Guy Mezger
| Guy Mezger | |
|---|---|
| Born |
January 1, 1968 Houston, Texas, United States |
| Other names | The Sandman |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) |
| Weight | 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb) |
| Division |
Light Heavyweight (205 lb) Heavyweight |
| Style | Kickboxing, Karate, Boxing, Wrestling, Submission Fighting |
| Fighting out of | Dallas, Texas |
| Team | Lion's Den Dallas |
| Rank | 6th dan black belt in Karate |
| Years active | 1994–2003 (MMA) |
| Kickboxing record | |
| Total | 25 |
| Wins | 22 |
| By knockout | 19 |
| Losses | 3 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 46 |
| Wins | 30 |
| By knockout | 11 |
| By submission | 6 |
| By decision | 13 |
| Losses | 14 |
| By knockout | 6 |
| By submission | 3 |
| By decision | 5 |
| Draws | 2 |
| Full contact karate record | |
| Total | 43 |
| Wins | 42 |
| By knockout | 40 |
| Losses | 1 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Guy Mezger (born January 1, 1968) is a retired American martial artist who competed in professional combat sports ranging from full contact karate, kickboxing, and boxing, but is most recognized as a mixed martial arts fighter (retired from competition January 25, 2005). He is associated with Lion's Den Dallas. Mezger was a champion in mixed martial arts in two different promotions, the UFC and Pancrase. He holds wins over Tito Ortiz, Masakatsu Funaki, Yuki Kondo, Semmy Schilt, and Minoru Suzuki.
Mezger has trained with many great martial arts competitors and trainer/instructors; his main trainers have been Vince Tamura (Judo), Willie Thompson (Wrestling), Billy "Jack" Jackson (Kickboxing), and Ken Shamrock (Submission Fighting/Pancrase/Mixed Martial Arts). Mezger has co-written one book, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Kickboxing, and had an uncredited speaking role in the first-season episode of Walker, Texas Ranger Night of the Gladiator.
Early life
Born in Houston, Texas and raised in Dallas, Texas, Mezger wrestled in high school and also practiced karate, in which he holds a 6th degree black belt,[1] growing up. As a professional kickboxer, he won the US heavyweight strap before going on to take the WKC World Heavyweight Championship in June 1995, a title that he would defend once before retiring from the sport to compete in Pancrase.[2]
Mixed martial arts career
Ultimate Fighting Championship and Pancrase
Mezger started his mixed martial arts career in the Ultimate Fighting Championship at UFC 4 in an alternate match against Jason Fairn. Before the fight, Mezger had asked Fairn to make a 'gentlemen's agreement' not to pull hair due to the fact both men had long hair. Mezger won the bout by TKO after landing a multitude of strikes from full mount. Mezger then fought at UFC 5 in an alternate match against John Dowdy, defeating him by TKO in little over two minutes by mounted strikes.
Mezger began to train with Ken Shamrock and became a member Ken's submission fighting team, the Lion's Den, and joined the Pancrase organization in Japan. Mezger found great success in Pancrase, accumulating a 16–7–2 record and becoming the 7th ever King of Pancrase world champion with a win over Masakatsu Funaki.
Mezger would not return to the UFC until UFC 13 where he competed in the Lightweight Tournament (200 lbs & under). In his first bout, Mezger fought top ranked Judo fighter, Christophe Leininger. Leininger was able to score only one takedown and was quickly reversed, but was otherwise soundly beaten as Mezger battled his way to a decision victory. Mezger broke his hand during this fight but continued in the tournament.
The championship round Mezger faced future UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Tito Ortiz. Ortiz was able to counter Mezger's takedown attempt and landed several knees to Mezger's head. To some it appeared that Mezger had tapped, but referee John McCarthy ruled Mezger was blocking the knees and his hand went down as Ortiz shifted his weight. The bout was then stopped to check Mezger's cut. The announcers, as well as Ortiz, thought that the bout was over, but the fight was instead restarted on the feet. Ortiz shot in for a takedown, but Mezger secured a Guillotine Choke, forcing Ortiz to submit. With this win, Mezger became the UFC 13 lightweight tournament champion.
