Ian Heinisch
Ian Heinisch | |
---|---|
Born | Ian Edward Heinisch August 5, 1988 Denver, Colorado, United States[1] |
Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
Weight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb) |
Division | Middleweight |
Reach | 72 in (183 cm)[1] |
Fighting out of | Phuket, Thailand[2] |
Team | Factory X (2014–2020) Tiger Muay Thai (2020–present)[2] |
Years active | 2015–present |
Mixed martial arts record | |
Total | 17 |
Wins | 14 |
By knockout | 5 |
By submission | 2 |
By decision | 7 |
Losses | 3 |
By submission | 1 |
By decision | 2 |
University | North Idaho College[3] |
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog |
Ian Edward Heinisch[4] (born August 5, 1988) is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional since 2015, he has also competed for the World Series of Fighting and Legacy Fighting Alliance, where he is the former Interim Middleweight Champion. As of December 16, 2019, he is #12 in the UFC middleweight rankings.[5]
Background
Heinisch, who is a Colorado native, was diagnosed with ADHD when he was young. His parents home schooled him and placed him in wrestling classes as he had too much energy and could not pay attention in school. He won the Colorado state high school championship and was an All-American twice. He went on to wrestle at North Idaho College but dropped out of school and started selling ecstasy pills to keep up with his lifestyle after his parents lost their house and got divorced. He was arrested for selling 2,000 ecstasy pills and headed to Amsterdam to avoid a jail sentence after meeting bail. He ended up working in a bar in Spain and sleeping on the beach for three months. Not long after Heinisch started drug tracking from South America to Spain and got caught on one of his trips when a Spanish immigration officer found one kilo of cocaine on him. Heinisch ended up in prison at Canary Islands. He taught himself how to speak Spanish by reading a Spanish bible with an English dictionary and taking up boxing. After he finished serving his prison sentence in Spain, Heinisch flew back to New York where he was apprehended upon re-entry to United States for fleeing the country back in 2009. He changed his life around after finishing his sentence at Rikers Island in the United States and pursued an MMA career.[6][7]
My dream is to open up a gym that’s like a gym we have, an MMA gym/rehab facility where kids under 25 or young kids getting these huge prison sentences instead of them going to prison and pretty much going to crime school and a revolving door in a system that is broken and doesn’t rehabilitate people that can go and get an opportunity to train full time and to have great mentors and people around them and get them on track so they do get rehabilitated. Like I had the opportunity in Spain to do.[8]
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Heinisch started his professional MMA career in 2015 and fought under various promotions, namely Sparta Combat League, and Legacy Fighting Alliance where he was the interim middleweight champion after defeating Gabriel Checco[9][10] and was promoted to middleweight champion after Anthony Hernandez vacated the title in June 2018 when he signed with the UFC.[11] He amassed a record of 10-1 prior to competing in Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series.[12]
Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series
Heinisch appeared in Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series - Season 2, Episode 7 web-series program on July 31, 2018, facing Justin Sumter.[13] He won the fight via knockout in the first round and was signed by UFC.[14]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Heinisch made his UFC debut on November 17, 2018 against Cezar Ferreira, replacing injured Tom Breese at UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Ponzinibbio.[15] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[16]
His next fight came on May 18, 2019 at UFC Fight Night: dos Anjos vs. Lee against Antônio Carlos Júnior[17] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[18]
Heinisch faced Derek Brunson on August 17, 2019 at UFC 241.[19] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[20]
Heinisch was expected to face Brad Tavares on October 26, 2019 at UFC on ESPN+ 20[21] However, Heinisch was removed from the pairing in early October for undisclosed reasons. In turn, Tavares was removed from the event entirely and rescheduled to face Edmen Shahbazyan a week later at UFC 244.[22]
