Tim Sylvia
 |
Name | Tim Sylvia |
| Nickname | The Maine-iac | |
| Association | Miletich Fighting Systems | |
| Weight Class | Heavyweight (263 lbs.) | |
| Height | 6' 8" (226 cm) | |
| Style | Kickboxing | |
| Birth Date | March 5, 1976 | |
| Fighting Out Of | Bettendorf, Iowa | |
| Country | United States | |
| Tim Sylvia Pictures | http://www.tim-sylvia.com/ |
Tim Sylvia is an American mixed martial artist who competes as a Heavyweight. He is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion, and is the current PWP Heavyweight Champion.
He trains as a member of the Miletich Fighting Systems (MFS) camp and is part of their MFSE (Miletich Fighting System Elite) group.
Contents |
Professional Record
| Record | 31 - 8 - 0 (Win – Loss – Draw) (1 NC) |
| Wins | 20 (T)KOs 4 Submissions 7 Decisions |
| Losses | 2 (T)KOs 4 Submissions 2 Decisions |
| Result | Opponent | Method | Event Title | Date | Round | Time | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | Satoshi Ishii | Decision (Unanimous) | IGF: Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2012 | 12/31/2012 | 3 | 5:00 | ||
| NC | Andrei Arlovski | NC (Kick to Grounded Opponent) | One FC 5: Pride of a Nation | 8/31/2012 | 2 | 4:46 | ||
| Win | Randy Smith | TKO (Punches) | NEF: Fight Night 3 | 6/16/2012 | 1 | 0:12 | ||
| Win | Andreas Kraniotakes | Decision (Unanimous) | ProElite 2: Big Guns | 11/5/2011 | 3 | 5:00 | ||
| Win | Patrick Barrentine | TKO (Punches and Elbows) | FT: Fight Tour | 8/20/2011 | 1 | 2:09 | ||
| Loss | Abe Wagner | TKO (Punches) | Titan Fighting Championships 16: Sylvia vs. Wagner | 1/28/2011 | 1 | 0:32 | ||
| Win | Vince Lucero | Submission (Punches) | CFX: Extreme Challenge on Target | 12/11/2010 | 1 | 2:44 | ||
| Win | Paul Buentello | KO (Punches) | PWP: War on the Mainland | 8/14/2010 | 2 | 4:57 | Won first-ever PWP Heavyweight Championship | |
| Win | Mariusz Pudzianowski | Submission (Punches) | Moosin MMA: Sylvia vs. Pudzianowski | 5/21/2010 | 2 | 1:43 | Super-Heavyweight bout | |
| Win | Jason Riley | TKO (Punches) | AMMA 4: Adrenaline MMA 4 | 9/18/2009 | 1 | 2:32 | ||
| Loss | Ray Mercer | KO (Punch) | Adrenaline MMA 3: Bragging Rights | 6/13/2009 | 1 | 0:09 | Awarded the 2009 Bazzie for "Upset of the Year" | |
| Loss | Fedor Emelianenko | Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | Affliction: Banned | 7/19/2008 | 1 | 0:36 | For first-ever WAMMA Heavyweight Championship | |
| Loss | Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | UFC 81: Breaking Point | 2/02/2008 | 3 | 1:28 | For Interim UFC Heavyweight Championship; Won Fight of the Night Honors; After the fight, left the UFC | |
| Win | Brandon Vera | Decision: Unanimous | UFC 77: Hostile Territory | 10/21/2007 | 3 | 5:00 | ||
| Loss | Randy Couture | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 68: The Uprising | 3/03/2007 | 5 | 5:00 | Lost UFC Heavyweight Championship | |
| Win | Jeff Monson | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 65: Bad Intentions | 11/08/2006 | 5 | 5:00 | Defended UFC Heavyweight Championship | |
| Win | Andrei Arlovski | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 61: Bitter Rivals | 4/21/2007 | 5 | 5:00 | Defended UFC Heavyweight Championship | |
| Win | Andrei Arlovski | TKO (Punches) | UFC 59: Reality Check | 4/15/2006 | 1 | 2:43 | Won UFC Heavyweight Championship | |
| Win | Assuerio Silva | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC Fight Night 3: Ultimate Fight Night 3 | 1/16/2006 | 3 | 5:00 | Heavyweight Championship Eliminator | |
| Win | Tra Telligman | KO (Head Kick) | UFC 54: Boiling Point | 8/20/2005 | 1 | 1:159 | ||
| Win | Mike Block | TKO (Punches) | IFC: Caged Combat | 5/21/2006 | 1 | 1:26 | ||
