Mike Wessel

Mike Wessel
Born Michael Wade Wessel
December 2, 1977
Celina, Ohio, United States
Other names The Juggernaut, White Tyson
Nationality American
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight 263 lb (119 kg; 18.8 st)
Division Heavyweight
Reach 72.5 in (184 cm)
Fighting out of Little Rock, Arkansas
Team Westside Fight Team
Mixed martial arts record
Total 22
Wins 14
By knockout 8
By submission 1
By decision 5
Losses 8
By knockout 7
By submission 1
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Michael Wade Wessel (born December 2, 1977) is an American heavyweight mixed martial arts fighter. Wessel had a brief stint in with the Ultimate Fighting Championships and appeared on The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights.

Biography

He was born and raised in Celina, Ohio and attended Celina High School. While there, he was a football player, playing the defensive tackle position. After graduating high school he enrolled in the University of St. Francis in Indiana, where he played nose tackle while obtaining a dual degree in special education and chemistry. He later got a job playing football for a team in the Arena Football League. Wessel was a former strength & conditioning coach for the University of Arkansas football program & Coldwater High School before jumping into the world of MMA.

Mixed martial arts

Ultimate Fighting Championship

He made his UFC debut against Antoni Hardonk at UFC 92. He accepted the fight on a week notice after Hardonk's original opponent dropped out due to injury.[1] UFC's Dana White offered the fight to Wessel and he quickly accepted, signing a four-fight deal. Wessel lost in the second round via TKO stoppage after tiring from only having a few days to train.[2]

The Ultimate Fighter

After losing to Hardonk in his UFC debut, Wessel took a spot on the Spike TV reality show, The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights. He was the last pick for Team Rashad Evans.[3] Wessel had his first fight on the show against Marcus Jones, losing via first round submission armbar.[4]

Wessel was not given a chance to fight on the finale card. After losing to Jones, Wessel was released from his contract.

Post-UFC

Wessel's first fight after his stint on The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights, was against another Ultimate Fighter alumni, Dan Christison. Wessel lost the fight via submission kimura.[5]

Wessel also faced Bellator's veteran Scott Barrett and Strikeforce's veteran Matt Kovacs, losing against Barrett and winning against Kovacs.[6][7]

In the second half of 2012, Wessel signed with Bellator.[8]

Bellator MMA

Wessel made his debut on August 24, 2012 at Bellator 73 against fellow newcomer Ryan Martinez. He won via split decision (29-28 Wessel, 30-27 Martinez, 29-28 Wessel).[9]

Wessel next entered the Bellator season seven heavyweight tournament, facing Rich Hale on October 5, 2012 at Bellator 75 for a spot in the semifinals. Hale defeated Wessel via TKO in the first round.[10]

Wessel faced Alexei Kudin on December 7, 2012 at Bellator 83. He won via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).[11]

Wessel then faced Justin Frazier at Bellator 120 on May 17, 2014. He defeated Frazier via first round TKO.[12]

Wessel faced Josh Diekmann at Bellator 123 on September 5, 2014.[13] He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.