Heinisch faced Omari Akhmedov on December 14, 2019 at UFC 245.[23] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[24]
On March 31, 2020, Heinisch revealed that after fighting out his contract, Heinisch signed a new, four-fight contract with the UFC.[2]
Heinisch was scheduled to face Gerald Meerschaert on June 6, 2020, at UFC 250, however two days before the fight his cornerman tested positive for COVID-19. Heinisch was pulled from the fight and replaced by promotional newcomer Anthony Ivy. Subsequently, the cornerman was re-tested and the initial test was proven to be false positive and Heinisch was reinstated to the card.[25] Finally, Heinisch faced Meerschaert as originally scheduled and won the fight via TKO in the first round.[26][27]
Heinisch targeted a quick turnaround and was scheduled to face Brendan Allen on June 27, 2020 at UFC on ESPN: Poirier vs. Hooker.[28] However, Heinisch pulled out of the matchup in mid-June citing an injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Kyle Daukaus.[29]
Championships and achievements
Mixed martial arts record
17 matches | 14 wins | 3 losses |
By knockout | 5 | 0 |
By submission | 2 | 1 |
By decision | 7 | 2 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 14–3 | Gerald Meerschaert | TKO (punches) | UFC 250 | June 6, 2020 | 1 | 1:14 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Loss | 13–3 | Omari Akhmedov | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 245 | December 14, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Loss | 13–2 | Derek Brunson | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 241 | August 17, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Anaheim, California, United States | |
Win | 13–1 | Antônio Carlos Júnior | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: dos Anjos vs. Lee | May 18, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Rochester, New York, United States | |
Win | 12–1 | Cezar Ferreira | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Ponzinibbio | November 17, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
Win | 11–1 | Justin Sumter | KO (elbows) | Dana White's Contender Series 15 | July 31, 2018 | 1 | 3:37 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Win | 10–1 | Gabriel Checco | KO (punches) | LFA 39 | May 4, 2018 | 1 | 3:44 | Vail, Colorado, United States | Won the interim LFA Middleweight Championship. |
Win | 9–1 | Daniel Madrid | KO (punch) | LFA 31 | January 19, 2018 | 1 | 3:44 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
Loss | 8–1 | Markus Perez | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | LFA 22 | September 8, 2017 | 1 | 2:14 | Broomfield, Colorado, United States | For the vacant LFA Middleweight Championship. |
Win | 8–0 | Lucas Rota | Submission (scarf hold armlock) | LFA 10 | April 21, 2017 | 1 | 2:38 | Pueblo, Colorado, United States | |
Win | 7–0 | Hayward Charles | Decision (unanimous) | SCL 53 | October 15, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Denver, Colorado, United States | Defended the SCL Middleweight Championship. |
Win | 6–0 | Jeremy Spelts | Submission (scarf hold armlock) | SCL: AVM 7 | April 23, 2016 | 1 | 4:34 | Loveland, Colorado, United States | Defended the SCL Middleweight Championship. |
Win | 5–0 | Tyler Vogel | Decision (unanimous) | WSOF 29 | March 12, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Greeley, Colorado, United States | |
Win | 4–0 | Kris Hocum | Decision (unanimous) | SCL 45 | October 24, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Denver, Colorado, United States | Won the SCL Middleweight Championship. |
Win | 3–0 | Zack Wells | Decision (unanimous) | SCL 42 | July 18, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Castle Rock, Colorado, United States | |
Win | 2–0 | Canaan Grigsby | Decision (unanimous) | SCL: Army vs. Marines 6 | April 25, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Loveland, Colorado, United States | |
Win | 1–0 | Dante Florez | TKO (punches) | SCL 40 | January 24, 2015 | 1 | 3:06 | Denver, Colorado, United States |
See also
References
- ^ a b "Ian Heinisch | UFC". www.ufc.com. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
- ^ a b c Nolan King (March 31, 2020). "Ian Heinisch moves gyms, signs new four-fight UFC deal". mmajunkie.com.