Mezger then forfeited his King of Pancrase title to fight in the UFC again. Mezger's final bout in the UFC was a rematch with Tito Ortiz at UFC 19: Young Guns. Mezger was sick before the fight but fought anyway, a decision that he regretted after the fight. This resulted in Ortiz handling Mezger and won the bout at the 9:55 mark by referee stoppage. The stoppage was somewhat controversial because both Mezger and his cornerman Ken Shamrock felt that Ortiz's strikes were not doing enough damage to warrant a stoppage. Ortiz then donned a shirt that was insulting to Mezger which provoked an immediate reaction from Ken Shamrock, Mezger's trainer. Mezger would occasionally seek a rematch with Ortiz over the next few years. In 2004 he was finally granted a chance to face Tito Ortiz at UFC 50. Unfortunately, the week of the fight, Mezger was taken to the hospital due to stroke like symptoms, and was taken off the fight card.
PRIDE Fighting championships
The former UFC champion made his Pride FC debut in 1999 at Pride 6 against Akira Shoji, a popular Japanese fighter, losing the fight by split decision.
Pride officials then signed Mezger to fight Kazushi Sakuraba, who at the time was considered to be one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world. The fight took place at the Pride Grand Prix 2000 Opening Round. Mezger took the fight on two weeks notice and had a broken foot going into the fight. The contract that Mezger signed stipulated that the fight would be one 15-minute round with no overtime. The other fights on the card had the same stipulation. The fight mostly consisted of Mezger controlling the fight by stopping Sakuraba's takedown attempts while landing strikes from the outside. The round ended and Mezger expected the fight to go to the judges, but Pride officials wanted the fight to go to overtime. This resulted in one of the largest and most publicized controversies in MMA history.
According to Mezger, Pride did not like the outcome of the fight and changed the agreement/contract on the spot in order to give Sakuraba another chance to win the fight.[3][4] An argument ensued and Mezger was ordered out of the ring and back to the locker room by his corner man, Ken Shamrock, who was livid at the decision to extend the fight because of Mezger's foot injury and the fact that he took the fight on short notice. Later that night, the president of Pride FC made a public apology to Mezger at the Tokyo Dome for the miscommunication. Mezger added, "Royce's father came up to me after my fight and said, "You got screwed. You won that fight." Here's Helio Gracie walking up to me and telling me I got ripped off."[5]
Mezger next competed against Masaaki Satake, winning the fight by Unanimous Decision.
Mezger made his return to the ring at Pride 10 - Return of the Warriors, facing Brazilian superstar and future middleweight kingpin Wanderlei Silva. Mezger gained the upper hand early, cutting Silva with several crisp combinations and outpointing Silva on the feet. However, he was ultimately knocked out at the 3:45 mark. Shortly before the knockout, Silva was catching the worse end of the punching exchanges and proceeded to throw an intentional, illegal headbutt to Mezger that eventually led to landing the knockout combination. Many people felt as though this was a cheap shot that affected the end result. Some people, including Kazushi Sakuraba, felt the bout should have been changed to a no contest.[6] Mezger talked about his feelings on the matter in an interview: "I am not going to cry foul, it is the fight game and things like that happen, get used to it. It is no win situation when it comes to answering that question, if I said it did (affect the result) then I would be making excuses. I would just like a rematch."[7]
Mezger found a measure of redemption when he defeated Alexander Otsuka by TKO at Pride 12 - Cold Fury. Otsuka challenged Mezger to another fight, but was soundly beaten by TKO for a second time. Mezger returned again at Pride 13 - Collision Course to face Egan Inoue. Mezger walked away with a knockout win over Inoue.
Mezger then met UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell at Pride 14 - Clash of the Titans. Liddell was coming off of a stunning KO over former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Kevin Randleman. Mezger gained control of the first round, knocking Liddell to the mat with a strike and landing a left kick to Liddell's face a few minutes before the bell sounded ending the first round. The second round would be short-lived as Liddell came out strong, knocking Mezger out.
Mezger faced two time ADCC champion Ricardo Arona at Pride 16. Mezger entered the ring with an American flag draped across his shoulders out of respect for the World Trade Center attacks in New York. He also wore trunks with an American flag design. Arona and Mezger circled each other for a few moments, before moving in and exchanging strikes. Mezger ended the round one with two takedowns and side mount position but couldn't capitalize on it. The second round was much of the same until Mezger landed a stunning kick to Arona's face. The third round took a different turn with three minutes left in the round, Arona scored his only takedown of the fight. The third round continued like this, with Arona laying on Mezger, using his ground and pound style for the last three minutes of the bout. Although Mezger controlled the first two rounds (1st round being 10 minutes and the second and third rounds were 5 minutes each), the judges awarded a controversial split decision victory to Arona, causing many to feel that Mezger was robbed of the win.[8]
Mezger returned to competition at Pride 22 after a year long lay-off, easily winning a decision over Norihisa Yamamoto. Mezger then battled Antônio Rogério Nogueira at Pride 24. Mezger had several good striking exchanges and showcased his submission and takedown defense, but again lost the fight by a controversial split decision.
