Seth Baczynski

Seth Baczynski (born October 26, 1981) is an American former professional mixed martial arts fighter who competed in the Middleweight division. Baczynski has formerly competed for the UFC, and was a cast member of Spike TV's The Ultimate Fighter: Team Liddell vs. Team Ortiz and The Ultimate Fighter: Redemption. He has also fought for top promotions such as the International Fight League, Tachi Palace Fights, World Lethwei Championship, and the Legacy Fighting Alliance.

Background Baczynski was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and raised in Apache Junction, Arizona. His paternal great-grandfather was an immigrant from Poland. He played football and basketball growing up. Upon graduating from Apache Junction High School, Baczynski began training in mixed martial arts.

Mixed martial arts career Early career Baczynski began fighting in 2006, making his debut at a Rage in the Cage event. Baczynski lost the fight to Shane Johnson via kneebar submission in round one. He bounced back from the loss and won three straight fights, all for the same promotion.

International Fight League He then signed a contract with the International Fight League. He debuted for the promotion against Brent Beauparlant, losing via decision. He was given a second chance, and fought Dan Molina. Baczynski lost the fight and was subsequently released from the promotion.

Post-IFL Baczynski obtained a 7–1 record after being released from the IFL. He then fought up and comer Roger Bowling, losing by vicious KO only nine seconds into round one. Baczynski won a fight against Tom Nguyen at a Wild Bill's Fight Night event. He was then selected to be a part of The Ultimate Fighter.

The Ultimate Fighter Baczynski was selected as one of the 28 competitors for the eleventh season of the Ultimate Fighter. To get onto the show and become one of the 14 fighters, Baczynski had to fight Court McGee. After three rounds, the judges awarded the win to McGee, sending Baczynski home.

After a fighter was injured and forced out of the competition, Baczynski was given the injured fighter's spot. In his first fight back he fought Team Liddell's last pick, Joseph Henle. Baczynski won the fight via three round unanimous decision and moved onto the quarter-final round.

In the quarter-final round, Baczynski faced rival team member and friend Brad Tavares. As the first round ended, Baczynski threw an illegal soccer kick to the head of Tavares. Baczynski immediately apologized, knowing he could have seriously hurt Tavares, who went to his corner and slumped. After discussing the matter with the doctors, Herb Dean stopped the fight and Tavares was declared the winner by disqualification, advancing him to the semi-finals.

In 2017, he returned to TUF 25, ultimately losing by unanimous decision to Gilbert Smith.

Ultimate Fighting Championship Baczynski made his UFC debut in a rematch against Brad Tavares at The Ultimate Fighter: Team Liddell vs. Team Ortiz Finale. After three close rounds, Baczynski lost the fight via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28).

Due to his loss to Tavares, Baczynski was subsequently released from the UFC.

Post-UFC Soon after being released from the UFC, Baczynski was reportedly signed by Strikeforce and was scheduled to make his promotional debut at ShoMMA 10: Riggs vs. Taylor against Erik Apple. However, Apple was forced to pull out of the fight and a replacement was not named.

He then fought UFC and WEC veteran, Tim McKenzie, at Tachi Palace Fights 7. The fight was ended after Baczynski escaped from a near fight ending armbar submission hold, which ended up breaking his arm, and knocked McKenzie out with elbows. McKenzie appealed the result to the CSAC.

On April 9, 2011, Baczynski became the Interim Ringside MMA Welterweight Champion when he TKO'd formerly undefeated prospect Alex Garcia at Ringside MMA 10.

Return to UFC Baczynski returned to the UFC facing Clay Harvison on September 17, 2011, at UFC Fight Night 25, replacing an injured DaMarques Johnson. He won the fight via submission in the second round.

Baczynski again stepped-in on short notice to fight Matt Brown on November 19, 2011, at UFC 139. He won the fight via submission in the second round.

Baczynski fought Lance Benoist on June 8, 2012, at UFC on FX 3. Baczynski defeated Benoist via split decision.

Baczynski next faced Simeon Thoresen on September 22, 2012, at UFC 152. Baczynski was surprisingly being out struck by Thoresen throughout the fight until he landed a big punch that instantly knocked Thoresen out late in the first round.

Baczynski was expected to face Kyle Noke on December 15, 2012, at UFC on FX 6. However, Noke pulled out of the bout citing a shoulder injury and was replaced by Mike Pierce. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Baczynski fought promotional newcomer Brian Melancon on July 6, 2013, at UFC 162. He lost the fight via knockout due to ground and pound punches at the end of the first round.

Baczynski faced Neil Magny on November 6, 2013, at UFC Fight Night 31. He won the back-and-forth fight via unanimous decision.

Baczynski faced Thiago Alves on April 10, 2014, at UFC on Fox 11. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. Despite the loss, this fight earned Baczynski his first Fight of the Night bonus award.

Baczynski faced promotional newcomer Alan Jouban on August 16, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 47. He lost the back-and-forth fight via knockout in the first round. Despite the loss, Baczynski earned his second consecutive Fight of the Night bonus award.

Baczynski faced Leon Edwards on April 11, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 64. Baczynski lost the fight as he was quickly knocked out only 8 seconds into the first round, and was subsequently released from the promotion.

