Mostapha al-Turk

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Mostapha al-Turk
مصطفى الترك
Born (1973-07-14) July 14, 1973
Beirut, Lebanon[1]
Native name مصطفى الترك
Nationality Lebanese
English
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 235 lb (107 kg; 16 st 11 lb)
Division Heavyweight (265)
Reach 77 1⁄2 in (197 cm)
Style Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Submission Wrestling
Stance Orthodox
Fighting out of London, England
Team London Shootfighters
Years active 2002-2010
Mixed martial arts record
Total 12
Wins 6
By knockout 4
By submission 2
Losses 6
By knockout 3
By submission 1
By decision 2
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Mostapha al-Turk (Arabic: مصطفى الترك, born July 14, 1973) is a retired Lebanese-born English mixed martial artist and submission wrestler. He has trained with London Shootfighters for the past ten years. Turk was the ADCC European Champion in 2005 and was the British Cage Rage Heavyweight Champion before relinquishing his title to sign a four-fight deal with the UFC. He was cut after losing 3 straight fights.

Background

al-Turk came from a middle-class family in Beirut, Lebanon and had become interested in the UFC and mixed martial arts after watching a few events. His father was a doctor and al-Turk himself worked in the pharmaceutical industry, before deciding to make mixed martial arts his career. al-Turk has a very accomplished grappling career as well, with his Brazilian jiu-jitsu background. al-Turk made it to the final of the Abu Dhabi Championships, losing to future UFC fighter Gabriel Gonzaga by only three points, further motivating al-Turk to transition to mixed martial arts. [2]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Before going professional, al-Turk had 2 amateur fights, going 1-1 with both of the fights ending in injuries. He also competed in amateur boxing matches and submission wrestling matches as a way to prepare himself for MMA.

However, al-Turk had a rough start to his professional MMA career, losing his first two fights by TKO and submission, respectively. He attributes his poor beginning to not being mentally ready and not having the support of his family to compete in the sport. [2]

Cage Rage

al-Turk fought in the up-and-coming British organization, Cage Rage, around a year after losing his second professional bout. The young al-Turk would turn his career around, winning three straight fights in the organization, all by TKO due to punches, including a win over former sumo and PRIDE veteran, Sentoryu Henri.

al-Turk then faced former two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion and longtime PRIDE veteran Mark Kerr. al-Turk again won by punches after the former collegiate wrestling star tapped out. al-Turk then fought against former British Cage Rage Heavyweight Champion Tengiz Tedoradze. al-Turk lost the fight by unanimous decision to the Georgian.

al-Turk rebounded with a win over K-1 kickboxer Gary Turner, who submitted due to punches landed by the Lebanese fighter. al-Turk then fought for the British Cage Rage Heavyweight Championship against future Ultimate Fighter contestant, James McSweeney. al-Turk won the fight by TKO due to punches and became the last British Cage Rage Heavyweight Champion, before the organization saw its demise.al-Turk was then offered a four-fight contract in the UFC, which he accepted.

UFC

At UFC 92, on December 27, 2008, Turk lost at his UFC debut to French kickboxer Cheick Kongo by TKO. Kongo dropped Turk with two right hands and then pounced on Turk, using the ground and pound technique that Kongo has become known for, opening up a big cut above al-Turk's eye.[3] Referee Steve Mazzagatti stopped the fight after 4:37 of the first round, in what some viewed as a late stoppage, as al-Turk was bleeding heavily and had not been defending himself for a significant amount of time.

Turk next lost to Mirko Cro Cop at UFC 99 by TKO after Turk received repeated strikes from Filipovic. There was some controversy surrounding the end of this fight as Filipovic had poked Turk in the eye right before Turk succumbed to the strikes. Neither the referee Dan Mirgliotta or Filipovic reportedly noticed the eye poke. Turk stated that he would petition the loss.[4]

Turk was expected to face UFC newcomer Rolles Gracie on February 6, 2010 at UFC 109, but pulled out due to visa issues.[5][6]

Turk instead faced The Ultimate Fighter 10 alumni, Jon Madsen, at UFC 112. Turk lost the bout via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28). This loss brought his MMA record to 6-6, with 3 losses in a row Turk was cut by the UFC.[7]

Championships and accomplishments

  • Cage Rage
    • Cage Rage British Heavyweight Championship (1 Time, Last)

Mixed martial arts record

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 6–6 United States Jon Madsen Decision (unanimous) UFC 112 April 10, 2010 3 5:00 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 6–5 Croatia Mirko Filipović TKO (punches) UFC 99 June 13, 2009 1 3:06 Cologne, Germany
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 6–4 France Cheick Kongo TKO (punches) UFC 92 December 27, 2008 1 4:37 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 6–3 England James McSweeney TKO (punches) Cage Rage 27 July 12, 2008 1 2:06 London, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 5–3 England Gary Turner Submission (punches) Cage Rage 25 March 8, 2008 1 3:19 London, England
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 4–3 Georgia (country) Tengiz Tedoradze Decision (unanimous) Cage Rage 23 September 22, 2007 3 5:00 London, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 4–2 United States Mark Kerr Submission (punches) Cage Rage 20 February 10, 2007 1 2:29 London, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 3–2 United States Sentoryū Henri TKO (punches) Cage Rage 18 September 30, 2006 1 0:56 London, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 2–2 England Martin Thompson TKO (punches) Cage Rage 16 April 22, 2006 1 3:02 London, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 1–2 Iran Fereidoun Naghizadeh TKO (punches) Cage Rage 9 - No Mercy November 27, 2004 1 2:25 London, England
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 0–2 France Kassim Annan Submission (armbar) XFC 2 - The Perfect Storm November 9, 2003 1 N/A Cornwall, England
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 0–1 England Mike Ward TKO (punches) XFC 1 - Xtreme Fighting Championship 1 March 3, 2002 1 1:00 Cornwall, England

References

  1. ↑ Mostapha al-Turk Exclusive: "I've got the tools to beat Mirko Cro Cop"
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.ufc.com/fighter/Mostapha-Al-Turk
  3. ↑ http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/ufc-92-play-by-play-15600
  4. ↑ http://www.sherdog.com/news/blog/al-turk-wants-to-appeal-cro-cop-loss-17985
  5. ↑ "Jon Madsen steps up to face Rolles Gracie at UFC 109". Retrieved 2010-03-28. 
  6. ↑ "Rolles Gracie headed to UFC, meets Mostapha al-Turk at UFC 109". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2009-10-21. 
  7. ↑ http://www.mmabay.co.uk/2010/04/16/mostapha-al-turk-becomes-the-latest-fighter-to-be-cut-from-the-ufc-roster/

External links

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