Mikey Burnett
Encyclopedia
Michael Wayne Burnett is a former American mixed martial artist
who was a member of the legendary fight team the Lion's Den
. Burnett lost a very controversial decision to Pat Miletich
in a UFC title fight for the UFC Welterweight Championship at UFC Ultimate Brazil
crowning Miletich the first-ever holder of the UFC Welterweight belt.
and graduated from Nathan Hale High School in 1991. He wrestled for three years in college
. Burnett was also an amateur Golden Gloves
boxing champion in his home state of Oklahoma. He formerly owned and operated Mikey's Gym in East Tulsa. Burnett was the lead MMA and grappling instructor at Apollo's Karate
's Lion's Den
in Susanville, California
. Burnett's next fight would not take place until the following year at the inaugural World Pankration Championships where Burnett submitted Mike Hipp with a heel hook
.
Burnett's success attracted the attention of the UFC, who invited Burnett to fight in their organization. Burnett made his victorious UFC debut at UFC 16
, stopping Eugenio Tadeu with strikes in the first round. This fight was nominated by the UFC to appear on the UFC's Ultimate 100 Greatest Fights.
Burnett's impressive performance earned him a title shot against Pat Miletich
to determine the first-ever UFC Welterweight Champion. Burnett lost a very controversial decision to Miletich at UFC Ultimate Brazil
in a fight that many fans to this day state that Burnett won. Burnett returned at UFC 18
where he won a unanimous decision over Olympic silver medalist Townsend Saunders
. Burnett dominated the fight on his feet with his striking and was very impressive because the Olympic silver medal winning wrestler Saunders was unable to take Burnett down.
Burnett would leave the Lion's Den later in 1998 to go back to Oklahoma when he found out he was having a child. Burnett started his own training facility, with brother and trainer Scott Burnett, in East Tulsa called Mikey's Gym. He also began to teach and instruct at various other gyms in the city and surrounding area for the next several years.
in 2006 about being on the fourth season of The Ultimate Fighter reality show. Burnett gladly accepted and travelled to Las Vegas
for the taping.
Burnett ended up on Team No Love as a member of the welterweight fighters on the show. Burnett ended up breaking his neck during a training session on the show (contrary to popular opinion that Burnett broke it attempting to run through a wall; this is claimed by Burnett to be false.) Burnett was selected to take on Din Thomas
in the fifth show of the season. Burnett ended up fighting Thomas with a broken neck. Thomas submitted Burnett with a triangle choke
in the first round of the fight. Burnett attempts to run through a wall during the 11th show of the season and ends up denting it. On the final episode, Burnett is informed by a doctor that he required major surgery
on his neck before he will be able to continue fighting. Burnett opted to undergo the surgery, which would put him out of action for at least one year. However, Burnett had problems with the insurance company and could not get the surgery done. Burnett later filed suit against the show to help pay for his surgery, but has been unsuccessful in getting the surgery completed.
|Win
|align=center|5-2
|
Townsend Saunders
|Decision (unanimous)
|UFC 18
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|15:00
|Louisiana
, United States
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|4-2
| Pat Miletich
|Decision (split)
|UFC Brazil
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|21:00
|São Paulo
, Brazil
|For UFC Welterweight Championship
|-
|Win
|align=center|4-1
| Eugenio Tadeu
|TKO (strikes)
|UFC 16
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|9:45
|Louisiana
, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|3-1
|Mike Hipp
|Submission (heel hook)
|WPC - World Pankration Championships 1
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|0:30
|Texas
, United States
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|2-1
|Kevin Nix
|TKO (guillotine choke)
|OFFF 3 - Oklahoma Free Fight Federation 3
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|2:38
|Oklahoma
, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|2-0
|Tony Hays
|Submission (rear naked choke)
|OFFF 3 - Oklahoma Free Fight Federation 3
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|0:33
|Oklahoma
, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|1-0
|Todd Justice
|Decision (unanimous)
|OFFF 3 - Oklahoma Free Fight Federation 3
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|3:00
|Oklahoma
, United States
|
|-
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
who was a member of the legendary fight team the Lion's Den
Lion's Den (mixed martial arts)
The Lion's Den is a mixed martial arts team and training facility that was based out of Susanville, California and San Diego, California but has recently moved its headquarters to Reno, Nevada. The team was founded in the early 1990s by UFC Hall of Famer Ken Shamrock, and was the most dominant...
