Mike Kyle

Michael Andrew Kyle

Mixed martial arts career Early career Kyle held an undefeated amateur record of 3–0 before turning professional. Kyle made his professional debut on March 10, 2001, when he was 18 years old and won by TKO only 90 seconds into the fight. He then won his next two fights, also by punches before debuting in the King of the Cage promotion. Kyle made his King of the Cage debut in a fight for the King of the Cage Super Heavyweight Championship against then King of the Cage Super Heavyweight Champion Dan Bobish. Kyle, who then weighed 275 lbs. was outweighed by Bobish, who was 55 lbs. bigger than Kyle. Despite rocking Bobish early in the fight and almost pulling off the upset, Kyle was handed his first career loss after he submitted due to punches. In his next KOTC bout, Kyle made his Heavyweight debut against future King of the Cage Heavyweight Champion Paul Buentello. Kyle lost after he was knocked out from punches. After losing to Buentello, the San Jose-based American Kickboxing Academy invited Kyle to train. He accepted and has been training with AKA ever since. During the post-fight interview, a bite mark could clearly be seen on Sims' left pectoral muscle. This marks the first time a bite has ever happened in a UFC fight since its inception at UFC 1 in 1993, when Gerard Gordeau bit Royce Gracie in the championship match. Kyle still denies any wrongdoing.

Kyle then fought the late Justin Eilers in a Heavyweight bout. This was a significant match up as Eilers was a friend of Kyle's who had actually introduced Kyle to the sport of mixed martial arts. Kyle lost the fight when he was knocked out from a punch 74 seconds into the first round.

The 10–5–1 Kyle then fought at Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Le against former All-American wrestler Wayne Cole in a Heavyweight bout and lost after he was submitted from an armbar. Kyle then returned to the IFC and won his bout via knockout, and followed this up with another win, this time via unanimous decision, his first career decision win. Kyle then returned to Strikeforce to fight Rafael Cavalcante in a Light Heavyweight bout at Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields. Kyle picked up one of the biggest victories of his career, winning by knockout against the future Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion. This was also significant because it was Calvacante's first decisive loss, as his only other defeat was by disqualification against Marcio Cruz.

Kyle fought against Steve Oliver at Xtreme MMA Australia 3 Kyle won via TKO due to punches in round one, winning the XMMA Light Heavyweight Championship.

Kyle stepped in on late notice to fight Antônio "Bigfoot" Silva at Strikeforce: Henderson vs. Babalu II on December 4 in St. Louis, Missouri in a Heavyweight bout. Kyle knocked Silva down with a powerful right hand and delivered many shots on the ground but was unable to finish. Silva defeated Kyle via second-round TKO. Kyle later revealed that he broke his hand during the fight.

Kyle was set to face Gegard Mousasi at Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley, but had to withdraw due to a broken hand. Former UFC veteran Keith Jardine stepped in on short notice as his replacement.

Kyle was again scheduled to fight Mousasi at Strikeforce World Grand Prix: Barnett vs. Kharitonov but Mousasi withdrew for unknown reasons and was replaced by Strikeforce newcomer Marcos Rogério de Lima. Kyle won by unanimous decision, picking apart the younger fighter with boxing techniques.

Kyle was expected to face Gegard Mousasi at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey, but withdrew from the fight due to injury. He next faced Rafael Cavalcante in a rematch at Strikeforce 40 in what would be a title eliminator match for the vacant Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship. Kyle lost the fight via guillotine choke in the first round. After the fight, Cavalcante tested positive for a banned substance and, as a result, the CSAC declared the fight a "no contest".

Kyle finally faced Mousasi at Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine on January 12, 2013. He lost via submission in the first round. Kyle said that he would retire following the loss.

Independent Promotions He has since stated that he will not retire and he was scheduled to fight veteran Valentijn Overeem in May but Overeem was forced out due to injury.

Kyle then had a rematch with Travis Wiuff and won via knockout only 21 seconds into the fight. Kyle landed a lead counter-left hook that rocked the back of Wiuff's head who seemed to be unconscious, Kyle then landed a hammerfist before telling the referee that Wiuff was "out" but the fight had not been called until Kyle landed another punch to the downed Wiuff. Kyle was visibly upset after the fight with the referee, feeling that the stoppage was late. However, Kyle pulled out of the bout due to injury, he was replaced with Trevor Prangley.

Kyle faced Evgeny Erokhin on December 20, 2014, at FEFoMP: Russia's MMA Supercup. He lost the fight via KO in the second round.

World Series of Fighting Kyle was to face former UFC veteran Anthony Johnson on September 14, 2013, at WSOF 5. However, Johnson was forced out of the bout due to injury and Kyle faced former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski at the event. Although he knocked Arlovski down with right hands in the first and third round, he lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Mike Kyle vs. Anthony Johnson was scheduled for December 7, 2013, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada but was later canceled because Kyle was forced off the fight because of a broken toe.

Kyle eventually faced Anthony Johnson at WSOF 8. Kyle lost via KO in the first round.

Absolute Championship Berkut Kyle faced Denis Goltsov on March 26, 2016, at ACB 32. He lost the fight via submission in the first round.

Kyle faced Dan Charles on January 13, 2017, at ACB 51. He won the fight via TKO in the first round.

A rematch with Evgeny Erokhin was expected to take place on July 23, 2017, at ACB 65. However, the bout did not go ahead as planned.

