Houston Alexander

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Houston Alexander
HoustonAlexander.png
Born (1972-03-22) March 22, 1972 (age 41)
East St. Louis, Illinois, United States
Other names The Assassin
Nationality American
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight 202 lb (92 kg; 14 st 6 lb)
Division Light Heavyweight (205 lb)
Heavyweight (265 lb)
Stance Orthodox
Fighting out of Omaha, Nebraska
Team Grudge Training Center
Finney's HIT Squad
Years active 2001-present
Mixed martial arts record
Total 25
Wins 14
By knockout 9
By submission 3
By decision 2
Losses 9
By knockout 5
By submission 2
By decision 2
No contests 2
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Houston Alexander (born March 22, 1972) is an American professional mixed martial artist, who fights as a light heavyweight and heavyweight. He also works as a DJ in North Omaha, Nebraska.[1] In his MMA career he holds notable victories over Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, Alessio Sakara and Keith Jardine, all by stoppage due to strikes.

Contents

Backround [edit]

Alexander was born in East St. Louis, Illinois, and then moved to Omaha, Nebraska when he was eight years old. Alexander learned how to defend himself at a young age because he grew up in a rough neighborhood in East St. Louis. Alexander was athletic growing up, and attended Omaha North High School, where he played football and wrestled, excelling at all of these sports. Alexander also started boxing when he was a teenager. He is also a very talented artist, mostly with graffiti, and was accepted to the Savannah College of Art & Design in Georgia during his senior year of high school, but ultimately decided that he did not want to leave behind his daughter. Alexander then worked as a head machine operator at an asphalt company, before turning to MMA. [2]

Mixed martial arts career [edit]

Ultimate Fighting Championship [edit]

Alexander made his UFC debut at UFC 71 on May 26, 2007 against Keith Jardine. He knocked out Jardine in 49 seconds during the first round.[3]

He has since trained full-time; three times a day and seven days a week.[4]

Alexander then signed a new three-fight contract with the UFC. At UFC 75 Alexander beat Alessio Sakara.[5] Just like his previous fight, Sakara threw a couple of early shots before Alexander countered with close-contact strikes. "The way I was taught was that all your strength is inside versus outside,” Alexander said before the fight of his explosive ability when close to an opponent. "My short strikes are really, really good, and that’s from lifting weights and doing a lot of reps."

At UFC 78 Alexander faced then undefeated contender Thiago Silva. Silva won by TKO after the referee stopped the fight at 3:25 in the first round. In the fight Silva achieved mounted position on top of Alexander and landed punches until the referee called a stop to the contest. Many people have criticized Alexander's ground defense.

On April 2, 2008, Alexander fought "The Sandman" James Irvin as the first fight on the televised portion of UFC Fight Night: Kenny Florian vs Joe Lauzon in Broomfield, Colorado.[6] Irvin led off with a superman punch to the jaw that knocked Alexander down. He followed with three more devastating punches to the face that knocked him unconscious[7] and Steve Mazzagatti rushed in to stop the fight. Alexander immediately got to his feet and protested the quick stoppage. The 8 second knockout tied the record for the fastest knockout in the UFC alongside Don Frye's Knockout at UFC 8.[8] The loss was officially ruled as a TKO due to strikes,[9][10][11] although some sources list it as a KO.[12][13] This has generated some controversy as some fans felt that the fight was stopped too quickly.[14]

Alexander fought Eric "Red" Schafer at UFC Fight Night: Diaz vs. Neer in his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska.[15] After landing some effective knees early in the fight, Alexander lost the fight via arm triangle submission in the first round.[16]

Alexander was scheduled to face Andre Gusmão at UFC 98, but had to withdraw due to a broken hand suffered in training camp.

With the permission of the UFC, Alexander fought the late Sherman Pendergarst in a Heavyweight fight at Adrenaline MMA's Fourth Event.[17] Alexander defeated Pendergarst by TKO due to leg kicks that dropped "The Tank" followed by punches on the ground.

