The Ultimate Fighter 10: Heavyweights

TUF10 will surely be the most viewed season ever. Several components of this year’s season including the simple facts that these are the big guys of the UFC mixed with veterans of the sport, Internet legends, and NFL stars all fighting for a chance to be the next Ultimate Fighter. Stay tuned for a season of strong bouts in what will surely be a great series of action packed episodes.

Team Rashad

James McSweeney
Height: 6 ft 4 in
Weight: 230 lb
Background: Born in London, England and an accomplished kick boxer and Muay Thai fighter, McSweeney garnered several titles and amassed over 130 wins before transitioning to MMA in 2006. He now trains at Greg Jackson’s MMA Academy in Albuquerque, NM with notables Rashad Evans, Nate Marquardt, and Georges St. Pierre. A ‘tweener at approximately 230 lbs, McSweeney will look to keep the fights standing to leverage his striking skills.

Record: 3-4-0

Brendan Schaub
Height: 6 ft 4 in
Weight: 240 lb
Background: Schaub boasts a 4-0 record and is considered by many to be among the favorites on this season’s TUF. He possesses a well-rounded skill set – he is the current Ring of Fire Heavyweight champion, a Colorado Open BJJ Grand Champion, and a Colorado Golden Gloves Champion. He played fullback at Colorado, but didn’t catch on in the NFL after being with the Buffalo Bills. His four TKO victories have an average length of less than one minute drawing favorable comparisons to teammate and UFC contender Shane Carwin.

Record: 4-0-0

Justin Wren
Height: 6 ft 2 in

Weight: 264 lb
Background: Wren was a two-time state champion and All-American wrestler in Texas, as well as a two-time All-American Greco Roman wrestler after high school. He was awarded a scholarship to the Olympic Training center for Greco Roman wrestling, and began his MMA career after sustaining an injury prior to joining the powerful Iowa State University wrestling program. He’s now affiliated with Travis Lutter’s MMA Academy.

Record: 6-1-0

John Madsen
Height: 6 ft 0 in
Weight: 240 lb
Background: An accomplished high school and collegiate wrestler, Madsen now trains with Matt Hughes‘ H.I.T. Squad in Granite City, IL. Although he’ll ultimately look to gain control of opponents through his wrestling, he won his professional debut last year via knockout. Madsen made the unique choice of eschewing amateur MMA and hopped right into professional bouts. The South Dakota native once wrestled UFC juggernaut Brock Lesnar in high school, with reports of Madsen’s brother and Lesnar scuffling after the match.

Record: 1-0-0

Roy Nelson
Height: 6 ft 0 in

Weight: 265 lb
Background: A classic case of “looks can be deceiving”, Nelson is a Renzo Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt, former International Fight League World Grand Prix Heavyweight Champion, and trains with Ken Shamrock‘s Lion Den team. “Big Country” has locked horns with some of the sport’s biggest names like Andrei Arlovski, Ben Rothwell, and Jeff Monson, the latter of which was his most recent fight and a controversial decision loss. Nelson will primarily look to impose his will on TUF 10 competitors on the ground, although his striking is often overlooked.

Record: 13-4-0

Darrill Schoonover
Height: 6 ft 2 in
Weight: 218 lb
Background: The smallest competitor in the TUF 10 field, Schoonover is a perfect 10-0 professionally in MMA (12-0 as an amateur) with a win over former UFC fighter Rex Richards and holds several state and regional HW titles. Unlike most who have a solid base in one aspect of MMA like wrestling or jiu-jitsu, Schoonover cross-trained in multiple disciplines of MMA from day one. He served in the US Army and is currently pursuing a history degree when not training. A full-time move to Light Heavyweight is likely in the future plans.

Record: 10-0-0

Matt Mitrione
Height: 6 ft 4 in
Weight: 270 lb
Background: Little is known about Matrione beyond the fact that he had a brief stop in the NFL in 2002 and hasn’t fought professionally yet. It’s reported that he has had one amateur MMA fight. Inexperience may play a role against competitors like Wes Sims, Roy Nelson, etc. who have the savvy and perspective of previous battles.

Record: 0-0-0

Mike Wessel
Height: 6 ft 0 in
Weight: 260 lb
Background: Already a UFC fighter under a four-fight contract, Wessel suffered a TKO loss to Antoni Hardonk at UFC 92. Wessel was previously a strength and conditioning coach at the University of Arkansas before transitioning to MMA several years ago. He’s won 6 of 7 fights and impressed the UFC’s Dana White with his willingness to take the Hardonk fight on short notice.

