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Justin Wilcox (martial arts)

American mixed martial arts fighter

Summary

American mixed martial arts fighter

Field	Value
name	Justin Wilcox
other_names	The Silverback
image	Justin Wilcox.jpg
caption	Wilcox in 2009
birth_date
nationality	American
height
weight	145 lb
weight_class	Lightweight
Featherweight
reach_in	65
fighting_out_of	San Jose, California, United States
team	American Kickboxing Academy
years_active	2006-present
mma_kowin	2
mma_subwin	2
mma_decwin	10
mma_koloss	4
mma_subloss	2
mma_decloss	1
mma_nc	1
sherdog	16879

Featherweight

Justin Wilcox (born March 12, 1979) is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Lightweight division of Bellator. A professional competitor since 2006, Wilcox has also competed for Strikeforce, holding a record of 5-3 (1) in the promotion.

Background

Wilcox began wrestling when he was five years old and was talented, continuing in the sport through high school and in college at the Edinboro University of Pennsylvania alongside current UFC Welterweight Josh Koscheck, who was an NCAA Champion. Wilcox himself continued excelling at the collegiate level, becoming an NCAA qualifier as a true freshman and continued competing well after redshirting in his sophomore season, winning several tournaments. However, after being hit with an inadvertent headbutt which may have caused a concussion, Wilcox was preparing for another match when he slipped and knocked himself out when he hit the floor. The concussion, along with multiple bone fractures, were severe enough to end his career. Wilcox had been inspired to compete in mixed martial arts after seeing Koscheck on the first season of "The Ultimate Fighter" and began training in the sport himself. At the time, Wilcox was a professional bodybuilder, winning various contests while also running a gym in Pennsylvania, and weighed 205 lbs.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

After a shaky 2–2 start to his career, Wilcox moved to train with Koscheck at American Kickboxing Academy as well as dropping down a weight class to compete at Lightweight.

Strikeforce

In his Strikeforce debut, Wilcox fought against Mitsuhiro Ishida and lost by submission (armbar) at 1:21 of the first round.

After that loss Wilcox won three straight fights over David Douglas, PRIDE veteran Daisuke Nakamura and The Ultimate Fighter 13 alumni Shamar Bailey.

On November 19, 2010, Wilcox faced DREAM veteran Vítor Ribeiro in the main event of Strikeforce Challengers: Wilcox vs. Ribeiro. He won the fight via unanimous decision (30-27, 30–27, 30–27).

Wilcox upped his win streak to five with a TKO victory over veteran Rodrigo Damm at Strikeforce Challengers: Wilcox vs. Damm. The fight was stopped by a ringside doctor at the end of the first round due to lacerations above both of Damm's eyes.

Wilcox fought Gesias Cavalcante at Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum. The bout was declared a no-contest after Wilcox was poked in the eye in the second round and could not continue.

In his next fight, Wilcox competed at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal against rising prospect Caros Fodor. He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.

Wilcox fought former lightweight title challenger Jorge Masvidal at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy. He lost the fight via split decision.

Bellator MMA

After over a year a way from the sport, Wilcox was signed by Bellator as a last minute replacement for their Season Nine Featherweight tournament. This would mark the first time Wilcox had ever competed as a Featherweight. Wilcox replaced Shahbulat Shamhalaev on just a few days notice and fought against Akop Stepanyan at Bellator 99. Despite losing the first round decisively due to a series of low kicks that visibly injured his leg and hindered his ability to stand and walk, Wilcox mounted a comeback in the second round and won via rear-naked choke submission moving him into the next round of the tournament.

Wilcox faced up and comer Joe Taimanglo in the semifinals at Bellator 103. Wilcox controlled the entire matchup and won via unanimous decision (29-28, 30–27, 30–27).

In the finals of the Featherweight Tournament taking place at Bellator 108, Wilcox fought Top 15 Featherweight, Patricio Freire. Wilcox lost the fight via first-round technical knockout. After the loss Wilcox decided to return to his natural weight class of Lightweight (155 lbs.).

Wilcox returned to Lightweight and faced Jason Fischer on March 28, 2014, at Bellator 114. He won via unanimous decision.

Wilcox faced Daniel Mason-Straus in the main event at Bellator 127 on October 3, 2014. He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.

Personal life

Wilcox and his wife Leslie have a daughter named Natalie.

Championships and accomplishments

Bellator MMA
- Bellator Season Nine Featherweight Tournament Runner-Up

Mixed martial arts record

other-losses=
Loss
Daniel Mason-Straus
KO (punches)
Bellator 127

Returns to Lightweight.
Loss
Patrício Freire
TKO (punches)
Bellator 108

| | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States

Bellator Season Nine Featherweight Tournament Final.
Win
Joe Taimanglo
Decision (unanimous)
Bellator 103

| | Mulvane, Kansas, United States

Bellator Season Nine Featherweight Tournament Semifinal.
Win
Akop Stepanyan
Technical Submission (rear naked choke)
Bellator 99

| | Temecula, California, United States

Bellator Season Nine Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
Loss
Jorge Masvidal
Decision (split)
Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy

Cavalcante poked Wilcox in the eye.
Win
Rodrigo Damm
TKO (doctor stoppage)
Strikeforce Challengers: Wilcox vs. Damm

Drops to Lightweight.
Win
Bryce Teager
Decision (unanimous)
Extreme Challenge 76

References

"Justin Wilcox". MMALinker.
(31 March 2011). "Wilcox won't give up on MMA dreams". Yahoo Sports.
Press Release. (20 February 2010). "Strikeforce Challengers: Shamar Bailey vs Justin Wilcox announced with Bryan Travers hurt". MMAmania.com.
""Shaolin Ribeiro" Vs. Justin Wilcox, Ryan Couture At Strikeforce Challengers In Nov. - Fightline.com". Fightline.com.
(September 9, 2013). "Shahbulat Shamhalaev Withdraws From Featherweight Tournament, Justin Wilcox Now Faces Akop Stepanyan". bellator.com.
(March 28, 2014). "Bellator 114 results: Alexander Shlemenko defends title, notches win No. 50". mmajunkie.com.
(August 22, 2014). "Daniel Straus-Justin Wilcox Featherweight Clash Headlines Bellator 127 on Oct. 3". sherdog.com.
(2011-03-31). "Wilcox won't give up on MMA dreams". Yahoo! sports.

Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

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