Matt Wiman
 |
Name | Matt Wiman |
| Nickname | Handsome | |
| Association | Tulsa Top Team | |
| Weight Class | Lightweight (155 lbs.) | |
| Height | 5' 10" (178 cm) | |
| Style | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kickboxing, Wrestling | |
| Birth Date | September 19, 1983 | |
| Fighting Out Of | Dallas, Texas | |
| Country | USA | |
| Matt Wiman Pictures | Official Website |
"Handsome" Matthew Charles Wiman is an American mixed martial arts fighter who competes as a Lightweight. Wiman currently competes in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), and is a team member and coach of Tulsa Top Team. To date, has only been finished by Spencer Fisher.
Contents |
Professional Record
| Record | 15 - 7 - 0 (Win – Loss – Draw) |
| Wins | 4 (T)KOs 5 Submissions 6 Decisions |
| Losses | 2 (T)KOs 0 Submissions 5 Decisions |
| Result | Opponent | Method | Event Title | Date | Round | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | T.J. Grant | KO (Elbows and Punches) | UFC on FOX 6: Johnson vs. Dodson | 1/26/2013 | 1 | 4:51 | |
| Win | Paul Sass | Submission (Armbar) | UFC on FUEL TV 5: Struve vs. Miocic | 9/29/2012 | 1 | 3:48 | Won Submission of the Night |
| Win | Mac Danzig | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC on Versus 6: Cruz vs. Johnson | 10/01/2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Won Fight of the Night |
| Loss | Dennis Siver | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 132: Cruz vs. Faber 2 | 7/2/2011 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Cole Miller | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC Fight Night 23: UFC Fight for the Troops 2 | 1/22/2011 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Mac Danzig | Technical Submission (Guillotine Choke) | UFC 115: Liddell vs. Franklin | 6/12/2010 | 1 | 1:45 | Bout featured live on SpikeTV. |
| Win | Shane Nelson | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 107: Penn vs. Sanchez | 12/12/2009 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Loss | Sam Stout | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 97: Redemption | 4/18/2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Won Fight of the Night Honors |
| Loss | Jim Miller | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC Fight Night 16: UFC Fight for the Troops | 12/10/2008 | 3 | 5:00 | Won Fight of the Night Honors |
| Win | Thiago Tavares | KO (Punches) | UFC 85: Bedlam | 6/07/2008 | 2 | 1:57 | Won Fight of the Night Honors |
| Win | Justin Buchholz | Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | UFC Fight Night 12: Swick vs. Burkman | 1/23/2008 | 1 | 2:56 | |
| Win | Michihiro Omigawa | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 76: Knockout | 9/22/2007 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Brian Geraghty | TKO (Punches) | The Ultimate Fighter 5 Finale | 6/23/2007 | 1 | 2:09 | |
| Loss | Spencer Fisher | KO (Flying Knee) | UFC 60: Hughes vs. Gracie | 5/27/2006 | 2 | 1:43 | UFC debut |
| Loss | Nick Agallar | Decision | MFC: Boardwalk Blitz | 3/04/2006 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Thomas Grissom | TKO (Corner Stoppage) | EK: Battle at the Brady 2 | 11/12/2005 | 1 | N/A | Defended Extreme Fighting League Middleweight Championship |
| Loss | Roger Huerta | Decision (Unanimous) | FFC 15: Fiesta Las Vegas | 9/14/2005 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | DJ Randall | TKO | OEF 3: Superbrawl | 2/05/2005 | 1 | 0:20 | Defended Extreme Fighting League Middleweight Championship |
| Win | David Franks | Submission (Armbar) | EK 14: X-14 Heavyweight Gladiators | 11/13/2004 | 1 | 0:42 | Defended Extreme Fighting League Middleweight Championship |
| Win | Larry Johns | Submission (Triangle Choke) | EK 13: Elimination | 8/14/2004 | 2 | 1:30 | Won Extreme Fighting League Middleweight Championship |
| Win | Greg Bossler | Decision | EK 13: Elimination | 8/14/2004 | N/A | N/A | |
| Win | Joe Garza | Decision | EK 13: Elimination | 8/14/2004 | N/A | N/A | |
Mixed Martial Arts Career
Wiman's initiation into professional fighting came on August 14, 2004. He became the Extreme Fighting League Middleweight champion by defeating Joseph Garza and Greg Bossler each by unanimous decision before defeating his third opponent of the night, Venn Johns, by Triangle Choke. Wiman's nickname "Handsome" was given to him by his friends when they overheard his mother call him a handsome pup.
His first title defense came on November 13, 2004, when he defeated David Franks by Armbar in 42 seconds of the first round. He defended the title again on February 5, 2005, knocking D.J. Randall unconscious in 20 seconds of the first round.