Alexander made his return to the UFC at The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights Finale against internet superstar Kimbo Slice at a catchweight of 215 pounds.[18] Alexander was defeated by Kimbo Slice by unanimous decision in a bout that many thought would not make it out of the first round. The fight was characterized by Alexander circling away from Kimbo while utilizing quick but not powerful leg kicks instead of directly engaging him. While the first and third rounds were largely spent at a distance, the most spectacular moment of the fight arguably came in the second round when Slice administered a suplex that rocked Alexander. Shortly following the loss, Alexander was cut from the UFC.[19]

Independent Promotions [edit]

Following his cut from the UFC, Alexander then fought heavy handed Joey Beltran at 5150 Combat League's "New Year's Revolution" on January 16, 2010, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Alexander controlled the first round by using movement and using quick leg kicks to keep Beltran at bay, In the second round Alexander was utilizing the same tactics that had won him the first round but Beltran caught Alexander with an uppercut-left hook combination that dropped and finished Alexander at 3:49 in the 2nd round.

Alexander next faced Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou on September 11, 2010 at Shark Fights 13: Jardine vs. Prangley. Following a tough first round that saw Alexander rocked and knocked down on several occasions, he came back in the second round to win via TKO (punches) at 1:31, he won Knockout and Fight of the Night.

Alexander next was scheduled to fight a rematch against James Irvin from UFC Fight Night: Kenny Florian vs Joe Lauzon back in 2008, where Irvin knocked out Alexander 8 seconds into the 1st round via a superman punch. The 8-second knockout tied the record of fastest knockout in UFC history, until UFC 102, where Todd Duffee broke the record with a 7-second KO. It was set to take place at Shark Fights 14: Horwich vs. Villefort on March 11, 2011 in Lubbock, Texas, USA, The fight was cancelled on March 2 due to a training injury suffered by Alexander and a failed drug test by James Irvin.

Alexander faced Razak Al-Hassan at MMA Fight Pit: Genesis. He dominated and won the fight via TKO due to a doctor stoppage by a cut.

Alexander recently faced Canadian brawler Steve Bosse. He was knocked out in the 2nd round via a brutal elbow to the head from the clinch.

Alexander took on Gilbert Yvel on Friday, March 30, 2012 at the second Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA) show. Houston lost via one punch KO in round 1 against Yvel.

On September 15, 2012, Alexander faced the KSW Light Heavyweight Champion Jan Blachowicz at KSW 20 in Gdansk, Poland. Blachowicz dominated Alexander on the ground for most of the fight, he lost via unanimous decision.

On March 30, 2013, Alexander defeated Dennis Reed via submission due to punches at Victory FIghting Championship 39.

Personal Life [edit]

Alexander has six children.

Championships and Accomplishments [edit]

  • Shark Fights
    • Fight of the Night (One time)
    • Knockout of the Night (One time)[20]

Mixed martial arts record [edit]

