Travis Wiuff
Born	Travis James Wiuff[1] (1978-03-15) March 15, 1978 (age 45) Owatonna, Minnesota, United States
Other names	Diesel
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight	264.5 lb (120.0 kg; 18.89 st)
Division	Light Heavyweight Heavyweight Super Heavyweight
Reach	74 in (188 cm)[2]
Stance	Orthodox
Fighting out of	Rochester, Minnesota, United States
Team	Lion's Lair (2001–2002)[3] Menne Combat Academy (2002–2006)[4] Elite Performance (formerly)[4] Miletich Fighting Systems (formerly)[4]
Rank	Brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Mario Roberto[5]
Wrestling	NCAA Division II wrestling
Years active	2001–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total	101
Wins	78
By knockout	39
By submission	12
By decision	27
Losses	22
By knockout	16
By submission	3
By decision	3
No contests	1
Other information
University	Minnesota State University[4]
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Medal record Representing  United States Men's catch wrestling Frank Gotch World Catch Championships 2016 Humboldt 219 lb[6] 2017 Humboldt Openweight[7] ACWA US National Championship 2023 Humboldt +214 lb[8] Collegiate wrestling Representing the RCTC Yellowjackets NJCAA Championships 1999 Rochester 285 lbs[9]
Last updated on: September 30, 2023 (2023-09-30)

Travis James Wiuff (born March 15, 1978)^[1] is an American mixed martial artist competing in the Heavyweight division. A professional competitor since 2001 and veteran of over 100 fights, Wiuff has competed for the UFC, PRIDE, Bellator, World Victory Road, and the Quad Cities Silverbacks and San Jose Razorclaws of the IFL.^[10]

Background

Wiuff is from Owatonna, Minnesota, and is of Danish and Irish descent. As his father was a professional wrestler, Wiuff also began wrestling when he was five years old, and continued through high school and college.^[11] While at Owatonna High School, he also played football.^[12] He was injured during his senior year and had to miss out on the state wrestling championship tournament despite being ranked number one in the state of Minnesota.

Wiuff continued to wrestle and also continued to play football for two years in junior college, at Rochester Technical Community College, where he was a two-time NJCAA All-American, finishing second as a heavyweight at the national championship in 1999.^[12][13][9] After junior college, Wiuff attended Minnesota State University but dropped out a year before graduating with a law enforcement degree.^[4]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Applying for a bouncer job in his early adulthood, Wiuff bumped into Brad Kohler who tried to lure the accomplished wrestler into fighting.^[11] Over time and after several attempts, Kohler succeeded and Wiuff begun training at Kohler's gym Lion's Lair.^[11] Rapidly after starting the sport, Wiuff made his professional debut in September 2001. Over the next year, he amassed a record of 12–2 before making his debut for the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Wiuff made his UFC debut in November 2002 as he faced Vladimir Matyushenko at UFC 40. He lost the fight via submission due to punches late in the first round. Wiuff was released from the promotion following the loss.

Post-UFC release

Following his release from the company, Wiuff fought schedule on the independent MMA circuit. He fought 24 times over the next three years, and went 22–2.

Return to UFC

Wiuff was invited back to the UFC in April 2005 when he faced Renato Sobral at UFC 52. He lost the fight via armbar submission in the opening minute of the second round. He was again released from the promotion.

Independent promotions

Wiuff continued his fight schedule after his second UFC release fighting in more independent promotions. Before joining Bellator, he fought 39 times in the ensuing six years. He added an additional 29-9 with one no-contest to his record during this period.

Wiuff won the YAMMA Eight-Man Heavyweight Tournament as well as the IFO Light Heavyweight Championship twice, IFC Americas Cruiserweight Championship and IFC United States Light Heavyweight Championship once.

Wiuff fought Mike Kyle on May 24, 2013, at CFA 11, Wiuff lost via knockout in 21 seconds of the first round.^[14]

Bellator Fighting Championships

Wiuff signed to a contract with Bellator. He debuted in October 2011 where he defeated reigning Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion Christian M'Pumbu in a non-title superfight at Bellator 55, marking the first time a reigning Bellator Champion had lost to someone not under an ongoing contract with the promotion.^[15][16] Bellator signed Wiuff to a contract that December,^[17] and he returned to the promotion in March 2012 where he defeated Anthony Gomez in a unanimous decision at Bellator 60.^[18]

In the summer of 2012, Wiuff entered Bellator's Light Heavyweight Tournament. In the opening round at Bellator 71, he faced Chris Davis and won via KO in the first round.^[19] Wiuff faced Tim Carpenter in the semifinals at Bellator 72.^[20] He won the fight via unanimous decision.