| Loss | Andrei Arlovski | Submission (Achilles Lock) | UFC 51: Super Saturday | 2/5/2005 | 1 | 0:47 | For UFC Heavyweight Championship (Interim) | |
| Win | Wes Sims | TKO (Punches) | Superbrawl 38 | 12/12/2004 | 1 | 1:32 | ||
| Loss | Frank Mir | Techincal Submission (Armbar) | UFC 48: Payback | 6/19/2004 | 1 | 0:50 | For UFC Heavyweight Championship | |
| Win | Gan McGee | KO (Punches) | UFC 44: Undisputed | 9/26/2003 | 1 | 1:54 | Defended UFC Heavyweight Championship; Tested positive for steroids and was stripped of title | |
| Win | Ricco Rodriguez | tKO (Strikes) | UFC 41: Onslaught | 2/28/2003 | 1 | 3:09 | Won UFC Heavyweight Championship | |
| Win | Wesley Correira | TKO (Corner Stoppage) | UFC 39: Warrior's Return | 9/27/2002 | 2 | 1:43 | UFC debut | |
| Win | Jeff Gerlick | TKO (Strikes) | Extreme Challenge 48 | 7/27/2002 | 1 | 3:17 | ||
| Win | Mike Whitehead | TKO (Strikes) | Superbrawl 24: ROTH 2 | 4/27/2002 | 1 | 2:38 | nt | |
| Win | Jason Lambert | TKO (Strikes) | Superbrawl 24: ROTH 2 | 4/27/2002 | 2 | 4:13 | ||
| Win | Boyd Ballard | KO (Knee) | Superbrawl 24: ROTH 2 | 4/27/2002 | 1 | 3:21 | ||
| Win | Mike Whitehead | KO (Punches) | Superbrawl 24: ROTC 1 | 4/26/2002 | 1 | 3:46 | ||
| Win | Matt Frembling | Decision | Extreme Challenge 47 | 3/16/2002 | 2 | 5:00 | ||
| Win | Gino de la Cruz | TKO (Punches) | Extreme Challenge 47 | 3/16/2002 | 1 | 0:43 | ||
| Win | Ernest Henderson | TKO (Punches) | Extreme Challenge 46 | 2/16/2002 | 1 | 0:36 | ||
| Win | Greg Wikan | Submission (Choke) | Extreme Challenge Trails | 11/17/2001 | 3 | 2:20 | ||
| Win | Ben Rothwell | Decision | Extreme Challenge 42 | 8/24/2001 | 3 | 5:00 | ||
| Win | Greg Wikan | TKO (Corner Stoppage) | UW-Ultimate Fight Minnesota | 6/02/2001 | 1 | 5:00 | ||
| Win | Gabe Beauperthy | Submission (Choke) | GC 3: Showdown at Soboba | 4/7/2001 | 2 | 4:16 | ||
| Win | Randy Durant | TKO (Strikes) | IFC-Battleground 2001 | 1/19/2001 | 1 | 2:05 | ||
Biography
Martial Arts Background
Sylvia joined a karate school as a child, and began wrestling in high school. After graduation, he worked construction, community gardening, hanging sheet rock, a bouncer for Shane Reids bar, and painting houses. He was playing semi-pro football when he became interested in MMA, and began to train with Marcus Davis. During this time he decided to take up boxing and grappling, and after training for a year, Sylvia entered his first grappling contest, taking first place in his division. Soon after, he got the opportunity to fight in a Rhode Island no-holds-barred amateur event, in which he knocked out his opponent in 17 seconds.
A long time UFC fan, Sylvia and some friends attended UFC 28 in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 2000. Arriving early at the arena, they went inside and happened to see former UFC champion and MMA trainer Pat Miletich. Miletich remarked to Tim "You are a big son of a bitch!" and asked "Do you fight?", to which Sylvia replied "A little, but I have a hard time finding training partners and getting fights." Miletich simply said "Come to Iowa", and in late 2000 Sylvia sold all of his belongings and moved to Bettendorf, Iowa, to train with Miletich Fighting Systems.
Early Professional Career
Sylvia made his professional MMA debut in 2001 fighting for the IFC. He went on to rack up thirteen consecutive wins with ten knockouts in organizations such as SuperBrawl, and Extreme Challenge. In 2002, Sylvia signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship and won a TKO victory over Wesley Correira at UFC 39 when Correira's corner threw in the towel. Sylvia then went on to defeat Ricco Rodriguez at UFC 41, winning his first UFC heavyweight championship. Soon after Sylvia defended his title with another quick victory over Gan McGee at UFC 44.