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 14–9 (2) Dennis Reed Submission (punches) VFC - Victory Fighting Championship 39 02013-03-30March 30, 2013 1 1:01 Ralston, Nebraska, United States
Loss 13–9 (2) Jan Błachowicz Decision (unanimous) KSW XX 02012-09-15September 15, 2012 3 5:00 Sopot, Poland For the KSW Light Heavyweight Championship.
Loss 13–8 (2) Gilbert Yvel KO (punch) RFA 2: Yvel vs. Alexander 02012-03-30March 30, 2012 1 3:59 Kearney, Nebraska, United States
Loss 13–7 (2) Steve Bossé KO (elbow) Instinct MMA 1 02011-10-07October 7, 2011 2 4:11 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Win 13–6 (2) Razak Al-Hassan TKO (doctor stoppage) MMA Fight Pit: Genesis 02011-08-13August 13, 2011 2 5:00 Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
Win 12–6 (2) Brian Albin TKO (doctor stoppage) Caged In The Coliseum: Albin vs Alexander 02011-06-25June 25, 2011 3 0:26 Jackson, Mississippi, United States
Win 11–6 (2) Sokoudjou TKO (punches) Shark Fights 13 02010-09-11September 11, 2010 2 1:31 Amarillo, Texas, United States Fight of the Night & Knockout of the Night
Win 10–6 (2) David Griffin Decision (unanimous) UFA 1: The Clash at the Coliseum 02010-06-11June 11, 2010 3 5:00 Charleston, South Carolina, United States
NC 9–6 (2) Justin Grizzard NC (eye poke) Extreme Challenge: The Aftermath 02010-03-27March 27, 2010 2 Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States Alexander poked Grizzard in the eye
Loss 9–6 (1) Joey Beltran TKO (punches) 5150 Combat League/XFL: New Year's Revolution 02010-01-16January 16, 2010 2 3:49 Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States For the 5150 Combat League Heavyweight Title
Loss 9–5 (1) Kimbo Slice Decision (unanimous) The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights Finale 02009-12-05December 5, 2009 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Fought at catchweight of 215 lb
Win 9–4 (1) Sherman Pendergarst TKO (leg kicks and punches) Adrenaline MMA IV: Sylvia vs. Riley 02009-09-18September 18, 2009 1 1:51 Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States Fought at Heavyweight
Loss 8–4 (1) Eric Schafer Submission (arm-triangle choke) UFC Fight Night: Diaz vs. Neer 02008-09-17September 17, 2008 1 4:53 Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Loss 8–3 (1) James Irvin KO (punches) UFC Fight Night 13 02008-04-02April 2, 2008 1 0:08 Broomfield, Colorado, United States
Loss 8–2 (1) Thiago Silva TKO (punches) UFC 78 02007-11-17November 17, 2007 1 3:25 Newark, New Jersey, United States
Win 8–1 (1) Alessio Sakara TKO (knee and punches) UFC 75 02007-09-08September 8, 2007 1 1:01 London, England Knockout of the Night
Win 7–1 (1) Keith Jardine KO (punches and knees) UFC 71 02007-05-26May 26, 2007 1 0:48 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States UFC Debut
NC 6–1 (1) Todd Allee NC (illegal knees) Extreme Challenge 76 02007-03-31March 31, 2007 1 3:23 Sloan, Iowa, United States Alexander delivered downed knees to Allee
Win 6–1 Jon Murphy TKO (punches) Extreme Challenge 76 02007-03-31March 31, 2007 1 0:56 Sloan, Iowa, United States
Win 5–1 Demian Decorah Decision (unanimous) Downtown Destruction 1 02005-01-12January 12, 2005 5 3:00 Des Moines, Iowa, United States
Win 4–1 Brandon Quigley TKO (punches) Judgment Night 2 02004-11-03November 3, 2004 1 0:41 Des Moines, Iowa, United States
Win 3–1 Justin Butler KO (punches) Gladiators 20 02003-03-15March 15, 2003 1 0:38 Des Moines, Iowa, United States
Win 2–1 Chuck Purdow Submission (punches) Gladiators 17 02001-08-18August 18, 2001 1 0:58 Hastings, Nebraska, United States
Win 1–1 Jamie Webb Submission (punches) Gladiators 16 02001-06-30June 30, 2001 1 2:18 Des Moines, Iowa, United States
Loss 0–1 Jason Medina Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) Extreme Challenge 40 02001-06-16June 16, 2001 2 0:47 Springfield, Illinois, United States MMA Debut

Television [edit]

Alexander made an appearance on the Fox Sports Network's "Sport Science" in 2009.

Music career [edit]

Alexander, aka Scrib, Cone-Dome, or FAS/ONE, has long been a bastion of Omaha's underground hip hop scene. In the 1980s he led a hip hop movement in North Omaha called the Scribble Crew as an alliance of graffiti writers who developed a reputation as the top tag artists in the area. The art stands today at 24th and Binney Streets and 16th and Corby Streets among other North Omaha locations, and is still respected by the community. His Midwest Alliance act was active through the 1990s and into the new millennium, and is seen as influential on the Omaha scene.[21]

Today Alexander is a DJ on KOPW 106.9, a local radio station in Plattsmouth. He hosts an independent music show featuring hip hop and facilitates an elementary school program called the "Culture Shock School Tour" which teaches students about hip hop.[1] Alexander has also been vocal about Omaha's lack of support for its hip hop artists.[22]

