James Te Huna

James Te Huna
Born 29 September 1981
Darfield, New Zealand
Residence Penrith, Australia
Nationality New Zealander[1]
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2]
Weight 186 lb (84 kg; 13.3 st)
Division Light Heavyweight (2003-2014)
Middleweight (2014-present)
Reach 75.0 in (191 cm)
Fighting out of Sydney, Australia
Team Athletic Allstars
Bulldog Muaythai Kickboxing Gym
Oliver MMA
HeartBreak Conditioning
Years active 2003-present
Mixed martial arts record
Total 24
Wins 16
By knockout 10
By submission 3
By decision 3
Losses 8
By knockout 1
By submission 6
By decision 0
By disqualification 1
Draws 0
Other information
Notable relatives Tama Te Huna, brother
Website www.jamestehuna.com
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

James Te Huna (born 29 September 1981) is a New Zealand mixed martial artist competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career and background

James Te Huna was born in Darfield, Canterbury, New Zealand, and is of Maori descent.

Te Huna racked up victories on the local circuit, in Australia, as well as suffering a submission loss (via shoulder dislocation) to Bellator season one middleweight champion Hector Lombard.

Te Huna defeated veteran journeymann Antony Rea whilst competing for the Cage Fighting Championship promotion. He became the Cage Fighting Championship Light Heavyweight World Champion at CFC 10 by defeating fellow current UFC fighter Anthony Perosh by first round KO. Te Huna was later sanctioned by the promotion for illegally stomping on Perosh after the referee had stopped the bout. Cage Fighting Championship promoter Luke Pezzutti issued the following statement concerning Te Huna's behaviour, "To Anthony Perosh and the supporters/ Fans of Cage Fighting Championship, we apologize and do not condone nor tolerate the un-sportsman like actions of James Te-Huna at the CFC 10 August 21 event where the referee Ivan Walton stepped in to stop the fight between James and Anthony, and as a result of his actions that evening he has been fined 20% of his fight purse and has offered to write a letter of apology to Anthony Perosh, CFC officials and the supporters of CFC. CFC officials will amend rules, regulations to further prevent this type of behavior from our athletes." A formal letter of apology was duly issued on Te Huna's behalf.

Having been born in New Zealand but training out of Australia, when Te Huna was asked whether he considered himself Australian or New Zealand he responded "In World War II my grandfather fought for New Zealand and Australia, and so do I."

Te Huna escaped serious injuries after a twenty foot shop glass panel fell on top of him while walking to training alongside a Sydney mall.[3]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Te Huna then signed a contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship and made his debut at UFC 110 against Igor Pokrajac.[4] Te Huna was victorious via a controversial TKO stoppage. The referee stopped the bout when he hit Pokrajac with nine consecutive punches, which he did with his broken arm.

His next fight was scheduled to be at UFC 120 against UFC newcomer Tom Blackledge,[5] but Te Huna withdrew from the fight due to injury and was replaced by James McSweeney.[6]

Te Huna made his return on 27 February 2011 at UFC 127 against Alexander Gustafsson,[7] where was defeated by first-round submission due to a rear-naked choke. He donated his fight purse to the Christchurch earthquake victims, and the UFC matched his donation.[8]

He faced Ricardo Romero on 24 September 2011 at UFC 135[9] and won by KO due to punches 47 seconds into the first round.

Te Huna next faced Aaron Rosa on 3 March 2012 at UFC on FX 2.[10] He won by TKO in the first round.

He was expected to face UFC veteran Brandon Vera on 11 July 2012 at UFC on Fuel TV 4.[11] However, Vera was tapped to fight Mauricio Rua at UFC on Fox 4[11] and was replaced by returning veteran Joey Beltran.[12] Te Huna knocked Beltran down once and had him rocked throughout the first round. Despite breaking bones in his left hand and left foot[13] and having his endurance tested, Te Huna won the fight via unanimous decision.

Te Huna fought Ryan Jimmo on 16 February 2013 at UFC on Fuel TV: Barao vs. McDonald.[14] He survived an early scare in round one after getting hit with a head kick. Te Huna then rebounded by controlling rounds two and three with his wrestling, winning via unanimous decision.

He next faced Glover Teixeira at UFC 160 on 25 May 2013, coming in as an injury replacement for Ryan Bader.[15] He lost the fight via submission due to a guillotine choke in the first round.[16]

Te Huna faced Maurício Rua on 7 December 2013 at UFC Fight Night 33.[17] He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.

Following those two consecutive losses, Te Huna announced that he would drop down to middleweight for his future fights.[18] He made his middleweight debut and faced Nate Marquardt in his home country of New Zealand on 28 June 2014 at UFC Fight Night: Te Huna vs. Marquardt.[19] He lost the fight via first round armbar.

