Tim Sylvia

At 48 years old, Tim Sylvia has this physical status:

Timothy Deane Sylvia (born March 5, 1976) is a retired American mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, pro wrestler, and former UFC Heavyweight Champion.

He has competed as both a Super Heavyweight and Heavyweight.

Sylvia has competed for Affliction, the International Fighting Championships (IFC), and ONE FC, although perhaps best known for playing in the UFC.

Personal life

Maverick, Sylvia's son, has been in the family since his inception. Sylvia revealed that he worked as a police officer in the State of Illinois on a part-time basis in 2010 (one day a month).

Source

Mixed martial arts career

Sylvia made his professional MMA debut in 2001, versus the IFC. With ten knockouts in companies including the Hawaii-based SuperBrawl and the Extreme Challenge, he continued to win for the thirteen straight times.

Sylvia joined the Ultimate Fighting Championship in 2002 and won a TKO victory over Wesley "Cabbage" Correira at UFC 39, when Correira's corner threw in the towel. Sylvia then went on to defeat Ricco Rodriguez at UFC 41, winning the UFC heavyweight championship for the first time. Sylvia defended his position with another quick victory over Gan McGee at UFC 44 just over a week after.

Sylvia tested positive for the banned drug Stanozolol following the fight with McGee. He voluntarily forfeited his position and was banned for six months by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, with a fine of $10,000 (NSAC). Later, he said that the steroids were intended for losing excess fat. Sylvia apologised and denied any attempt to show innocence.

Sylvia returned to face Frank Mir in the undisputed UFC Heavyweight Championship at UFC 48 in June 2004; he lost. Mir trapped Sylvia's right arm in an armbar submission attempt early in the game. Sylvia's right radius bone snapped about three inches below his elbow as Sylvia attempted to recover from the hold. Referee Herb Dean called the match off and declared Sylvia unable to continue. Sylvia refused to the verdict and maintained that his arm was not broken (though the break could be clearly seen on the slow-motion replay of the fight), even though it was not broken; even moving it around to demonstrate. Sylvia was admitted to a local hospital where an x-ray revealed that his arm had been broken; he later took several months off to recover. Sylvia said he was relieved that the referee called the fight to a halt, saving his arm from further injury.

Sylvia returned to the UFC in February 2005, facing Andrei Arlovski to crown an interim UFC heavyweight champion, despite him being unable to defend his title. Sylvia was knocked to the ground by an overhand right punch, and while standing on the ground, she was trapped in an Achilles lock and submitted.

Sylvia defeated Mike Block in the IFC by TKO in May 2005, then moved to face Tra Telligman at UFC 54. Sylvia landed a left head kick that knocked out Telligman with just one second remaining in the first round. Sylvia made his cable television debut on Saturday next, versus Assuerio Silva at Ultimate Fight Night 3 on Spike TV, winning a unanimous decision after three rounds in a competition that was supposed to determine the next top contender.

Sylvia was finally rematched with the then-outright champion Andrei Arlovski at UFC 59. Sylvia won the fight after being knocked down by Arlovski in round one after being knocked out by Arlovski.

In a three-fight match with Andrei Arlovski at UFC 61, Sylvia next defended his title. Sylvia wowed the tumultuous battle by unanimous decision, thanks to his fame and size advantage.

At UFC 65, Sylvia next faced Mundials world Jiu-Jitsu champion, 2-time ADCC world champion, and Jiu-Jitsu Pan American champion Jeff Monson. Sylvia won a classic "striker vs. grappler" match after being billed as a result of a unanimous decision to keep the fight on the outside with the jab.

Sylvia defeated former UFC Heavyweight and UFC Light Heavyweight champion Randy Couture at UFC 68 on March 3, 2007. After being knocked down by Couture, he lost the battle and championship by decision.

Sylvia defeated Brandon Vera by a majority vote on October 20, 2007, 29–28, 29–28). He called out Cheick Kongo to take the topweight championship belt in the post-fight interview.

Sylvia defeated Antônio Rodrigo No. 81 in Las Vegas on February 2, 2008, in the interim heavyweight championship.

Sylvia demanded and was released from his UFC deal early in 2008, although there was still one fight fighting on it. Sylvia cited unhappiness with pay, the desire to meet Fedor Emelianenko, non-exclusive contracts of other companies, and the possibility to fight more often as his reasons for leaving.

Sylvia, formerly M-1 Global, has signed to a two-year deal with Adrenaline MMA, allowing him to work for other organisations while Adrenaline's contract was expired. He was just asked to meet Fedor Emelianenko at Affliction Clothing's inaugural event Affliction Clothing: Banned. On July 19, 2008, the Russians sacked Sylvia and took his back before securing a rear naked choke, causing Sylvia to fail at 0:36 of the first round.

Sylvia's boss (and Adrenaline MMA CEO) Monte Cox revealed on February 25, 2009, that the team would face former boxing world heavyweight champion and 1988 Olympic gold medalist Ray Mercer in a boxing main event at Adrenaline MMA III in Atlantic City. However, after the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board refused to sanction the protest, the parade was postponed to June 13 in Birmingham, Alabama. It was changed to be contest under MMA rules just days before the match, but only days before, due to sanctions issues. Mercer knocked Sylvia out with a single punch nine seconds before they met for the first time. Sylvia weighed in at 310.6 pounds for the Super Heavyweight match.

Sylvia was supposed to meet Paul Buentello at Affliction: Trilogy before his match with Mercer. But after the humiliating KO loss, Cox and Affliction decided that it would be best for Sylvia to wait for the next few months due to his recent losses.

Sylvia defeated Jason Riley via TKO (punches) 2:32 in the first round at the Adrenaline IV main event in Council Bluffs, Iowa, after Affliction was postponed. Sylvia broke his right hand about a minute and a half into his match with Riley, spoiling his debut with the Japanese promotion Dream for October 25.

