James Wilks
| James Wilks | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
James Brett Wilks 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) |
| Division | Welterweight |
| Reach | 75 in (190 cm) |
| Fighting out of | Laguna Hills, California, United States |
| Team | Lightning MMA |
| Rank |
black belt in Taekwondo brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
| Years active | 2003-2012 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 11 |
| Wins | 7 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| By submission | 4 |
| By decision | 1 |
| Losses | 4 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| By submission | 1 |
| By decision | 2 |
| Draws | 0 |
| No contests | 0 |
| Other information | |
| Website | http://www.jameslightningwilks.com/ |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
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James Brett Wilks (born April 5, 1978) is a retired English professional mixed martial artist. He was the winner of Spike TV's The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom.
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 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 Duane Ludwig, and face Amir Sadollah at UFC Fight Night 24.[11] However, Wilks was also injured and replaced by DaMarques Johnson.[12]
Retirement
After suffering extensive injuries which included a fractured vertebra and after doctors told him he faced "significantly high risk of paralysis" if he continued to fight, Wilks announced his retirement from active MMA competition on May 14, 2012.[13]
Personal life
Wilks has a wife named Alicia and a son named Joseph.[14] Wilks is also known for his dedication to veganism [15]
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 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 7–4 |  Claude Patrick |
Decision (unanimous) | UFC 120 | October 16, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | London, England | |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 7–3 |  Peter Sobotta |
Decision (unanimous) | UFC 115 | June 12, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | |
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 6–3 |  Matt Brown |
TKO (punches) | UFC 105 | November 14, 2009 | 3 | 2:26 | Manchester, England | |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 6–2 | DaMarques Johnson |
Submission (rear naked choke) | TUF 9 Finale | June 20, 2009 | 1 | 4:54 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Won TUF 9: Welterweight |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 5–2 | Mike Robles |
Submission (armbar) | GC 85: Cross Fire | October 25, 2008 | 2 | 4:27 | San Diego, California, United States | |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 4–2 | John Cole |
TKO (knees) | Apocalypse Fights 1: The First Sign | August 7, 2008 | 1 | 0:26 | Coachella, California, United States | |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 3–2 | Shawn Nagano |
Submission (rear naked choke) | UAGF 4: Kaos on the Kampus | May 20, 2006 | 2 | 4:22 | Los Angeles, California, United States | |
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 2–2 | Patrick Speight |
Decision (unanimous) | Total Combat 13: Anarchy | March 11, 2006 | 3 | 3:00 | Del Mar, California, United States | |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 2–1 | Ray Lizama |
TKO (cut) | KOTC 41: Relentless | September 24, 2004 | 1 | 1:14 | San Jacinto, California, United States | |
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 1–1 | Jimmy Smith |
Submission (kneebar) | KOTC 37: Hitmaster | August 6, 2004 | 1 | 1:40 | San Jacinto, California, United States | |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 1–0 |  Roman Mitichyan |
Submission (armbar) | UAGF Ultimate Cage Fighting 4 | October 12, 2003 | 2 | Upland, California, United States |
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 | Frank Lester |
TKO (knees) | The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom | 3 | Las Vegas, Nevada |
Semi-finals | ||
| Win | 2–0 | Frank Lester |
Submission (armbar) | The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom | 2 | 3:06 | Las Vegas, Nevada |
Quarter-finals | |
| Win | 1–0 |  Che Mills |
Submission (heel hook) | The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom | 1 | 0:30 | Cheshire, England |
Elimination bout | |
Titles and accomplishments
- Mixed Martial Arts
- Winner of The Ultimate Fighter 9 (Welterweight)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.ufc.com/JamesWilks
- ↑ "James "The Gym Hero" 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.
- ↑ "Previously spurned by lady luck, James Wilks ready for UFC". mmajunkie.com. June 11, 2010.
- ↑ "UFC 115 full card set. Main card includes Cro Cop vs. Barry; Condit vs. MacDonald". mmajunkie.com. April 12, 2010.
- ↑ "UFC 115 Prelim card recap: Dunham remains unbeaten; Wiman wins controversially". mmajunkie.com. June 13, 2010.
- ↑ ""TUF 9" champ James Wilks meets Claude Patrick at UFC 120". mmajunkie.com.
- ↑ "UFC 129: Brookins-Makdessi, MacDonald-Wilks Set for April 30 in Toronto". mmafrenzy.com. January 4, 2011.
- ↑ "Nate Diaz meets Rory MacDonald at UFC 129". mmajunkie.com. January 14, 2011.
- ↑ "Injured Ludwig out at UFC Fight Night 24, Wilks now faces Sadollah". MMAjunkie.
- ↑ "UFC Fight Night 24: Amir Sadollah vs DaMarques Johnson booked with James Wilks out". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2011-03-13.
- ↑ "UFC vet James Wilks retires after docs warn of 'significantly high risk of paralysis'". mmajunkie.com. May 14, 2012.
- ↑ "Interview With James Brett Wilks (The Ultimate Fighter : Season 9 Winner)". NEELAMATIQUE.wordpress.com. 2010-07-28. Retrieved 2010-10-04.
- ↑ "MMA Ultimate Fighter - James "Lighting" Wilks - Is Vegan". 2012-12-03. Retrieved 2012-12-04.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to James Wilks. |
External links
- Official Fight Team
- Professional MMA record for James Wilks from Sherdog
- Official website
- UFC Profile
- Personal Myspace Page
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