Professional boxing Kyle made his professional boxing debut on January 17, 2003, as a heavyweight, losing via unanimous decision.

Kyle returned to the boxing ring in 2016, winning via knockout for his first professional win. Kyle would go 0–2–1 before ending the year, however, most recently losing a unanimous decision to undefeated fighter Darmani Rock.

Personal life Kyle is married and has one daughter with his current wife, as well as two sons from a previous marriage. He is of partial Irish descent.

Championships and accomplishments King of the Cage KOTC Light Heavyweight Championship (One time; former) Xtreme MMA Australia XMMA Light Heavyweight Championship (One time; former) Ultimate Fighting Championship UFC.com Awards 2005: Ranked #8 Knockout of the Year

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Jordan Powell Submission (armbar) PureCombat: Warrior Spirit 2

Oroville, California, United States Loss

Viktor Pešta Submission (rear-naked choke) OKTAGON 13

Prague, Czech Republic Loss

Mo De'Reese TKO (submission to punches) PFL 8

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States Loss

Caio Alencar Decision (unanimous) PFL 7

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Daniel Gallemore TKO (knees) PFL: Fight Night

Washington, D.C., United States Loss

Josh Copeland Decision (unanimous) PFL: Everett

Everett, Washington, United States Win

Dan Charles TKO (punches) |ACB 51: Silva vs. Torgeson

Irvine, California, United States Loss

Denis Goltsov Technical Submission (triangle choke) |ACB 32: The Battle of Lions

Moscow, Russia Loss

Clifford Starks Decision (unanimous) WSOF 22

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Baga Agaev Submission (guillotine choke) Abu Dhabi Warriors 2

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Loss

Evgeny Erokhin KO (punch) FEFoMP: Russia's MMA Supercup

Khabarovsk, Russia Loss

Anthony Johnson KO (punches) WSOF 8

Hollywood, Florida, United States Loss

Andrei Arlovski Decision (unanimous) WSOF 5

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Travis Wiuff KO (punches) CFA 11: Kyle vs. Wiuff 2

Coral Gables, Florida, United States Loss

Gegard Mousasi Submission (rear-naked choke) Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States NC

Rafael Cavalcante NC (overturned by CSAC) Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier

San Jose, California, United States Win

Marcos Rogério de Lima Decision (unanimous) Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov

Cincinnati, Ohio, United States Loss

Antônio Silva TKO (punches) Strikeforce: Henderson vs. Babalu II

St. Louis, Missouri, United States Win

Steve Oliver TKO (punches) Xtreme MMA Australia 3

Sydney, Australia Win

Abongo Humphrey Submission (rear-naked choke) Strikeforce Challengers: del Rosario vs. Mahe

Everett, Washington, United States Win

Tony Lopez Decision (split) KOTC: Honor

Mescalero, New Mexico, United States Win

Jon Murphy TKO (punches and elbows) KOTC: Legacy

Reno, Nevada, United States NC

Travis Wiuff NC (punch after the bell) KOTC: Vengeance

Mescalero, New Mexico, United States Win

Jeremy Freitag TKO (punches) Xtreme MMA Australia 1

Sydney, Australia Loss

Fabrício Werdum Submission (guillotine choke) Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg

San Jose, California, United States Win

Rafael Cavalcante TKO (punches) Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields

St. Louis, Missouri, United States Win

Mychal Clark Decision (unanimous) JG/TKT Promotions: Fighting 4 Kidz

Santa Monica, California, United States Win

Rudy Martin TKO (punches) |IFC: Caged Combat

Nampa, Idaho, United States Light Heavyweight debut. Loss

Wayne Cole Submission (armbar) Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Le

San Jose, California, United States Loss

Brian Olsen DQ (punches after the bell) WEC 20

Lemoore, California, United States Draw

Krzysztof Soszynski

Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Gracie

San Jose, California, United States Loss

Devin Cole TKO (punches) WEC 18: Unfinished Business

Lemoore, California, United States Win

Tsuyoshi Kohsaka Technical Decision (unanimous) Pancrase: Spiral 8

Yokohama, Japan Win

James Irvin KO (punch) UFC 51

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Justin Eilers KO (punch) UFC 49

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Wes Sims KO (knee and punches) UFC 47

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Jude Hargett TKO (punches) WEC 9

Lemoore, California, United States Won the inaugural WEC Heavyweight Championship. Win

Dan Chase TKO (injury) King of the Rockies

Fort Collins, Colorado, United States Win

Jason Reed TKO (submission to punches) IFC: Battleground Boise

Boise, Idaho, United States Win

Jerry Vrbanovic KO (punches) WEC 8

Lemoore, California, United States Loss

Paul Buentello KO (punches) KOTC 18

Reno, Nevada, United States Heavyweight debut. Loss

Dan Bobish TKO (submission to punches) KOTC 13

Reno, Nevada, United States Win

Nate Russak TKO (submission to punches) Gladiator Challenge 9

San Jacinto, California, United States Win

Kauai Kupihea TKO (punches) Night of the Knockout 2

Boise, Idaho, United States Win

Andrew Boyle TKO (punches) Night of the Knockout 1

Boise, Idaho, United States Professional boxing record

Bare knuckle record Loss

Gustavo Trujillo KO (punches) BKFC 22

Miami, Florida, United States Loss

Bobo O'Bannon TKO (retirement) Toe the Line 2

Plant City, Florida, United States