. Burnett lost a very controversial decision to Pat Miletich
Pat Miletich
Patrick Jay Miletich is a retired American mixed martial artist and a current sports commentator. He is known for his fights in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he became the first UFC Welterweight Champion and UFC 16 tournament champion....
in a UFC title fight for the UFC Welterweight Championship at UFC Ultimate Brazil
UFC Brazil
UFC Brazil: Ultimate Brazil was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship in São Paulo, Brazil on October 16th, 1998...
crowning Miletich the first-ever holder of the UFC Welterweight belt.
Biography
Burnett was born in Tulsa, OklahomaTulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
and graduated from Nathan Hale High School in 1991. He wrestled for three years in college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
. Burnett was also an amateur Golden Gloves
Golden Gloves
The Golden Gloves is the name given to annual competitions for amateur boxing in the United States. The Golden Gloves is often the term used to refer to the National Golden Gloves competition, but it also can represent several other amateur tournaments, including regional golden gloves...
boxing champion in his home state of Oklahoma. He formerly owned and operated Mikey's Gym in East Tulsa. Burnett was the lead MMA and grappling instructor at Apollo's Karate
Mixed martial arts career
Burnett made his professional MMA debut on April 20, 1996, competing at the third and final Oklahoma Free Fight Federation tournament in Tulsa. Burnett defeated Todd Justice and Tony Hays only to eventually lose to Kevin Nix in the final round of the tournament. Shortly after this, Burnett began to train with Ken ShamrockKen Shamrock
Kenneth Wayne Shamrock is an American mixed martial arts fighter, UFC Hall of Famer and professional wrestler...
's Lion's Den
Lion's Den (mixed martial arts)
The Lion's Den is a mixed martial arts team and training facility that was based out of Susanville, California and San Diego, California but has recently moved its headquarters to Reno, Nevada. The team was founded in the early 1990s by UFC Hall of Famer Ken Shamrock, and was the most dominant...
in Susanville, California
Susanville, California
Susanville is the county seat of Lassen County, California, United States. Susanville is located on the Susan River in the south-central part of the county, at an elevation of 4186 feet . The population was 17,974 at the 2010 census, up from 13,541 at the 2000 census...
. Burnett's next fight would not take place until the following year at the inaugural World Pankration Championships where Burnett submitted Mike Hipp with a heel hook
Heel hook
Heel hook may refer to:* Heel hook, in grappling* A climbing technique...
.
Burnett's success attracted the attention of the UFC, who invited Burnett to fight in their organization. Burnett made his victorious UFC debut at UFC 16
UFC 16
UFC 16: Battle in the Bayou was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on March 13, 1998 in New Orleans, Louisiana...
, stopping Eugenio Tadeu with strikes in the first round. This fight was nominated by the UFC to appear on the UFC's Ultimate 100 Greatest Fights.
Burnett's impressive performance earned him a title shot against Pat Miletich
Pat Miletich
Patrick Jay Miletich is a retired American mixed martial artist and a current sports commentator. He is known for his fights in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he became the first UFC Welterweight Champion and UFC 16 tournament champion....
to determine the first-ever UFC Welterweight Champion. Burnett lost a very controversial decision to Miletich at UFC Ultimate Brazil
UFC Brazil
UFC Brazil: Ultimate Brazil was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship in São Paulo, Brazil on October 16th, 1998...
in a fight that many fans to this day state that Burnett won. Burnett returned at UFC 18
UFC 18
UFC 18: The Road to the Heavyweight Title was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on January 8, 1999 in New Orleans, Louisiana...
where he won a unanimous decision over Olympic silver medalist Townsend Saunders
Townsend Saunders
Townsend Saunders is an Olympic silver medalist in wrestling who was a two-time All-American at Arizona State University. In 1987 Saunders became an NCAA Div. II National Champion for California State University-Bakersfield.-Biography:Known in college as "Junior" Saunders, he adopted his given...