Wiman first gained national attention at FFC 15-Fiesta Las Vegas on September 15, 2005 against UFC star Roger Huerta. The fight was a back and forth candidate for fight of the year, with both fighters close to ending the fight on several occasions. Wiman lost a controversial decision.
Next, Thomas Grissom challenged Wiman for the Extreme Title at Battle at the Brady 2 in Tulsa on November 12, 2005. Matt won by referee stoppage in the 1st round due to multiple cuts sustained by Grissom.
His next fight was at MFC-Boardwalk Blitz on March 14, 2006 in Atlantic City, New Jersey against UFC veteran Nick Agallar, where Matt was defeated by decision.
UFC Career
He agreed to make his UFC debut on two weeks notice at UFC 60 against Spencer Fisher at the Staples Center, Los Angeles on May 27, 2006. After getting a takedown and taking the back of Fisher, he nearly finished a Guillotine Choke and ended up mounting his opponent. Fisher eventually regained top position and opened a cut on Wiman's head. The second round saw a few brief exchanges on the feet before Fisher delivered a flying knee, forcing a referee stoppage at 1:43 of the second round.
Wiman was a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter 5 show, featuring Lightweights. He fought on B.J. Penn's team. His preliminary fight was against Marlon Sims. Wiman landed a devastating overhand right in the opening seconds of the fight, climbed on the back of Sims and choked him unconscious. Wiman was defeated by eventual finalist Manvel Gamburyan of Team Pulver in the quarterfinals by decision. Gambaryan and Wiman exchanged takedowns, but Gamburyan was on top most of the fight and got the victory, despite Dana White's thoughts that "Handsome" could make it to the finals of the show.
Wiman fought Brian Geraghty on June 23, 2007 on The Ultimate Fighter 5 Finale. He took his opponent down early and worked a ground and pound attack. Wiman landed strikes in Geraghty's guard and passed to full mount, where he unloaded punches to the head, causing referee Yves Lavigne to stop the fight due to strikes on the ground at 2:09 of round 1.
Wiman's next fight was against Japanese Judoka fighter Michihiro Omigawa at UFC 76: Knockout. Wiman controlled the fight with takedowns and ground control, and won a unanimous decision victory.
His next fight was against Justin Buchholz at UFC Fight Night 12: Swick vs. Burkman on January 23, 2008. Wiman scored a takedown in the opening moments of the fight and worked quickly to the mount position. He landed an elbow below the right eye of Buchholz causing a cut. The UFC newcomer turned over to avoid further strikes to the face and Wiman secured the back position. After a brief struggle to secure the rear naked choke, Wiman forced Buchholz to submit at 2:58 of the first round, giving him his third straight victory in the UFC.
Wiman's next fight was against Lightweight contender Thiago Tavares at UFC 85: Bedlam. After an impressive grappling exchange in round one, he eventually beat Tavares by knockout from a right hook in the second round, with former Light Heavyweight Champion Chuck Liddell in his corner. The fight won him the Fight of the Night Honors.
He then fought Jim Miller at UFC Fight Night 16: UFC Fight for the Troops, where the two battled for three straight rounds, winning the Fight of the Night Honors, though Miller came out the victor.
Wiman faced Sam Stout at UFC 97: Redemption on April 18, 2009. Though Wiman would lose via unanimous decision, the fight was his third consecutive Fight of the Night Award winning fight.
Wiman was next expected to face Rafael dos Anjos on September 19, 2009 at UFC 103: Franklin vs. Belfort, but was forced off the card due to injury, being replaced by Rob Emerson. Wiman would finally return to action December 12, 2009 at UFC 107: Penn vs. Sanchez, where he would face B.J. Penn-trained Shane Nelson on the undercard. The two had a brief shoving match at the weigh-ins, and the next day at the fight, which became quite one-sided, saw Wiman earning a unanimous decision.
He was next scheduled to make an appearance at UFC 115: Liddell vs. Franklin on the preliminary card portion that will be featured live on SpikeTV against Mac Danzig. Wiman scured a Guillotine Choke in the mount position early. The hold appeared very tight early, but Danzig wiggled and turned to create a small bit of room for himself to breathe. With his face mostly shielded from referee Yves Lavigne's view, Danzig continued to try to push away Wiman with his left arm. When Wiman alerted Lavigne to check on Danzig's consciousness, the official rushed pulled on the fighter's hand, didn't get much of a response, and ultimately halted the bout. Unfortunately, Danzig's right arm was still in the air, and his wits were firmly in place. Confusion followed as officials were slow to enter the cage. The two combatants, aware of the obvious mistake, looked to continue the affair, but Lavigne ruled the stoppage just, and the fight was Wiman's at the 1:45 mark of the opening round.
Personal Life
Matt and his fiancée Courtney were married on June 14, 2008.