James Te Huna will likely be out of action for ten months due to injuries from his last bout

Championships and accomplishments

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 16–8 Nate Marquardt Submission (armbar) UFC Fight Night: Te Huna vs. Marquardt 28 June 2014 1 4:34 Auckland, New Zealand Middleweight debut
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 16–7 Maurício Rua KO (punch) UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Bigfoot 7 December 2013 1 1:03 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 16–6 Glover Teixeira Submission (guillotine choke) UFC 160 25 May 2013 1 2:38 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 16–5 Ryan Jimmo Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fuel TV: Barao vs. McDonald 16 February 2013 3 5:00 London, England, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 15–5 Joey Beltran Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fuel TV: Munoz vs. Weidman 11 July 2012 3 5:00 San Jose, California, United States Fight of the Night
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 14–5 Aaron Rosa TKO (punches) UFC on FX: Alves vs. Kampmann 3 March 2012 1 2:08 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 13–5 Ricardo Romero KO (punches) UFC 135 24 September 2011 1 0:47 Denver, Colorado, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 12–5 Alexander Gustafsson Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 127 27 February 2011 1 4:27 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 12–4 Igor Pokrajac TKO (punches) UFC 110 21 February 2010 3 3:26 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 11–4 Anthony Perosh KO (punches) CFC 10: Light Heavyweight Grand Prix Finals 21 August 2009 1 2:21 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Wins CFC Light Heavyweight Grand Prix
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 10–4 Priscus Fogagnolo TKO (punches) CFC 9: Fighters Paradise 11 July 2009 2 2:37 Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia CFC Light Heavyweight Grand Prix Second Round
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 9–4 Antony Rea TKO (punches) CFC 8: Light Heavyweight Grand Prix 22 May 2009 1 1:52 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia CFC Light Heavyweight Grand Prix First Round
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 8–4 David Gibb TKO (punches) XFC: Return of the Hulk 14 March 2009 1 N/A Perth, Western Australia, Australia
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 7–4 Sam Brown Decision (unanimous) EFG: Weapons of Mass Destruction 3 May 2008 3 5:00 Penrith, New South Wales, Australia
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 6–4 Hector Lombard Submission (shoulder injury) Warriors Realm 8 23 March 2007 1 3:50 Geelong, Victoria, Australia
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 6–3 Takahiro Oba TKO (corner stoppage) X-plosion 18 August 2006 2 5:00 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 5–3 James Lee Submission (rear-naked choke) KOTC: Gunfather 10 February 2006 1 1:37 Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia For KOTC Light Heavyweight Championship
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 5–2 Edwin Aguilar TKO (punches) Kumite 2 11 November 2005 2 N/A Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 4–2 Adrian Leatuna TKO (punches) Kumite 1 2 July 2005 3 N/A Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 3–2 Matt Knight DQ (fence grabbing) KOTC: Australia 4 February 2005 1 4:01 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 3–1 Kym Robinson Submission (rear-naked choke) XFC 6: Ultimate Fighting Returns 20 November 2004 1 2:19 Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 2–1 Rocky Huni Submission (rear-naked choke) XFC 5: When Worlds Collide 13 August 2004 1 N/A Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 1–1 Matt Knight Submission (rear-naked choke) Xtreme Fight Club 2 5 June 2004 2 1:20 Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 0–1 Api Hemara Submission (armbar) Spartan Reality Fight 6 5 April 2003 1 2:20 Perth, Western Australia, Australia

[20]

See also

References

  1. ↑ infinitemma.com
  2. ↑ "James Te Huna". UFC.
  3. ↑ "UFC dream built on broken limbs".
  4. ↑ "Pokrajac meets UFC newcomer Te-Huna at UFC 110". Retrieved 11 November 2009.
  5. ↑ UFC 120 – Tom Blackledge vs. James Te Huna in the works for London, England « Wolfslair MMA
  6. ↑ "James McSweeney returns to 205 pounds, meets Tom Blackledge at UFC 120". MMAjunkie.com.
  7. ↑ "Alexander Gustafsson vs. James Te Huna slotted for UFC 127". mmajunkie.com. 1 December 2010.
  8. ↑ "Officials match UFC 127 fighter James Te Huna's fight-purse donation". mmajunkie.com.
  9. ↑ "James Te Huna vs. Ricardo Romero added to UFC 135 in Denver". mmajunkie.com. 18 July 2011.
  10. ↑ "James Te Huna vs Aaron Rosa possible for March 3 in Australia". mmamania.com. 23 December 2011.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Brandon Vera Returns to Action Against James Te Huna at UFC on FUEL 4". cagepotato.com. 13 April 2012.
  12. ↑ "Joey Beltran returns to octagon, faces James Te Huna at UFC on FUEL TV 4". mmajunkie.com. 11 June 2012.
  13. ↑ "The big Te Huna". SportsFan. 16 August 2012.
  14. ↑ "James Te Huna vs. Ryan Jimmo Added to UFC on Fuel 7 in England". mmaweekly.com. 13 December 2012.
  15. ↑ Alexander, Mookie (2013-03-11). "Ryan Bader injured, James Te Huna fights Glover Teixeira at UFC 160". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 2013-03-11.
  16. ↑ "Te Huna taps out against Teixeira". 3 News NZ. 26 May 2013.
  17. ↑ Nick Walshaw (2013-09-12). "UFC star Mauricio Shogun Rua heading to Australia". dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 2013-09-12.
  18. ↑ "James Te Huna's new years resolutions: A move to Middleweight". themmacorner.com. 2014-01-08.
  19. ↑ Neil Rooke (7 April 2014). "UFC New Zealand to Feature James Te Huna vs. Nate Marquardt". themmacorner.com.
  20. ↑ "James Te Huna". Sherdog.com.

External links