Retirement
On January 25, 2005, Guy Mezger retired from professional fighting after experiencing stroke-like symptoms prior to his scheduled bout with Tito Ortiz.[9] Mezger trains students in boxing, kickboxing and the Lion's Den Mixed Martial Arts system at his gym; "Guy Mezger's Combat Sports Club" in Dallas, Texas.
Mezger is a part owner in a Movie/TV production company that is making "Reality TV" shows, action and documentary movies.
Mezger has been named the President of Mark Cuban's new HDNet Fights and is responsible for developing new talent and securing promotion partners for HDnet's Friday Night Fights. Mezger also has a consulting company, CS Consulting, that works with both Federal and State law enforcement agencies on re-vamping their defensive tactics training.
Mezger has commentated for Chuck Norris' full contact, team-based martial arts competition the World Combat League and for Japanese MMA organization DREAM.
In 2011, Guy finished up his studies in holistic medicine (receiving his PhD in Holistic Health) and formed a partnership with a doctor's group called Optimal Health Specialists.
Personal life
Mezger and his wife Michelle have two children, Logan and Rachel. He also has a son named Jake from a previous relationship.[10]
In December 2011, Mezger was involved in an altercation in Dallas, Texas in front of a sports store where a man was physically abusing a woman. Mezger stepped in to assist the woman by fighting the man, who attacked Mezger with a knife. The attacker was on parole and needed medical attention for multiple facial bone and arm bone fractures. Mezger's hand was cut in the fight. It was surgically repaired and he is expected to fully recover.[11][12]
Titles
Mixed martial arts
- Pancrase Hybrid Wrestling
- King of Pancrase Openweight Championship (3 Times)
- 1996 Pancrase Ranking Tournament Champion
Karate
World Full Contact
- 1993 & 1994 World Full-Contact Karate Champion
Kickboxing
World Kickboxing Council
- 1995 WKC World Kickboxing Champion
- Other
- 1996 WFFF World Freestyle Fighting Champion (Junior-Heavyweight)
Records
Mixed Martial Arts: 30–13–3 (12 KO's)
Kickboxing: 22–3 (19 KO's)
Full-Contact Karate record: 42–1 (40 KO's)
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 47 matches | 30 wins | 14 losses |
| By knockout | 11 | 6 |
| By submission | 6 | 3 |
| By decision | 13 | 5 |
| Draws | 2 | |
| No contests | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 30–13–3 | Daniel Bergman | TKO (punches) | EVT 1 – Genesis | December 6, 2003 | 2 | 1:46 | Copenhagen, Denmark | |
| Loss | 29–13–3 | Antônio Rogério Nogueira | Decision (split) | Pride 24 – Cold Fury 3 | December 23, 2002 | 3 | 5:00 | Fukuoka, Japan | |
| Win | 29–12–3 | Yoshihisa Yamamoto | Decision (unanimous) | Pride 22 – Beasts From The East 2 | September 29, 2002 | 3 | 5:00 | Nagoya, Japan | |
| Loss | 28–12–3 | Ricardo Arona | Decision (split) | Pride 16 – Beasts From The East | September 24, 2001 | 3 | 5:00 | Osaka, Japan | |
| Loss | 28–11–3 | Chuck Liddell | KO (punch) | Pride 14 - Clash of the Titans | May 27, 2001 | 2 | 0:21 | Yokohama, Japan | |
| Win | 28–10–3 | Egan Inoue | KO (knee and punch) | Pride 13 - Collision Course | March 25, 2001 | 1 | 2:25 | Saitama, Japan | |
| Win | 27–10–3 | Alexander Otsuka | TKO (cut) | KOTC 7 - Wet and Wild | February 24, 2001 | 2 | 1:57 | San Jacinto, California, United States | |
| Win | 26–10–3 | Alexander Otsuka | TKO (strikes) | Pride 12 - Cold Fury | December 9, 2000 | 1 | 1:52 | Saitama, Japan | |
| Win | 25–10–3 | Sam Adkins | Submission | FFC – Freestyle Fighting Championship | November 18, 2000 | 1 | 2:11 | Dallas, Texas, United States | |