. Burnett dominated the fight on his feet with his striking and was very impressive because the Olympic silver medal winning wrestler Saunders was unable to take Burnett down.
Burnett would leave the Lion's Den later in 1998 to go back to Oklahoma when he found out he was having a child. Burnett started his own training facility, with brother and trainer Scott Burnett, in East Tulsa called Mikey's Gym. He also began to teach and instruct at various other gyms in the city and surrounding area for the next several years.
The Ultimate Fighter: Season 4
After a seven year hiatus from fighting, Burnett was contacted by UFC President Dana WhiteDana White
Dana White is the current President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship , a mixed martial arts organization based in the United States.- Biography :...
in 2006 about being on the fourth season of The Ultimate Fighter reality show. Burnett gladly accepted and travelled to Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
for the taping.
Burnett ended up on Team No Love as a member of the welterweight fighters on the show. Burnett ended up breaking his neck during a training session on the show (contrary to popular opinion that Burnett broke it attempting to run through a wall; this is claimed by Burnett to be false.) Burnett was selected to take on Din Thomas
Din Thomas
Din Yero Thomas is an American mixed martial arts fighter and part time break dancer, who was featured on The Ultimate Fighter 4. He currently runs two successful Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA academies in Port St. Lucie, Florida and is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Ricardo Liborio...
in the fifth show of the season. Burnett ended up fighting Thomas with a broken neck. Thomas submitted Burnett with a triangle choke
Triangle choke
A triangle choke, or sankaku-jime in Judo, is a type of figure-four chokehold which strangles the opponent by encircling the opponent's neck and one arm with the legs in a configuration similar to the shape of a triangle...
in the first round of the fight. Burnett attempts to run through a wall during the 11th show of the season and ends up denting it. On the final episode, Burnett is informed by a doctor that he required major surgery
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
on his neck before he will be able to continue fighting. Burnett opted to undergo the surgery, which would put him out of action for at least one year. However, Burnett had problems with the insurance company and could not get the surgery done. Burnett later filed suit against the show to help pay for his surgery, but has been unsuccessful in getting the surgery completed.
Mixed martial arts record
|-|Win
|align=center|5-2
|
Townsend SaundersTownsend Saunders
Townsend Saunders is an Olympic silver medalist in wrestling who was a two-time All-American at Arizona State University. In 1987 Saunders became an NCAA Div. II National Champion for California State University-Bakersfield.-Biography:Known in college as "Junior" Saunders, he adopted his given...
|Decision (unanimous)
|UFC 18
UFC 18
UFC 18: The Road to the Heavyweight Title was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on January 8, 1999 in New Orleans, Louisiana...
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|15:00
|Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, United States
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|4-2
|
Pat MiletichPat Miletich
Patrick Jay Miletich is a retired American mixed martial artist and a current sports commentator. He is known for his fights in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he became the first UFC Welterweight Champion and UFC 16 tournament champion....
|Decision (split)
|UFC Brazil
UFC Brazil
UFC Brazil: Ultimate Brazil was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship in São Paulo, Brazil on October 16th, 1998...
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|21:00
|São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
|For UFC Welterweight Championship
|-
|Win
|align=center|4-1
|
Eugenio Tadeu|TKO (strikes)
|UFC 16
UFC 16
UFC 16: Battle in the Bayou was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on March 13, 1998 in New Orleans, Louisiana...
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|9:45
|Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|3-1
|Mike Hipp
|Submission (heel hook)
|WPC - World Pankration Championships 1
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|0:30
|Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|2-1
|Kevin Nix
|TKO (guillotine choke)
|OFFF 3 - Oklahoma Free Fight Federation 3
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|2:38
|Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|2-0
|Tony Hays
|Submission (rear naked choke)
|OFFF 3 - Oklahoma Free Fight Federation 3
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|0:33
|Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|1-0
|Todd Justice
|Decision (unanimous)
|OFFF 3 - Oklahoma Free Fight Federation 3
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|3:00
|Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, United States
|
|-