Michael Wade Wessel (born December 2, 1977) is an American heavyweight mixed martial arts fighter. Wessel had a brief stint in with the Ultimate Fighting Championships and appeared on The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights.
[edit] Biography
He was born and raised in Celina, Ohio and attended Celina High School. While there, he was a football player, playing the defensive tackle position. After graduating high school he enrolled in the University of St. Francis in Indiana, where he played nose tackle while obtaining a dual degree in special education and chemistry. He later got a job playing football for a team in the Arena Football League. Wessel was a former strength & conditioning coach for the University of Arkansas football program & Coldwater High School before jumping into the world of MMA.
[edit] Mixed martial arts
[edit] Ultimate Fighting Championships
He made his UFC debut against Antoni Hardonk at UFC 92. He accepted the fight on a week notice after Hardonk's original opponent dropped out due to injury. UFC's Dana White offered the fight to Wessel and he quickly accepted, signing a four-fight deal. In the first round of the fight, Wessel controlled the veteran Hardonk but lost in the second round after tiring from only having a few days to train.
[edit] The Ultimate Fighter
After losing to Hardonk in his UFC debut, Wessel took a spot on the Spike TV reality show, The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights. He was the last pick for Team Rashad Evans. Wessel had his first fight on the show against Marcus Jones, losing via first round submission armbar.
Wessel was not given a chance to fight on the finale card. After losing to Jones, Wessel was released from his contract.
[edit] Post-UFC
Wessel's first fight after his stint on The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights, was against another Ultimate Fighter alumni, Dan Christison. Wessel lost the fight via submission kimura.
[edit] Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown |
|
| 14 matches |
10 wins |
4 losses |
| By knockout |
6 |
3 |
| By submission |
1 |
1 |
| By decision |
3 |
0 |
| Result |
Record |
Opponent |
Method |
Event |
Date |
Round |
Time |
Location |
Notes |
| Loss |
10-4 |
 Scott Barrett |
TKO (punches) |
SportFight X: Middle Tennessee Mayhem |
02011-01-29 January 29, 2011 |
1 |
3:53 |
Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States |
|
| Win |
10-3 |
Chris Hawk |
TKO (punches) |
AXC 10 - War of the Machines |
02010-10-09 October 9, 2010 |
1 |
2:19 |
Little Rock, Arkansas, United States |
|
| Win |
9-3 |
Jack Armstrong |
TKO (punches) |
AXC 8 - Friday Fury |
02010-06-18 June 18, 2010 |
1 |
2:39 |
Little Rock, Arkansas, United States |
|
| Loss |
8-3 |
Dan Christison |
Submission (kimura) |
CFC 4: Wessel vs. Christison |
02010-02-26 February 26, 2010 |
3 |
3:56 |
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
|
| Loss |
8-2 |
 Antoni Hardonk |
TKO (punches) |
UFC 92 |
02008-12-27 December 27, 2008 |
2 |
2:09 |
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
UFC debut |
| Win |
8-1 |
Aaron Winterlee |
Submission |
Subzero Fighting |
02008-08-02 August 2, 2008 |
1 |
1:59 |
Little Rock, Arkansas, United States |
|
| Win |
7-1 |
Rudy Lindsey |
Decision (unanimous) |
Extreme Fighting League |
02008-05-17 May 17, 2008 |
2 |
5:00 |
Oklahoma, United States |
|
| Win |
6-1 |
Patrick Castillo |
Decision (split) |
Art of War Fighting Championship |
02008-04-19 April 19, 2008 |
3 |
5:00 |
Tunica, Mississippi, United States |
|
| Win |
5-1 |
Mark Bier |
TKO (punches) |
Ring Rulers |
02008-03-08 March 8, 2008 |
1 |
0:45 |
Shreveport, Louisiana, United States |
|
| Win |
4-1 |
Matt Thomas |
TKO (punches) |
Subzero Fighting |
02008-01-12 January 12, 2008 |
1 |
N/A |
Little Rock, Arkansas, United States |
|
| Win |
3-1 |
Matt Thomas |
KO (punches) |
Art of War Fighting Championship |
02007-10-27 October 27, 2007 |
1 |
2:42 |
Tunica, Mississippi, United States |
|
| Loss |
2-1 |
Aaron Wintterle |
KO (punch) |
Xtreme Fighting League |
02007-08-11 August 11, 2007 |
2 |
0:28 |
Alabama, United States |
|
| Win |
2-0 |
Rudy Lindsey |
Decision (unanimous) |
Xtreme Fighting League |
02007-08-11 August 11, 2007 |
3 |
2:00 |
Alabama, United States |
|
| Win |
1-0 |
Jason Lee |
TKO (punches) |
Xtreme Fighting League |
02007-08-11 August 11, 2007 |
3 |
1:18 |
Alabama, United States |
|
[edit] Mixed martial arts exhibition record
| Professional record breakdown |
|
| 1 match |
0 wins |
1 loss |
| By knockout |
0 |
0 |
| By submission |
0 |
1 |
| By decision |
0 |
0 |
[edit] References
[edit] External links
Scott Barrett
Antoni Hardonk