| Loss | 24–10–3 | Wanderlei Silva | KO (punches) | Pride 10 - Return of the Warriors | August 27, 2000 | 1 | 3:45 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 24–9–3 | Masaaki Satake | Decision | Pride Grand Prix 2000 Finals | May 1, 2000 | 1 | 15:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 23–9–3 | Brad Jones | TKO (strikes) | PA – Pure Action 2 | March 3, 2000 | 2 | 1:35 | King's Point, New York, United States | |
| NC | 22–9–3 | Kazushi Sakuraba | Forfeit (contract dispute) | Pride Grand Prix 2000 Opening Round | January 30, 2000 | 1 | 15:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 22–9–2 | Akira Shoji | Decision (split) | Pride 6 | July 4, 1999 | 3 | 5:00 | Yokohama, Japan | |
| Loss | 22–8–2 | Tito Ortiz | TKO (strikes) | UFC 19 | March 5, 1999 | 1 | 9:56 | Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, United States | |
| Win | 22–7–2 | Yuki Kondo | Decision (majority) | Pancrase - Advance 12 | December 19, 1998 | 1 | 20:00 | Chiba, Japan | Defended King of Pancrase Openweight Championship. Later vacated title |
| Win | 21–7–2 | Ryushi Yanagisawa | Decision (lost points) | Pancrase - 1998 Anniversary Show | September 14, 1998 | 1 | 30:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Defended King of Pancrase Openweight Championship |
| Loss | 20–7–2 | Semmy Schilt | TKO (strikes) | Pancrase - Advance 8 | June 21, 1998 | 1 | 13:15 | Kobe, Japan | |
| Win | 20–6–2 | Masakatsu Funaki | Decision (unanimous) | Pancrase - Advance 5 | April 26, 1998 | 1 | 30:00 | Yokohama, Japan | Won King of Pancrase Openweight Championship |
| Win | 19–6–2 | Ryushi Yanagisawa | Decision (unanimous) | Pancrase - Advance 4 | March 18, 1998 | 1 | 20:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 18–6–2 | Johnny Magilonico | Submission (choke) | WPC – World Pankration Championships 2 | January 16, 1998 | 1 | N/A | Dallas, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 17–6–2 | Satoshi Hasegawa | TKO (armlock) | Pancrase: Alive 11 | December 20, 1997 | 1 | 2:52 | Yokohama, Japan | |
| Win | 16–6–2 | Kiuma Kunioku | KO (kick) | Pancrase: Alive 9 | October 29, 1997 | 1 | 11:12 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 15–6–2 | Paul Lazenby | Submission (choke) | WPC – World Pankration Championships 1 | October 26, 1997 | 1 | N/A | Texas, United States | |
| Loss | 14–6–2 | Masakatsu Funaki | Submission (triangle/armbar) | Pancrase: 1997 Anniversary Show | September 6, 1997 | 1 | 3:58 | Chiba, Japan | |
| Win | 14–5–2 | Keiichiro Yamamiya | Decision (lost points) | Pancrase: Alive 7 | July 30, 1997 | 1 | 15:00 | Fukuoka, Japan | |
| Win | 13–5–2 | Tito Ortiz | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC 13 | May 30, 1997 | 1 | 3:00 | Augusta, Georgia, United States | Won UFC 13 Lightweight Tournament |
| Win | 12–5–2 | Christophe Leininger | Decision | UFC 13 | May 30, 1997 | 1 | 15:00 | Augusta, Georgia, United States | UFC 13 Lightweight Tournament Semifinals |
| Loss | 11–5–2 | Yuki Kondo | Decision (lost points) | Pancrase: Alive 2 | February 22, 1997 | 1 | 20:00 | Chiba, Japan | |
| Win | 11–4–2 | Semmy Schilt | Decision (lost points) | Pancrase: Alive 1 | January 17, 1997 | 1 | 20:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 10–4–2 | Yuki Kondo | Decision (lost points) | Pancrase - Truth 10 | December 15, 1996 | 1 | 20:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 9–4–2 | Kiuma Kunioku | Decision (split) | Pancrase - Truth 7 | October 8, 1996 | 1 | 10:00 | Nagoya, Japan | |
| Win | 9–3–2 | Ryushi Yanagisawa | Decision (unanimous) | Pancrase - 1996 Anniversary Show | September 7, 1996 | 1 | 20:00 | Chiba, Japan | |
