James Head (fighter)

James Head (born February 9, 1984) is an American mixed martial artist who competed in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

James Head
Born (1984-02-09) February 9, 1984
Highland, Illinois, United States
NationalityAmerican
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight170 lb (77 kg; 12 st)
DivisionWelterweight
Middleweight
Reach73 in (185 cm)
Fighting out ofOklahoma City, Oklahoma
TeamLovato Jiu Jitsu
RankPurple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Years active2006-present
Mixed martial arts record
Total13
Wins9
By knockout4
By submission3
By decision2
Losses4
By knockout1
By submission2
By decision1
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Mixed martial arts

James started training at Lovato's in 2008 and quickly earned a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu after winning the silver medal at the 2010 World Championships as a blue belt. Before James arrived at Lovato's, he had over six years of boxing experience, and was the Southwest Regional Amateur Champion in Texas. He has since been incorporating Lovato's Mixed Martial Arts program into his arsenal and currently holds an 8-2 pro record and a 5-0 amateur record as a MMA fighter. James has been studying the art of Muay Thai and is showing his techniques to the Lovato's Team, demonstrating how to throw a proper punch, kick, elbow and knee.

Early career

In August 2009 he suffered his first loss to Jesse Forbes resulting in a 5–1 record. He then bounced back with a TKO win over Bill Albrecht.

His biggest win to date came over UFC veteran Gerald Harris at the Tulsa Hard Rock Cafe.[1] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[2]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

With his win over Harris, Head earned a shot in the UFC and made his debut against undefeated Nick Ring at UFC 131.[3] He lost the fight via submission in the third round.

Head was expected to face Mark Scanlon on November 5, 2011 at UFC 138.[4] However, Scanlon was pulled from the bout and replaced by promotional newcomer John Maguire[5] Then, on September 28, Head himself pulled out of the fight due to an undisclosed injury and was replaced by Justin Edwards.[6]

Head made his welterweight debut against Papy Abedi at UFC on Fuel TV: Gustafsson vs. Silva.[7] He won the fight at 4:33 in the first round via rear naked choke.

Head was expected to face Claude Patrick on July 21, 2012 at UFC 149.[8] However, Patrick was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by Brian Ebersole.[9] Head won via split decision (29-28, 28–29, 29-28).

Head faced Mike Pyle on December 15, 2012 at The Ultimate Fighter: Team Carwin vs. Team Nelson Finale.[10] He lost via TKO in the first round.

Head was scheduled to fight Nick Catone on April 27, 2013 at UFC 159.[11] During official weigh-ins, Head registered 170.25 pounds while Catone failed to make weight, coming in at 173 pounds. Catone was allowed two hours to attempt to shed weight before a second weigh-in opportunity was offered him. He did not re-weigh. Catone was subsequently fined 20% of his purse, and the bout was scheduled to proceed as a catchweight match. The day of the show, it was announced that Catone had been hospitalized for "severe dehydration", and the fight was officially pulled from the card.[12]

Head was expected to face Bobby Voelker on August 28, 2013 at UFC Fight Night 27.[13] However, on July 11, it was announced that Voelker had been tabbed as a replacement for Siyar Bahadurzada and would face Robbie Lawler on July 27, 2013 at UFC on Fox 8.[14] Head instead faced Jason High at UFC Fight Night 27.[15] He lost the bout via first round guillotine choke submission. After the loss Head was subsequently released from the UFC.

Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown
13 matches 9 wins 4 losses
By knockout 4 1
By submission 3 2
By decision 2 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 9–4 Jason High Submission (guillotine choke) UFC Fight Night: Condit vs. Kampmann 2 August 28, 2013 1 1:41 Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Loss 9–3 Mike Pyle TKO (knee & punches) The Ultimate Fighter 16 Finale December 15, 2012 1 1:55 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 9–2 Brian Ebersole Decision (split) UFC 149 July 21, 2012 3 5:00 Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Win 8–2 Papy Abedi Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC on Fuel TV: Gustafsson vs. Silva April 14, 2012 1 4:33 Stockholm, Sweden Welterweight bout
Loss 7–2 Nick Ring Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 131 June 11, 2011 3 3:33 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Win 7–1 Gerald Harris Decision (unanimous) Xtreme Fight Night: Harris vs. Head February 25, 2011 3 5:00 Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
Win 6–1 Bill Albrecht TKO (punches) Bricktown Brawl 5 June 25, 2010 1 1:46 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
Loss 5–1 Jesse Forbes Decision (unanimous) PB MMA - Live Saturday Night August 22, 2009 3 5:00 Springdale, Arkansas, United States
Win 5–0 Chris Henning TKO (punches) TAP Entertainment - Ultimate Fight Night 3 September 27, 2008 1 2:20 Muskogee, Oklahoma, United States
Win 4–0 Lee McKibbin Submission (triangle choke) CW 9 - Max Extreme Fighting March 9, 2008 2 N/A Belfast, Northern Ireland
Win 3–0 Eric Bradley TKO (punches) Masters of the Cage 16 September 28, 2007 2 1:47 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
Win 2–0 Ruben Escamilla Submission Masters of the Cage 14 June 26, 2007 1 2:12 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
Win 1–0 Chance Fine TKO (punches) Masters of the Cage 7 December 2, 2006 1 1:02 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States

References
  1. "Gerald Harris vs. James Head". Rankingmma.com. 20 January 2011.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-08. Retrieved 2011-05-22.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Nick Ring vs. James Head added to UFC 131 in Vancouver". Mmajunkie.com. 2011-04-11.
  4. "Scanlon vs. Head To Feature At UFC 138". YourMMA.tv. July 21, 2011. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved July 21, 2011.
  5. "Mark Scanlon out of UFC 138, John Maguire debuts against James Head". mmajunkie.com. Archived from the original on 2011-09-26. Retrieved 2010-09-21.
  6. "James Head out, Justin Edwards in". The Fight Lounge. September 28, 2011. Archived from the original on September 30, 2011. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
  7. "Papy Abedi vs. James Head Slated for UFC's Debut in Sweden". Mmafighting.com. January 4, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
  8. "Claude Patrick vs. James Head added to UFC 149". mmajunkie.com. May 22, 2012. Archived from the original on May 24, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  9. "Claude Patrick out with injury; Brian Ebersole meets James Head at UFC 149". mmajunkie.com. July 3, 2012. Archived from the original on July 5, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  10. "Mike Pyle says he's fighting James Head at The Ultimate Fighter 16 Finale". Mmajunkie.com. 2012-09-24. Archived from the original on September 26, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
  11. John Morgan (January 30, 2013). "Nick Catone vs. James Head added to April's UFC 159 event". Mmajunkie.com. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
  12. "Nick Catone vs. James Head pulled from tonight's UFC 159 lineup". Mmajunkie.com. 2013-04-27. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  13. Mike Whitman (2013-06-04). "Head-Voelker to Aug. 28 UFC Card". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2013-06-04.
  14. "Siyar Bahardurzada out at UFC on FOX 8, Bobby Voelker faces Robbie Lawler". Mmajunkie.com. 2013-07-11. Retrieved 2013-07-11.
  15. "James Head vs. Jason High completes UFC Fight Night 27's 13-bout lineup in Indy". Mmajunkie.com. 2013-07-18. Retrieved 2013-07-18.
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