Personal life [edit]

Alexander is a single father raising six children.[23]

Alexander donated one of his kidneys to his oldest daughter in 2000.[24]

In late 2011 Alexander was ticketed by Omaha Police with child abuse after forcing his son to box with him in their home basement.[25]

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b (2007) Exclusive interview with Houston Alexander. MMAJunkie.com. Retrieved 6/15/07.
  2. ^ https://www.fightmagazine.com/mma-magazine/mma-article.asp?aid=19&issid=2. Retrieved 2007-06-04.  Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. ^ "Brawl Sports: UFC 71 :: Houston Alexander vs. Keith Jardine". Retrieved 2007-06-04. 
  4. ^ Style Wars: An exclusive interview with Houston Alexander at UFC blog for UFC news, results, videos, rumors, fights, pics and tickets — MMAmania.com
  5. ^ Alexander Inks New Deal; UFC 75 Fight To Be Broadcast | UFC Daily
  6. ^ " UFC 83 in London; Houston Alexander Accepts Fight with James Irvin", MMAjunkie.com. January 10, 2008. Retrieved 1/18/08.
  7. ^ Mike Sloan (2008-04-03). "Florian Halts Lauzon; Maynard, Diaz Also Win". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2009-02-21. 
  8. ^ Ken Pishna (2008-04-02). "UFC FIGHT NIGHT 13: FLORIAN BRINGS THE BIG GUNS". MMAWeekly.com. Retrieved 2009-02-21. 
  9. ^ Dann Stupp and Bruce Huckfeldt (2008-04-02). "UFC Fight Night 13 Live Results". MMAJunkie.com. Retrieved 2009-02-21. 
  10. ^ "UFC Fight Night Kenny Florian vs Joe Lauzon". UFC.com. 2008-04-02. Retrieved 2009-02-21. 
  11. ^ Michael David Smith (2008-04-02). "James Irvin TKOs Houston Alexander in 8 Seconds: Fastest Knockout in UFC History". Fanhouse. Retrieved 2009-02-21. 
  12. ^ "UFC FIGHT NIGHT 13 LIVE RESULTS FROM COLORADO". MMAWeekly.com. 2008-04-02. Retrieved 2009-02-21. 
  13. ^ "Fight Finder - UFC - Fight Night 13". Sherdog.com. 2008-04-02. Retrieved 2009-02-21. 
  14. ^ Michael David Smith (2008-04-05). "Steve Mazzagatti Deserves Credit for Stopping James Irvin-Houston Alexander UFC Fight". Fanhouse. Retrieved 2009-02-21. 
  15. ^ On September 17, 2008, Alexander fought Eric Schafer in front of his hometown Omaha, Nebraska crowd at UFN 15 | MMAjunkie.com
  16. ^ http://www.sportsline.com/mmaboxing/story/10982973
  17. ^ Tim Sylvia headlines Adrenaline MMA IV against Jason Riley on Sept. 18 in Iowa
  18. ^ "Houston Alexander applying for NSAC license, meeting Kimbo at TUF 10 Finale?". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2009-10-29. 
  19. ^ UFC to cut Houston Alexander following "Kimbo Slice" loss
  20. ^ http://www.mmamadman.com/2010/09/shark-fights-13-results-keith-jardine.html
  21. ^ (1999) Midwest Alliance - Rockin' the B-Boy Language. The Reader. 3/19/99. Retrieved 6/25/07.
  22. ^ Losa, J. (2006) "On the Town: Fans Should Support Local Hip-Hop." Omaha World-Herald. 11/2/06. Retrieved 7/1/07.
  23. ^ You’re a UFC fighter, a radio DJ, a hip hop lecturer and enthusiast, and a single dad of six children. What’s it like balancing all that?
  24. ^ MMA WEEKLY - Your #1 Source for Daily MMA News, Interviews, Multimedia, and More: - HOUSTON ALEXANDER IS ALL ABOUT PERSPECTIVE
  25. ^ Houston Alexander ticketed for child abuse after boxing with son

External links [edit]

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Houston_Alexander&oldid=552515603"