 | 3:31 | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| Win | 11-1 (2) | Leonard Wilson | Submission (rear-naked choke) | RITC 78: Back with a Vengeance | January 14, 2006 | 2 | 1:07 | Glendale, Arizona, U.S. | |
| NC | 10-1 (2) | Tony Llamas | No Contest | KOTC: Arizona | July 9, 2005 | N/A | N/A | Globe, Arizona, U.S. | |
| Win | 10-1 (1) | Paul Arroyo | Submission (strikes) | Rage in the Cage 71 | June 30, 2005 | 1 | 2:03 | Tempe, Arizona, U.S. | |
| Win | 9-1 (1) | Adam Roland | TKO (punches) | Rage in the Cage 70 | June 11, 2005 | 1 | 2:46 | Glendale, Arizona, U.S. | |
| Win | 8-1 (1) | Jesse Bongfeldt | TKO (punches) | WFF 7: Professional Shooto | July 23, 2004 | 1 | 4:12 | Vancouver, Canada | |
| Win | 7-1 (1) | Kyle Bradley | Submission (rear naked choke) | Fight Factory | June 26, 2004 | 2 | 2:34 | N/A | |
| Win | 6-1 (1) | Kyle Sprouse | Submission (choke) | RITC 63: It's Time | June 12, 2004 | 1 | 1:47 | Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. | |
| Win | 5-1 (1) | Garett Davis | Submission (triangle choke) | World Freestyle Fighting 6 | May 14, 2004 | 1 | 3:52 | Vancouver, Canada | |
| NC | 4-1 (1) | James Upshur | No Contest | RITC 61: Relentless | April 30, 2004 | 2 | N/A | Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. | |
| Win | 4-1 | Jarvis Brennaman | Submission (triangle choke) | ECS: Evolution | July 19, 2003 | 1 | 1:22 | Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. | |
| Win | 3-1 | Dave Klein | Submission (choke) | RITC 50: The Prelude | July 12, 2003 | 3 | 1:56 | Tucson, Arizona, U.S. | |
| Win | 2-1 | Justin Nauling | Submission (armbar) | RITC 49: Stare Down | June 7, 2003 | 2 | 0:38 | Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. | |
| Loss | 1-1 | Jesse Moreng | Decision (unanimous) | RITC 47: Unstoppable | June 7, 2003 | 3 | 3:00 | Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. | |
| Win | 1-0 | Carlos Ortega | Decision (unanimous) | RITC 46: Launching Pad | March 27, 2003 | 3 | 3:00 | Tempe, Arizona, U.S. |
He is an alumnus of Deer Valley High School in Glendale, Arizona, where he also was a part of the Deer Valley Skyhawk Wrestling Team. He attended Lock Haven University where he joined the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity (he is not listed in the PI registry, if he joined it was after college) and spent his time at that school training both as a wrestler and a boxer, where he was NCBA (National Collegiate Boxing Association) Champion for the nationally recognized Lock Haven University boxing team. Also attended PCC(Pima Community College) outside of Maricopa county in Arizona.
Varner was instrumental in the legalization and forthcoming athletic sanctioning of mixed martial arts in the state of Arizona after giving testimony to the sport's legitimacy and ongoing development as an athletic profession.[12]
| Preceded by Rob McCullough |
5th WEC Lightweight Champion February 13, 2008 - January 10, 2010 |
Succeeded by Ben Henderson |