| Draw | 8–3–2 | Osami Shibuya | Draw | Pancrase - Truth 6 | June 25, 1996 | 1 | 10:00 | Fukuoka, Japan | |
| Win | 8–3–1 | Minoru Suzuki | TKO (strikes) | Pancrase - Truth 5 | May 16, 1996 | 1 | 7:59 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 7–3–1 | Ryushi Yanagisawa | KO (head kick) | Pancrase - Truth 4 | April 8, 1996 | 1 | 12:21 | Tokyo, Japan | 1996 Panrase Ranking Tournament Finals |
| Win | 6–3–1 | Manabu Yamada | TKO (doctor) | Pancrase - Truth 3 | April 7, 1996 | 1 | 6:14 | Tokyo, Japan | 1996 Panrase Ranking Tournament Semifinals |
| Win | 5–3–1 | Takaku Fuke | Decision (unanimous) | Pancrase - Truth 3 | April 7, 1996 | 1 | 10:00 | Tokyo, Japan | 1996 Panrase Ranking Tournament First Round |
| Loss | 4–3–1 | Bas Rutten | Submission (heel hook) | Pancrase - Truth 2 | March 2, 1996 | 1 | 19:36 | Kobe, Japan | |
| Win | 4–2–1 | Gregory Smit | Decision (lost points) | Pancrase - Truth 1 | January 28, 1996 | 1 | 10:00 | Yokohama, Japan | |
| Loss | 3–2–1 | Minoru Suzuki | DQ (accidental kick to groin) | Pancrase - Eyes Of Beast 7 | December 14, 1995 | 1 | 7:15 | Sapporo, Japan | |
| Draw | 3–1–1 | Ryushi Yanagisawa | Draw | Pancrase - Eyes Of Beast 6 | November 4, 1995 | 1 | 10:00 | Yokohama, Japan | |
| Loss | 3–1 | Masakatsu Funaki | Submission (achilles lock) | Pancrase - 1995 Anniversary Show | September 1, 1995 | 1 | 6:46 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 3–0 | John Renfroe | Submission (armlock) | Pancrase - 1995 Neo-Blood Tournament Second Round | July 23, 1995 | 1 | 7:25 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 2–0 | John Dowdy | TKO (strikes) | UFC 5 | April 7, 1995 | 1 | 2:02 | Charlotte, North Carolina, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Jason Fairn | TKO (corner stoppage) | UFC 4 | December 16, 1994 | 1 | 2:13 | Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States |
References
- ↑ "Guy Mezger's Combat Sports Club". Guy Mezger's Combat Sports Club.
- ↑ Archived December 7, 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ Archived February 18, 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ "MMA News". Mmanews.org. Retrieved 2015-06-18.
- ↑ [http://espn.go.com/mma/features/prideandglory?page=blood> "ESPN - Pride & Glory"]. Go.com. Retrieved 2015-06-18.
- ↑ "Guy Mezger Pre-Pride 13 Interview". Replay.waybackmachine.org. Retrieved 2015-06-18.
- ↑ Archived December 7, 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ "Guy Mezger Airing Pride's Dirty Laundry - Cagepotato". Cagepotato.com. Retrieved 2015-06-18.
- ↑ Rossen, Jake (2010-06-23). "Pride and Glory - Postscript". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2015-06-18.
- ↑ "GUY MEZGER:WHERE IS HE NOW? : SANDMAN REVISITED". DIGITALEDITIONONLINE.com. July 4, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ↑ "Awesome Story of the Day: Guy Mezger Saved a Woman from Knife-Wielding Scumbag Last Month". CAGEDPOTATO.com. January 21, 2012. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
- ↑ "Guy Mezger hospitalizes knife wielding attacker". MIXEDMARTIALARTS.com. January 21, 2012. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
External links
- Full Contact Fighter Database with a partial record of Guy Mezger's MMA career
- Sherdog database with a partial record of Guy Mezger's MMA career
- Guy Mezger's Combat Sports
- World Combat League
- Official Myspace Page
- Guy Mezger saves woman from criminal
- Sherdog.net interview
| Preceded by Jerry Bohlander |
UFC 13 Lightweight Tournament winner May 30, 1997 |
Succeeded by Pat Miletich |
|