Bobby Hoffman

Bobby "The Truth" Hoffman (born October 28, 1966) is a retired American mixed martial artist who competed in the heavyweight division. He is the former King of the Cage super heavyweight champion as well as the former King of the Cage heavyweight champion. Having made his professional debut in 1998, Hoffman has also formerly competed for the UFC, RINGS, and Jungle Fight. During his career, Hoffman defeated world champions Alistair Overeem and Ricco Rodriguez.

Background Hoffman found mixed martial arts, then known as "shootfighting", after being released from jail, spending 92 consecutive days in solitary confinement for assault charges. Hoffman, a talented wrestler and football player, attended Ellsworth Community College and the University of Akron before leaving college a year early to compete in the NFL for the Cleveland Browns. Hoffman spent half of a season with the team before being released. Two days out of jail, Hoffman attended a local fight and after the originally scheduled fighter did not show up, spectators were asked if they wanted to step in for the absent fighter. Hoffman accepted the challenge, and won the bout.

Mixed martial arts

Early career Hoffman compiled a professional record of 8-1 before making his debut for the SuperBrawl organization in Hawaii on September 7, 1999. After knocking out future UFC heavyweight champion, Ricco Rodriguez and defeating future Pride Heavyweight Championship contender, Heath Herring, via unanimous decision, Hoffman lost to future UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett by unanimous decision. Hoffman had suffered a broken arm in the win over Herring, but ignored the doctor's advice and fought Barnett in the final. After following this up with two more wins, Hoffman was invited to compete for the RINGS organization in Japan.

Post-UFC After spending over a year in prison for domestic abuse, Hoffman returned to mixed martial arts competition for the King of the Cage organization. Hoffman became the first King of the Cage heavyweight champion in his second fight back after a TKO win over Jason Godsey and then defended his title against Paul Buentello via unanimous decision. Hoffman then lost a rematch with Buentello, also losing his title, but would bounce back with two wins before being handed his next loss against Carlos Barreto in Hoffman's debut for the Jungle Fight organization in Brazil at Jungle Fight 2. Hoffman fought again for King of the Cage, against veteran Ruben "Warpath" Villareal, and won via armbar submission before returning to Brazil for a bout in Jungle Fight 3, which he lost via triangle-choke submission.

Hoffman lost a rematch with Eric Pele via TKO before facing Tony Bonello in Australia. After the first bout ended in a no-contest, the two had a rematch two months later again in Bonello's home-country of Australia which Bonello won via submission due to punches. Hoffman then bounced back with a win via triangle-choke submission a month later, before winning his last mixed martial arts fight via TKO only eight seconds into the first round.

Personal life Hoffman was dropped by manager Monte Cox after reportedly threatening to kill Cox's wife and children while Hoffman was fighting in Japan.

Hoffman and his girlfriend, Patricia, wed the night after Hoffman's UFC 34 loss to Barnett. Weeks later on the night of their honeymoon, Hoffman, under the influence of alcohol and Vicodin, severely beat his wife. He was later arrested and spent over a year in a maximum-security prison in Shafter, California, for his actions. His wife, who was only 20 years old at the time and around 125 pounds, almost died as a result of her injuries and the two later divorced. 2001 RINGS Openweight Championship Tournament runner-up King of the Cage KOTC Super Heavyweight Championship (1 time) KOTC Heavyweight Championship (1 time, first) One successful title defense

Mixed martial arts record Win

Chuck Grigsby TKO (punches) Mainstream MMA: Inferno

Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States Win

Paul O'Keefe Submission (arm-triangle choke) KOTC: Predator

Globe, Arizona, United States Loss

Tony Bonello TKO (submission to punches) KOTC: Unfinished Business

Sydney, Australia NC

Tony Bonello NC (overturned) KOTC: Gunfather

Australia Loss

Eric Pele TKO (punches) KOTC: Mortal Sins

Primm, Nevada, United States Loss

Leopoldo Montenegro Submission (triangle choke) Jungle Fight 3

Manaus, Brazil Win

Ruben Villareal Submission (armbar) KOTC 39: Hitmaster

San Jacinto, California, United States Loss

Carlos Barreto TKO (submission to punches) Jungle Fight 2

Manaus, Brazil Win

Mike Wolmack KO (knee) GC 25: Gladiator Challenge 25

Porterville, California, United States Win

Ladislav Zak Decision (split)

Amsterdam, Netherlands Loss

Paul Buentello Submission (verbal) KOTC 30: The Pinnacle

San Jacinto, California, United States Win

Paul Buentello Decision (unanimous) KOTC 27: Aftermath

San Jacinto, California, United States Win

Jason Godsey TKO (punches)

Win

Sam Sotello TKO (injury)

Loss

Josh Barnett TKO (punches) UFC 34

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Tim Catalfo TKO (submission to strikes) KOTC 11: Domination

San Jacinto, California, United States Win

Mikhail Ilyukhin TKO (corner stoppage) Rings: 10th Anniversary

Tokyo, Japan Win

Kauai Kupihea TKO (submission to punches) KOTC 9: Showtime

San Jacinto, California, United States Draw

Bob Schrijber Draw RINGS Holland: No Guts, No Glory

Amsterdam, Netherlands Win

Ryushi Yanagisawa Decision (unanimous) RINGS: World Title Series 1

Tokyo, Japan Win

Zane Frazier Submission (armbar) RINGS USA: Battle of Champions

Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States NC

Mark Robinson NC (overturned) UFC 30

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Loss

Magomedkhan Gamzatkhanov Decision (unanimous)

Win

Joop Kasteel KO (punches)

Win

Aaron Brink TKO (submission to punches)

Win

Eric Pele Decision (unanimous)

Loss

Maurice Smith Decision (majority) UFC 27

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States Win

Greg Wikan TKO (knees) EC 36: Extreme Challenge 36

Davenport, Iowa, United States Win

Aaron Brink Submission (neck crank)

Win

Victor Burtsev TKO (punches)

Win

Sam Adkins TKO (doctor stoppage) Extreme Challenge 35

Davenport, Iowa, United States Win

Alistair Overeem KO (lariat) Rings: Millennium Combine 2

Tokyo, Japan Win

Kerry Schall Decision (unanimous) WEF 9: World Class

Evansville, Indiana, United States Win

Borislav Jeliazkov KO (punch) Rings: Millennium Combine 1

Tokyo, Japan Win

Zaza Tkeshelashvili KO (punch) Rings: King of Kings 1999 Final

Tokyo, Japan Win

Alex Paz TKO (submission to punches) WEF 8: Goin' Platinum

Rome, Georgia, United States Win

Paul Wells TKO CC 5: Cage Combat 5

Burlington, Iowa, United States Loss

Josh Barnett Decision (unanimous)

Win

Heath Herring Decision (unanimous)

Win

Ricco Rodriguez KO (punches)

Win

Tommy Sauer Submission (guillotine choke)

Win

Ahmad Ahmad TKO (punches)

Win

Theo Brooks TKO (exhaustion) Cage Combat 2

Ottumwa, Iowa, United States Win

Rocky Batastini Decision (unanimous)

Win

Joe Campenella Submission (keylock)

Win

Mark Tullius TKO (submission to punches) Extreme Challenge 20

Davenport, Iowa, United States Win

Brad Jones TKO (referee stoppage) Extreme Challenge 16

Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States Loss

Mike Delaney Decision

Win

Rick Graveson TKO (submission to punches)