Controversy
After the fight with McGee, Sylvia tested positive for the banned substance Stanozolol, an anabolic steroid. He voluntarily forfeited his title and was handed a six-month suspension, and fined $10,000 by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC). He later commented that the steroid usage was for shedding excess weight. Sylvia apologized and made no effort to claim innocence.
Injury
At UFC 48 in June 2004, Sylvia returned to face Frank Mir for the vacant UFC heavyweight championship; he lost. Early on in the fight Mir trapped Sylvia's right arm in an Armbar submission attempt. As Sylvia tried to escape the hold, Mir tightened the submission and Sylvia's right radius bone snapped about three inches below his elbow. Referee Herb Dean immediately stopped the fight and declared Sylvia unable to continue. Sylvia took exception to the decision and repeatedly claimed his arm was not broken (though the break could be explicitly seen on the slow-motion replay of the fight), even touching it and moving it around to demonstrate. NSAC officials and UFC president Dana White, acting on the doctor's opinion and in the interests of Sylvia's health, officially ended the fight and awarded Mir the title. Sylvia was taken to a local hospital where an x-ray revealed that his arm was in fact broken; he then took several months off to recuperate. Afterward, Sylvia said he was glad the referee stopped the fight, thereby saving his arm from further damage.
Return
Six months after his loss to Frank Mir, Sylvia returned (a titanium plate had been attached to his forearm), in February 2005 to the UFC, taking on Andrei Arlovski to crown an interim UFC heavyweight champion as Mir, while still the nominal UFC champion, had suffered numerous injuries from a motorcycle accident that left him unable to defend his title. Sylvia was knocked to the ground by an overhand right punch, and while on the ground was caught in an achilles lock. Fearing another injury, he tapped out.
In May 2005, Sylvia defeated Mike Block in the IFC by TKO, then went on to face MMA veteran Tra Telligman at UFC 54. With one second left in the first round, Sylvia landed a left head kick which knocked out Telligman. Sylvia made his cable television debut next, fighting Assuerio Silva at Ultimate Fight Night 3 on Spike TV, winning a unanimous decision after three rounds in a match that was intended to decide the next number one contender.
Reclaiming the Title
At UFC 59, Sylvia was finally awarded his rematch with the then-outright champion Andrei Arlovski. During the fight Sylvia was knocked down by Arlovski, only to immediately stand up. Within ten seconds Sylvia dropped Arlovski with an uppercut, followed by ground and pound, securing a TKO victory and once again taking the UFC heavyweight title. Soon after the match, Sylvia requested, and was given, a rematch with Arlovski. Their third match took place at UFC 61, with Sylvia remaining champion by unanimous decision.
Sylvia next fought Jeff Monson at UFC 65. Billed as a classic "striker vs. grappler" match, Sylvia won again by unanimous decision. The fight showcased Sylvia's growth as a mixed martial artist as he avoided danger from Monson on the ground, and even attempted a triangle choke submission himself.
On March 3, 2007, Sylvia lost the UFC heavyweight championship to Randy Couture via unanimous decision. The judges all scored the bout 50-45, giving Couture his fifth UFC championship.
On October 20, 2007 at UFC 77, Sylvia defeated Brandon Vera via unanimous decision. In the after fight interview he called out Cheick Kongo to fight for the spot as number one contender for the heavyweight championship belt.
On February 2, 2008 Sylvia lost via guillotine choke to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 81 in Las Vegas, Nevada for the interim heavyweight championship. This was his last fight before departing from the UFC.
Adrenaline / Affliction
On March 28, 2008, Sylvia signed with Adrenaline MMA, formerly M-1 Global, to a two-year contract that allows him to fight for other organizations while under contract with Adrenaline. A few weeks later he was offered to fight Fedor Emelianenko at Affliction Clothing's inaugural event Affliction: Banned for the newly created WAMMA Heavyweight Championship. The fight took place on July 19, 2008, and saw the former Pride Heavyweight Champion dropping Sylvia and taking his back before securing a rear naked choke, forcing Sylvia to submit at 0:36 of the first round.
