Josh Burkman

Background Burkman was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, he attended Cottonwood High School. He was a three-sport star athlete for the Colts. He was a Class 5A All-State third baseman on the baseball team, and was captain of the football team, where he rushed for over 1,000 yards as a senior. As a member of the wrestling team, he finished second place in the state championships in the 171-pound division.

Burkman played two seasons of college football before he began his career in mixed martial arts. He spent his freshman season at Snow College in Ephraim, Utah, but he missed half the season with an injury. Then he transferred to Dixie State College in St. George, Utah. His sophomore season (2001) was spectacular: he rushed for 1,439 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Rebels, earning JUCO All-American honors. His team won the Dixie Rotary Bowl; for his performance, Burkman earned a scholarship offer from the University of Utah. Ultimately, he decided to drop football and pursue mixed martial arts.

Mixed martial arts career

Ultimate Fighting Championship Burkman was originally chosen to be on the inaugural season of The Ultimate Fighter, but he failed pre-show drug test failure and admitted to taking Winstrol. He was later a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter 2 as part of Team Hughes.

Burkman was signed by the UFC and had his debut fight at The Ultimate Fighter 2 Finale; he defeated Sammy Morgan by knockout in 21 seconds of the first round.

During his time with the UFC, Burkman earned wins over Drew Fickett, Josh Neer, and Forrest Petz, but was largely unsuccessful against the bigger names in the division. After three back-to-back losses in 2008, Burkman was cut from the UFC with a record of 5 wins and 5 losses.

Showdown Fights On November 20, 2009, Burkman faced Ultimate Fighter alumni Brandon Melendez defeating him by KO in round one at Throwdown Showdown 5.

On April 9, 2010, Burkman took on Jake Paul at Showdown Fights – Burkman vs. Paul winning via unanimous decision.

On September 24, 2010, Burkman faced undefeated Jordan Smith at Showdown Fights – Respect. Burkman won the fight via split decision.

On April 2, 2011, Burkman faced Canadian prospect Jordan Mein at MMA: The Reckoning in Orillia, Ontario, Canada, Burkman lost via unanimous decision.

On February 24, 2012, Burkman faced Koffi Adzitso at Showdown Fights – Breakout, Burkman won via unanimous decision.

On August 25, 2012, Burkman faced Ultimate Fighter alumni Jamie Yager at Showdown Fights - Burkman vs. Yager. Burkman won via guillotine choke submission.

World Series of Fighting On September 6, 2012, it was announced that Burkman was one of many fighters to sign on with new MMA Promotion the World Series of Fighting. He faced Gerald Harris on November 3, 2012, at WSOF 1 and won via unanimous decision.

Burkman faced Aaron Simpson at World Series of Fighting 2 on March 23, 2013. He won the fight via KO due to a knee strike and punches in the first round.

Burkman faced Jon Fitch on June 14, 2013, at World Series of Fighting 3 in a rematch of their first fight in which Burkman lost to Fitch due to a rear naked choke. Burkman avenged his loss, dropping Fitch with a series of punches before applying a guillotine choke submission and getting the win in just 41 seconds of round number one.

Burkman faced Steve Carl on October 26, 2013, at WSOF 6 in the main event for the WSOF Welterweight Championship. He lost the fight via triangle choke in the fourth round. It was noted that Josh did tap out from the choke but the ref ignored the tap, allowing Steve Carl to choke Burkman until he lost consciousness.

Burkman faced Tyler Stinson at WSOF 9 on March 29, 2014. He won the fight via knockout in the first round.

Return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship

Burkman signed a contract to return to the UFC for the first time since 2008 on October 3, 2014. Burkman faced Héctor Lombard on January 3, 2015, at UFC 182. He lost the fight by unanimous decision. Subsequently, it was revealed that Lombard failed his post-fight drug test. On March 23, 2015, it was announced by the NSAC that the result of the fight had been overturned to a no contest.

Burkman faced Dong Hyun Kim on May 23, 2015, at UFC 187. Burkman lost the fight via submission in the third round.

Burkman faced Patrick Côté on August 23, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 74. He lost the back and forth fight via TKO in the third round and both participants were awarded Fight of the Night honors.

For his next fight, Burkman dropped down to the lightweight division as he faced K. J. Noons on February 6, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 82. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Burkman next faced Paul Felder on May 29, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 88. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Burkman was expected to face Bobby Green on October 1, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 96. However, Green pulled out of the fight citing an undisclosed injury. He was replaced by promotional newcomer Zak Ottow. As a result of the late notice opponent change, the bout was contested at welterweight. He lost the fight via split decision.

Burkman faced Michel Prazeres on March 11, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 106. He lost the fight via submission in the first round.

Burkman faced Drew Dober on July 29, 2017, at UFC 214. He lost the fight by knockout in the first round.