On March, 20th in Ohio, Sylvia's next fight was supposed to be a rematch with Wes Sims, a The Ultimate Fighter alumni. The Ohio State Athletic Commission refused to sanction the match, saying that the event was "non-competitive," resulting in the match being postponed to June 6, 2010 in Nova Scotia, Canada, for the IFC Superheavyweight Championship.

Sylvia won by submission on May 21, 2010, beating Britain's Strongest Man Mariusz Pudzianowski at Moosin: The God of Martial Arts won by submission in the interim (punches).

When it was discovered that Sylvia broke his foot at Moosin, it was scuttled again (as well as another against UFC veteran Pedro Rizzo).

On August 14, Sylvia defeated Paul Buentello by Knockout due to an uppercut at Powerhouse World Promotions: War on the Mainland. Powerhouse World Promotions announced that Sylvia would make his first title defense against fellow UFC veteran Pedro Rizzo as he entered the ring during the post-fight interview. However, the confrontation never happened, as PWP had vanished shortly after this inaugural event.

On December 11, Sylvia defeated Vince Lucero at the CFX/Extreme Challenge. Sylvia gained the contest by punches, but not by submission.

Sylvia defeated Abe Wagner at Titan Fighting Championships 16 (Sylvia's Todd Duffee), Sylvia weighed in 311 pounds and was defeated 32 seconds in the first round, snapping his 4-fight win streak. The super heavyweight matchup at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan., was the main event of Friday night's HDNet-broadcast contest.

Wagner's speed advantage was evident in the first seconds, and he seemed to pepper Sylvia with strikes on several fronts as he retreated and remained away from his opponent's length. Then was a right hand at the start of the tale.

On the temple, Wagner discovered Sylvia, who was clearly staggered. Wagner went on the assault with jackhammer punches that pursued Sylvia across the cage as "The Maine-Iac" continued to recover. Sylvia avoided the shots as he returned to the cage, but Wagner landed a four-punch combo that saw his opponent slump to the ground, and he escaped. Referee Jason Herzog wasted little time in rushing to call the fight, but the decision was justified when Sylvia stumbled as he returned to his feet. The whole process took just 32 seconds.

On August 13, Sylvia was supposed to face Shayne Adams (1–2) at the Rockford Metro Centre in Rockford, Illinois, in a Fight Tour match. However, the event will now take place on August 20 due to a scheduling clash with the athletic commission. Because the Illinois Athletic Commission would not allow the match between Adams and Sylvia, Sylvia was then scheduled to face Brian Heden at the August 20 Fight Tour exhibition. However, Sylvia and Heden's match was postponed for unknown reasons, and Sylvia's submission specialist Patrick Barrentine will now face submission specialist Patrick Barrentine. Sylvia defeated Barrentine via TKO in the first round. Sylvia weighed in at 280.5 pounds for the fight, 30 pounds less than his previous fight against Wagner.

On November 5, Sylvia was supposed to face Pedro Rizzo at ProElite 2, but Rizzo was forced to cancel due to injury. Instead, Sylvia defeated German heavyweight Andreas Kraniotakes and was ultimately a winner by unanimous decision.

On June 16, Sylvia fought Randy Smith at NEF: Fight Night 3 in his home state of Maine. Sylvia defeated Smith in 12 seconds by TKO.

Tim Sylvia had signed with the Asia-based promotion ONE Championship in mid-July 2012. Sylvia will meet Andrei Arlovski in his debut, the fourth time the two fighters have met together. On August 31, 2012 in Manila, Sylvia and Arlovski faced off at ONE Fighting Championship: Pride of a Nation. Due to Andrei Arlovski's illegal soccer kick, Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovski's match ended in a no-contest. Soccer kicks are only legal if the referee allows the fighter to do so after finding that the grounded fighter can nevertheless effectively defend himself, according to ONE FC rules at the time. Arlovski was not granted a warning because the kick was considered unlawful. One FC lifted the visa bar four days later.

Sylvia defeated Tony Johnson at ONE FC 9 on May 31, 2013: Rise to Power. Sylvia failed by TKO (doctor stoppage) in 3:25 of the third round.

In Inoki Bom-Ye, Sylvia defeated Satoshi Ishii and lost by unanimous decision.

At Fight Nights: Battle of Moscow 13 and defeated by unanimous decision, Sylvia defeated Dagestan prospect Ruslan Magomedov.

On January 3, 2015, Sylvia was supposed to face Juliano Coutinho at Reality Fighting, but the Mohegan Athletic Unit refused medical clearance, and as a result, the match was cancelled. Sylvia weighed in at 371 pounds for the fight. Monte Cox, Sylvia's boss, posted on Facebook, "Not 100% positive," Cox said when asked why the fight was postponed." Cox wrote, "In fact, because of his youth, he had to do a lot of meds at last minute." "All, he needed a stress test, MRI, EKG, eye, blood, and physical." According to Cox's Facebook post, all the tests ordered by the Mohegan commission have had a huge effect on Sylvia's bank account, including that he is "[$2,000] in the hole due to all the [tests] I had to do. Sylvia announced his retirement from MMA following the cancellation of the match. He appeared in the cage with his newly announced opponent, but a MRI blockad prevented him from participating. At Mohegan Sun Arena, Sylvia said, "I've been doing enough damage in the last 16 years."

Professional wrestling career

Sylvia made his pro wrestling debut on September 25, 2010, losing via submission to fellow mixed-martial-artist Josh Barnett at the IGF's Genome 13 tournament.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling president Dixie Carter was urged to sign Sylvia and debut him to the TNA ranks on August 1, 2013. Sylvia himself endorsed the campaign by re-tweeting it to his Twitter followers.

Source