On February 25, 2009, Sylvia's manager (and Adrenaline MMA CEO) Monte Cox announced that Sylvia would face former boxing world heavyweight champion and 1988 Olympic gold medalist Ray Mercer in a boxing main event at Adrenaline MMA III on May 30, 2009, at the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort in Atlantic City. However, after the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board refused to sanction the fight the event was moved to Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center in Birmingham, Alabama and rescheduled to June 13. Only days before the bout it was changed to be contested under MMA rules, again because of sanctioning problems. When they finally met, Mercer knocked Sylvia out with a single punch 9 seconds into the first round.
Before his bout with Mercer, Sylvia was scheduled to face Paul Buentello at Affliction: Trilogy. But after the devastating KO loss, manager Monte Cox and Affliction decided it would be best for Sylvia to sit out the next few months because of his recent beatings. The decision was made by his manager and promoter. Tim was not placed under medical suspension from the athletic commissions contrary to what some might believe. Tim has now lost 4 of his last 5 fights.
It was announced in August of 2009 that Sylvia would return to action on September 18, 2009 against Jason Riley, who is the current NAAFS Heavyweight Champion. Sylvia won the fight via a first round TKO (Punches), ending his three-fight losing streak. Sylvia was rumored to be returning to action at a DREAM event, but was side-lined due to a broken hand that he suffered during the Riley fight.
Adrenaline MMA next tried to schedule a fight between Sylvia and recent The Ultimate Fighter 10 castmember Wes Sims, but the Ohio State Athletic Commission Director Bernie Profato stated that the commission had ruled the bout to be “non-competitive” in nature, so it was scratched.
- “The commission felt the fight was not going to be competitive at this time after comparing [Sims' and Sylvia's] records and the opponents both fighters had faced,” stated Profato through an email. “And even though it was 2004, Sylvia previously stopped Sims at 1:36 of the first round.”
It was announced that Sylvia would stay on the card, but would face Brandon Lee Hinkle instead, though the fight would not happen as it was later scrapped. The news was broken by Sylvia's twitter page that said:
- "Hinkle fight is off something else is in the works now."
Shortly after the announcement by Sylvia, it was announced that the entire event was cancelled due to the cancellation of a concert that was scheduled to go on in conjunction with the MMA event. Sylvia stated that another fight was still in the works though. It was announced only a few days later that Sylvia had a whole slew of fights in the works – including a rematch with Wes Sims and a "guilty pleasure" fight against five-time World's Strongest Man champion Mariusz Pudzianowski – that were in advanced negotiations. The third possible option was a potential booking is for DREAM.13, which takes place March 22, 2010 in Yokohama, Japan. Monte Cox, Sylvia's manager said that Sylvia nixed the Japanese's promotion's original offer to fight Josh Barnett and a new opponent search is now underway.
In the end, his first fight after making the announcement took place at May 21, 2010 at Moosin MMA: Sylvia vs. Pudzianowski against Mariusz Pudzianowski in the event's main event. Pudzianowski opened the contest with a couple of low kicks that caught Sylvia's attention, and when the "Dominator" tossed the former UFC champion to the canvas, "The Maine-iac" looked dangerously close to another disappointing performance. It would be the last bright moment for Pudzianowski.
Sylvia used superior wrestling to remain upright when needed, and a stiff jab and powerful series of knees left his opponent in trouble. Pudzianowski continued to look for a takedown in the opening frame that would never come, and the fatigue set in quickly. Sylvia ended the first round with his knee on Pudzianowski's belly and raining down punches, and he found himself in a similar spot in the second frame when the exhausted Polish hero simply went to his back willingly with no other options available. Sylvia followed to the floor for the finish, and with referee Herb Dean watching closely, Pudzianowski removed any doubt by tapping out to avoid further damage.
Sylvia's next fight took place on August 14, 2010 at a Powerhouse World Promotion's event, where he faced off against Paul Buentello for the promotion's first-ever Heavyweight title. Sylvia stymied his opponent with clinchwork in the corner, and for nearly two full rounds, Buentello's only respite was referee "Big" John McCarthy's occasional interventions. Buentello showed a sharp jab on the rare occasions he was able to create space, but Sylvia quickly close the distance each time and turned the fight into a dirty, grinding contest. In the closing seconds, Buentello actually backed himself into the corner, and Sylvia unleashed his best flurry of the contest. An uppercut floored Buentello, and Sylvia followed with hammerfists. McCarthy wasted little time in making a decision and stopped the fight with just three seconds left in the round. Sylvia earned the PWP Heavyweight title at 4:57 of the third round.