Record: 6-1-0

Team Rampage

Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson
Height: 6 ft 2 in
Weight: 234.5 lb
Background: A man of many talents – backyard brawler sensationalized on the Internet, part-time actor, NFL almost, bodyguard, and headlining fighter for the now-defunct EliteXC organization – Slice enters the competition with a bulls-eye squarely on his chiseled physique. Slice’s boxing is his strength, although critics point to it being overrated and unlikely to save him against true mixed martial artists. He suffered his first loss in 14 seconds via TKO last October to former UFC fighter Seth Petruzelli and has trained with MMA legend Bas Rutten. It was reported that Slice made over $500K for the Petruzelli fight.

Record: 3-1-0

Abe Wagner
Height: 6 ft 2 in

Weight: 265 lb
Background: Fighting out of Omaha, NE and a member of MidAmerica Martial Arts, Wager has won 6 of 8 professional MMA fights including a recent win over previous UFC competitor Sherman Pendergarst. Wagner will look to use his size and striking to his advantage this season.

Record: 6-2-0

Demico Rogers
Height: 6 ft 4 in
Weight: 235 lb
Background: Hailing from the state of Washington, Rogers began training MMA at 25 and amassed an amateur record of 4-0 before being asked to join this season of TUF. A quick study, he won several grappling tournaments before transitioning to MMA and is thought to possess many of the tools necessary for a successful MMA career. He hasn’t fought professionally yet.

Record: 0-0-0

Wes Sims
Height: 6 ft 10 in
Weight: 260 lb
Background: A three-time combatant in the UFC (UFC 43, 46, and 47), Sims is a colorful character who’s had memorable fights with former UFC champion Frank Mir and roughneck Mike Kyle. Sims has been a long-time friend of Mark Coleman and teammate in the Hammer House, and is among the tallest competitions ever in the UFC. Sims has fought professionally since 2001, has 22 victories to his credit, and will look to impose his unorthodox fighting style against challengers. Although many TUF contestants can’t wait to return home after the show, Sims joked that the Vegas house was preferable to his pre-show digs under a highway overpass in Ohio.

Record: 22-12-1

Scott Junk
Height: 6 ft 1 in
Weight: 265 lb
Background: Junk fought at UFC 76 Christian Wellisch losing by heal hook, and has also fought former UFC champion Ricco Rodriguez. He’s won 6 of 9 professional MMA fights and made his debut in 2005 after an All-American Division II college football career. Junk is a native of Hawaii and once only considered MMA a hobby.

Record: 6-2-1

Wes Shivers
Height: 6 ft 7 in
Weight: 280 lb
Background: A mountain of a man at 6 ft 7 in, Shivers is a previous All-SEC Offensive Tackle at Mississippi State University, just-miss NFL prospect, and retired police officer. A student of catch wrestling (think Josh Barnett’s fighting style), Shivers will look to leverage his size, reach, and catch wrestling to his advantage against all competitors on TUF. Shivers is 2-1 with both wins by KO since making his MMA debut last year.

Record: 2-1-0

Marcus Jones
Height: 6 ft 6 in
Weight: 265 lb
Background: Marcus Jones was a first-round draft choice of the NFL’s Tampa Bay franchise in 1996 after a standout career at the University of North Carolina. He then went on to successfully play Defensive End for seven years in the NFL – all with Tampa Bay. He now trains at Gracie Tampa with instructor Rob Kahn and has won 3 of his 4 professional MMA fights. He’s made numerous appearances on satellite radio’s “Bubba the Love Sponge Show”. Jones hopes that the same level of aggressiveness that made him a star in the NFL will translate to success in the UFC.

Record: 4-1-0

Zak Jensen
Height: 6 ft 4 in
Weight: 265 lb
Background: Jensen trains at Gorilla Combat in Chanhassen, MN and has losses against UFC veterans Brad Imes and Mike Whitehead. He’s won 7 of 10 fights and has only been out of the first round once – win or lose. He wrestled and played football while attending college in Illinois and has decent strikes and wrestling. He has also fought at Super Heavyweight against opponents over 300 lb.

Record: 7-3-0