On August 24, 2012, Wiuff faced Attila Vegh in the tournament finals at Bellator 73 and lost via KO in 25 seconds of round one.^[21]

On March 21, 2013, Wiuff faced Ryan Martinez at Bellator 93 in a Heavyweight bout, He lost via KO in 18 seconds of round one.^[22]

Independent promotions

Wiuff faced Brett Murphy at VCF: Countdown to War on December 31, 2013. He won the fight via unanimous decision, snapping his four fight losing streak.^[23]

Wiuff signed with the Driller Promotions organization in March 2014, and made his debut against Terry Davinney at DP: O-Town Throwdown 1 on April 12, 2014. He won the fight via first-round TKO.^[24]

He then faced Brian Heden at Driller Promotions: No Mercy 11 on May 24, 2014, for the DP Heavyweight Championship. He won the fight via first-round TKO, and won his first championship since 2009.^[25] He then faced Dallas Mitchell at Dakota FC: Beatdown 11 on June 7, 2014, which he won in a unanimous decision.^[26]

Wiuff made his first title defense on June 27, 2014, when he faced Danyelle Williams at Driller Promotions: A-Town Throwdown III.^[27] He won the fight via unanimous decision.^[28]

Wiuff then faced Chris Barnett at Inoki Genome Fight 2 on August 23, 2014. Wiuff lost the bout via TKO after being struck by a right hand from Barnett.^[29]

Wiuff faced Timothy Johnson at Dakota FC 19: Fall Brawl on October 25, 2014, for the DFC Heavyweight Championship. He was defeated via TKO due to punches in the first round.^[30]

Wiuff faced Kevin Asplund at Driller Promotions: O-Town Throwdown 2 on April 18, 2015. He won via submission in round three.^[31]

Submission wrestling career

Wiuff has also competed in catch wrestling. In July 2016, he won gold in the 219 lb division at the Frank Gotch World Catch Championships in Humboldt, Iowa.^[32][6] Wiuff returned for the tournament's 2017 edition, which used an openweight format. He placed second, losing in the final to Curran Jacobs, who Wiuff outweighted by over 50 lbs.^[7]

In December 2023, Wiuff competed at the American Catch Wrestling Association (ACWA) US National Championships in Brea, California,^[33] winning gold in the +214 lb division.^[8]

Personal life

Wiuff has two daughters.^[34]

Wiuff is a special needs teacher and a football and wrestling coach in the Kasson-Mantorville School District.^[12][34]

Championships and accomplishments

Catch wrestling

• American Catch Wrestling Association
  • 2023 US National Championships - 1st place, over 214 lb^[8]

• Catch Wrestling Alliance
  • 2016 Frank Gotch World Catch Championships - 1st place, 219 lb^[6]
  • 2017 Frank Gotch World Catch Championships - 2nd place, openweight^[7]

Collegiate wrestling

• National Junior College Athletic Association
  • NJCAA Wrestling National Championships (1999) - 2nd place, heavyweight (285 lb)^[9]
  • NJCAA All-American (1999)^[12][9]

Mixed martial arts

• Fusion Fight League
  • FFL Heavyweight Championship (One time, current)
• Bellator Fighting Championships
  • Bellator 2012 Summer Series Light Heavyweight Tournament runner-up
• Driller Promotions
  • DP Heavyweight Championship (One time)
• YAMMA Pit Fighting
  • YAMMA 8-Man Heavyweight Tournament Winner
• International Fighting Organization
  • IFO Light Heavyweight Championship (Two times)
• International Fighting Championships
  • IFC Americas Cruiserweight Championship (One time)
  • IFC United States Light Heavyweight Championship (One time)
• International Sport Karate Association
  • ISKA MMA Light Heavyweight Championship (One time)

Mixed martial arts record