Burkman faced Alex Morono on February 18, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 126 at the welterweight division. He lost the fight via a guillotine choke submission in the first round.

Post-UFC career After being released from the UFC for the second time, Burkman faced William Macário at LFA 66 on May 10, 2019. He lost the fight via split decision and announced his retirement from MMA.

Championships & accomplishments Ultimate Fighting Championship Fight of the Night (One time) UFC.com Awards 2005: Ranked #7 Knockout of the Year MMA Junkie 2015 August Fight of the Month vs. Patrick Côté Sherdog 2013 Submission of the Year vs. Jon Fitch at WSOF 3 Yahoo Sports 2013 Upset of the Year

Personal life

His older brother Jered was a star baseball player alongside Chris Shelton at both Cottonwood High School and Salt Lake Community College.

Mixed martial arts record Loss

William Macário Decision (split) LFA 66

West Valley City, Utah, United States Loss

Alex Morono Submission (guillotine choke) UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Medeiros

Austin, Texas, United States Loss

Drew Dober KO (punch) UFC 214

Anaheim, California, United States Loss

Michel Prazeres Submission (north-south choke) UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Gastelum

Fortaleza, Brazil Loss

Zak Ottow Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Lineker vs. Dodson

Portland, Oregon, United States Loss

Paul Felder Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Almeida vs. Garbrandt

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

K. J. Noons Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Hendricks vs. Thompson

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Patrick Côté TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Oliveira

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada Loss

Dong Hyun Kim Submission (arm-triangle choke) UFC 187

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States NC

Héctor Lombard NC (overturned) UFC 182

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Tyler Stinson KO (punch) WSOF 9

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Steve Carl Technical Submission (triangle choke) WSOF 6

Coral Gables, Florida, United States Win

Jon Fitch Technical Submission (guillotine choke) WSOF 3

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Aaron Simpson KO (knee and punches) WSOF 2

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Gerald Harris Decision (unanimous) WSOF 1

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Jamie Yager Submission (guillotine choke) Showdown Fights 8 – Burkman vs. Yager

Orem, Utah, United States Win

Koffi Adzitso Decision (unanimous) Showdown Fights 6 – Breakout

Orem, Utah, United States Loss

Jordan Mein Decision (unanimous) MMA 1: The Reckoning

Rama, Ontario, Canada Win

Jordan Smith Decision (split) Showdown Fights 2: Respect

Orem, Utah, United States Win

Jake Paul Decision (unanimous) Showdown Fights 1: Burkman vs. Paul

Orem, Utah, United States Win

Brandon Melendez KO (punch) Throwdown Showdown 5

Orem, Utah, United States Loss

Pete Sell Decision (unanimous) UFC 90

Rosemont, Illinois, United States Loss

Dustin Hazelett Submission (armbar) The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rampage vs Team Forrest Finale

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Mike Swick Decision (majority) UFC Fight Night: Swick vs. Burkman

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Forrest Petz Decision (split) UFC 77

Cincinnati, Ohio, United States Loss

Karo Parisyan Decision (unanimous) UFC 71

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Chad Reiner Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Evans vs. Salmon

Hollywood, Florida, United States Win

Josh Neer Decision (unanimous) UFC 61

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Jon Fitch Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night 4

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Drew Fickett Submission (guillotine choke) UFC Fight Night 3

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Sammy Morgan KO (slam and elbows) The Ultimate Fighter 2 Finale

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Jeremy Horn Technical Submission (choke) XFC – Dome Of Destruction 1

Tacoma, Washington, United States Middleweight bout. Win

Brian Wieber TKO (punches) IFC: Eve Of Destruction

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Welterweight debut. Win

Kyacey Uscola Submission (rear-naked choke) SF 4: Fight For Freedom

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Win

Drew Ellisor Decision (unanimous) Cage Fighting Championship 1

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Win

Isidro Gonzalez Submission (guillotine choke) SF 2: On the Move

Portland, Oregon, United States Loss

Matt Horwich Submission (triangle choke) SF 1: Revolution

Portland, Oregon, United States Win

Jeremy Brown Decision UCE Winter Warrior Land: Episode 1

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Win

Derek Downey Decision (unanimous) UCE Summer Series: Episode 4

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Win

Brian Garlick Submission (choke) UCE Round 4: Finals

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Win

Jeremy Brown Submission (choke) UCE Round 4: Semi-Finals

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Win

Matthew Bell KO (punch) UCE Round 4: Episode 4

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Win

Gedeon Jarvis Submission (choke) UCE Round 3: Finals

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Win

Hank Weiss KO (punch) UCE Round 3: Semi-Finals

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Win

Matt King Submission (choke) UCE Round 3: Episode 2

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Win

Cedric Nicholsen Submission (choke) UCE Round 3: Episode 1

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Loss

Hank Weiss Submission (choke) UCE Round 2: Episode 1

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States