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 14–8 Josh Diekmann KO (punches) Bellator 123 September 5, 2014 1 0:47 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 14–7 Justin Frazier TKO (punches) Bellator 120 May 17, 2014 1 4:28 Southaven, Mississippi, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 13–7 Michal Kita TKO (punches) Pro MMA Challenge 1 - Drwal vs. Heleno March 1, 2014 1 2:11 Wroclaw, Poland
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 13–6 Robert Neal TKO (punches) PFMMAC - PrizeFight MMA Championships July 13, 2013 1 0:13 Tunica, Mississippi, United States For the PrizeFight Heavyweight Championship
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 13–5 Alexei Kudin Decision (unanimous) Bellator 83 December 7, 2012 3 5:00 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 12–5 Rich Hale TKO (punches) Bellator 75 October 5, 2012 1 1:19 Hammond, Indiana, United States Bellator season 7 heavyweight tournament quarterfinals
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 12–4 Ryan Martinez Decision (split) Bellator 73 August 24, 2012 3 5:00 Tunica Resorts, Mississippi, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 11–4 Matt Kovacs TKO (punches) SF - ShoFight 20 June 16, 2012 2 4:50 Springfield, Missouri, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 10–4 Scott Barrett TKO (punches) SportFight X: Middle Tennessee Mayhem January 29, 2011 1 3:53 Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 10–3 Chris Hawk TKO (punches) AXC 10 - War of the Machines October 9, 2010 1 2:19 Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 9–3 Jack Armstrong TKO (punches) AXC 8 - Friday Fury June 18, 2010 1 2:39 Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 8–3 Dan Christison Submission (kimura) CFC 4: Wessel vs. Christison February 26, 2010 3 3:56 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 8–2 Antoni Hardonk TKO (punches) UFC 92 December 27, 2008 2 2:09 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States UFC debut
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 8–1 Aaron Winterlee Submission Subzero Fighting August 2, 2008 1 1:59 Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 7–1 Rudy Lindsey Decision (unanimous) Extreme Fighting League May 17, 2008 2 5:00 Oklahoma, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 6–1 Patrick Castillo Decision (split) AOW - GIs vs. Pros April 19, 2008 3 5:00 Tunica, Mississippi, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 5–1 Mark Bier TKO (punches) Ring Rulers March 8, 2008 1 0:45 Shreveport, Louisiana, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 4–1 Matt Thomas TKO (punches) Subzero Fighting January 12, 2008 1 N/A Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 3–1 Matt Thomas KO (punches) AOW - Art of War 4 October 27, 2007 1 2:42 Tunica, Mississippi, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 2–1 Aaron Wintterle KO (punch) Xtreme Fighting League August 11, 2007 2 0:28 Alabama, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 2–0 Rudy Lindsey Decision (unanimous) Xtreme Fighting League August 11, 2007 3 2:00 Alabama, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 1–0 Jason Lee TKO (punches) Xtreme Fighting League August 11, 2007 3 1:18 Alabama, United States

Mixed martial arts exhibition 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 0–1 Marcus Jones Submission (armbar) The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights 1 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Preliminary bout

References

  1. ↑ Mike Wessel replaces Mark Burch on UFC 92 preliminary card MMAJunkie.com (December 18, 2008)
  2. ↑ UFC 92 results & recap by Robert Sargent (MMARising.com) on December 28, 2008
  3. ↑ Episode No. 1 recap: "The Ultimate Fighter 10: Heavyweights" by John Morgan (MMAJunkie.com) on September 16, 2009
  4. ↑ Episode No. 8 recap: "The Ultimate Fighter 10: Heavyweights" MMAJunkie.com (November 4, 2009)
  5. ↑ CFC 4 play by play – Christison submits Wessel by Keith Grienke (Topmmanews.com) on February 26, 2010
  6. ↑ “SportFight X: Middle Tennessee Mayhem” results and photo gallery Prommanow.com (January 30, 2011)
  7. ↑ ShoFight 20 live results and play-by-play by Tim Burke (Bloodyelbow.com) on June 16, 2012
  8. ↑ Bellator 73 lineup finalized with title fight, two tournament finals MMAJunkie.com (August 3, 2012)
  9. ↑ Bellator 73 results: Vegh stops Wiuff; Galvao takes Season 6 bantamweight crown by Steven Marrocco (MMAJunkie.com) on August 24, 2012
  10. ↑ Bellator 75 results: Santos, Volkov, Hale, Queiroz advance in heavyweight tourney by Steven Marrocco (MMAJunkie.com) on October 5, 2012
  11. ↑ Bellator 83 results: Martinez vs. Shamhalaev by Bryan Tucker (MMAFighting.com) on December 7, 2012
  12. ↑ "Bellator 120 Results: Rampage vs. King Mo". mmafighting.com. May 17, 2014.
  13. ↑ "BELLATOR MMA - BELLATOR 123". sherdog.com.

External links