- ^ "DWTNCS: Week 7 in-depth preview and predictions feat. Ian Heinisch vs. Justin Sumter". FanSided. 2018-07-30. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
- ^ UFC 245 results
- ^ "Rankings | UFC". www.ufc.com. Retrieved 2019-12-18.
- ^ "Drug trafficking, prison and MMA: The incredible story of Ian Heinisch". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
- ^ Heinisch, Ian. "You Ever Been to Rikers?". Theplayerstribune.com. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
- ^ "Dana White Tuesday Contender Series Competitor Ian Heinisch says "It's Hurricane Season" on July 31". MyMMANews.com. 2018-07-25. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
- ^ "Anthony Hernandez shelved, Ian Heinisch vs. Gabriel Checco meet for interim 185 title at LFA 39". MMA Junkie. 2018-03-22. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
- ^ "Legacy Fighting Alliance - LFA 39 Results - Ian Heinisch vs Gabriel Checco". MyMMANews.com. 2018-05-04. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "From LFA Champion to UFC Middleweight Contender". Sherdog. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Ian". Sherdog. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
- ^ Rodriguez, Victor (2018-07-31). "Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series 2018: Week 7 preview". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
- ^ Al-Shatti, Shaun (2018-07-31). "DWTNCS results: Four contracts handed out in action-packed night". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
- ^ "Breese deixa luta contra Mutante no UFC Argentina, e Ian Heinisch é escolhido como substituto". Sportv (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2019-08-17.
- ^ "UFC Argentina results: Ian Heinisch outpoints Cezar Ferreira in gutsy debut". MMAjunkie. 2018-11-18. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
- ^ "Ian Heinisch vs. Antonio Carlos Junior added to UFC Rochester lineup". MMA Junkie. 2019-07-26. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
- ^ Doherty, Dan (2019-05-18). "UFC Rochester Results: Ian Heinisch Bounces Back from Tough First Round". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
- ^ Marrocco, Steven; Bohn, Mike (May 31, 2019). "Derek Brunson vs. Ian Heinisch on tap for UFC 241 in Anaheim". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
- ^ Anderson, Jay (2019-08-17). "UFC 241 Results: Derek Brunson Takes Decision Over Ian Heinisch, Fans Remind Covington that "Colby Sucks"". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2019-08-18.
- ^ Staff (2019-08-29). "Brad Tavares takes on Ian Heinisch in UFC return in Singapore". khon2.com. Retrieved 2019-08-29.
- ^ Mike Bohn and Farah Hannoun (2019-10-02). "Brad Tavares moved to UFC 244 for matchup with unbeaten Edmen Shahbazyan". MMAJunkie.com. Retrieved 2019-10-02.
- ^ DNA, MMA. "Ian Heinisch vs. Omari Akhmedov maakt UFC 245 card in Las Vegas compleet". Retrieved 2019-11-04.
- ^ Anderson, Jay (15 December 2019). "UFC 245 Results: Omari Akhmedov Hangs On for Decision Over Ian Heinisch". Cageside Press. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
- ^ Damon Martin (June 4, 2020). "Ian Heinisch vs. Gerald Meerschaert back on for UFC 250, Anthony Ivy remains on roster". mmafighting.com.
- ^ DNA, MMA. "Ian Heinisch treft Gerald Meerschaert op 6 juni tijdens UFC 250". Retrieved 2020-05-09.
- ^ Gibbons, Justin (2020-06-06). "UFC 250 Results: Hurricane Heinisch Overwhelms Gerald Meerschaert". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
- ^ DNA, MMA. "Ian Heinisch maakt snelle terugkeer tegen Brendan Allen op 27 juni". Retrieved 2020-06-09.
- ^ Mike Heck (2020-06-16). "Ian Heinisch out; Brendan Allen now expected to face UFC newcomer Kyle Daukaus on June 27". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "From LFA Champion to UFC Middleweight Contender". Sherdog. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Ian". Sherdog. Retrieved 2020-06-07.