The Ultimate Fighter: Redemption In February 2017, it was revealed that Baczynski would again compete on the UFC's reality show in the 25th season on The Ultimate Fighter: Redemption. Baczynski was the first pick overall for Team Garbrandt. He faced Gilbert Smith in the opening round and lost via unanimous decision.

Lethwei On May 2, 2019, Baczynski signed a multi-fight deal with Myanmar-based Lethwei organization World Lethwei Championship. His debut was for the inaugural Cruiserweight World Lethwei Championship against Lethwei world champion Dave Leduc on August 2, 2019. Baczynski felt confident leading up to the fight because he had more fighting experience than Leduc. Baczynski lost the fight via knockout in the second round.

Personal life Baczynski is married and has five children. Aside from fighting, he has a job as a utilities worker.

Championships and achievements Mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship Fight of the Night (Two times) vs. Thiago Alves, Alan Jouban Ringside MMA Interim Ringside Welterweight Championship (One time)

Lethwei Lethwei World 2019 Event of the Year Spia Asia Awards 2019 Best Sport Tourism Destination Campaign of the Year – Bronze Asian Academy Awards 2019 Best Sport Program – National Winner

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Jesse Taylor Submission (rear-naked choke) NWFA 1: Retribution

Bentonville, Arkansas, United States Catchweight (195 lbs) bout. Loss

Gerald Harris Decision (unanimous) C3 Fights 48

Newkirk, Oklahoma, United States Loss

Daniel Madrid Submission (guillotine choke) LFA 59

Phoenix, Arizona, United States Loss

Teddy Ash TKO (punches) Unified MMA 34: Supremacy

Enoch, Alberta, Canada For the vacant Unified MMA Middleweight Championship. Win

Matt Lagler KO (punches) California Cage Wars 7: Outdoor Supershow

Campo, California, United States Win

Marvin Babe Submission C3 Fights 46: Clash at the Council

Newkirk, Oklahoma, United States Return to Middleweight. Win

Jonathan Casimiro TKO (punches) WFF MX: World Fighting Federation Mexico

Puerto Penasco, Sonora, Mexico Loss

Jesse Taylor Decision (unanimous) TFE MMA: Vengeance

Anaheim, California, United States Loss

Leon Edwards KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Gonzaga vs. Cro Cop 2

Kraków, Poland Loss

Alan Jouban KO (punch) UFC Fight Night: Bader vs. St. Preux

Bangor, Maine, United States Loss

Thiago Alves Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fox: Werdum vs. Browne

Orlando, Florida, United States Win

Neil Magny Decision (unanimous) UFC: Fight for the Troops 3

Fort Campbell, Kentucky, United States Loss

Brian Melancon KO (punches) UFC 162

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Mike Pierce Decision (unanimous) UFC on FX: Sotiropoulos vs. Pearson

Gold Coast, Australia Win

Simeon Thoresen KO (punch) UFC 152

Toronto, Ontario, Canada Win

Lance Benoist Decision (split) UFC on FX: Johnson vs. McCall

Sunrise, Florida United States Win

Matt Brown Submission (guillotine choke) UFC 139

San Jose, California United States Win

Clay Harvison Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Shields vs. Ellenberger

New Orleans, Louisiana United States Win

Alex Garcia KO (punches) Ringside 10: Cote vs. Starnes

Montreal, Quebec, Canada Win

Tim McKenzie TKO (elbows and punches) Tachi Palace Fights 7

Lemoore, California, United States Loss

Brad Tavares Decision (unanimous) The Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Tom Nguyen Submission (guillotine choke) Wild Bill's Fight Night 23

Duluth, Georgia, United States Loss

Roger Bowling KO (punches) MMA Big Show: Retribution

Vevay, Indiana, United States Win

James Warfield KO (flying knee and punches) Evolution MMA

Phoenix, Arizona, United States Win

Oscar Montano Submission (triangle choke) Mexican Fighting Championship

Puerto Penasco, Mexico Win

Antonio Grant KO (punch) Silver Crown Fights

Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States Loss

Donnie Liles Submission (anaconda choke) Warriors Collide 4

Colorado, United States Win

Eddie Arizmendi Submission (triangle choke) Rage in the Cage 111

Arizona, United States Win

Jordan Pergola Submission (triangle choke) XFC 3: Rage in the Cage

Tampa, Florida, United States Win

Kito Andrews Submission (triangle choke) Full Moon Fighting

Sonora, Mexico Welterweight debut. Win

Chris Kennedy TKO (punches) Tuff-N-Uff: Thompson vs. Troyer

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Dan Molina Submission (heel hook) IFL: Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Brent Beauparlant Decision (unanimous) IFL: Connecticut

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Win

Seth Ballantine Submission (armbar) RITC 89: Triple Main Event

Scottsdale, Arizona, United States Win

Travos Degrout Submission (choke) RITC 84: Celebrity Theatre

Phoenix, Arizona, United States Middleweight debut. Win

Johnathan Tsosie Submission (choke) RITC 80: Fight Night at The Fort

Fountain Hills, Arizona, United States Loss

Shane Johnson Submission (kneebar) RITC 79: The Rage Returns

Tucson, Arizona, United States Loss

Gabriel Flores Submission (choke) RITC 76: Hello Tucson

Tucson, Arizona, United States Win

Robert King TKO (retirement) RITC 75: Friday Night Fights

Glendale, Arizona, United States Loss

Ryan Potter Submission (choke) RITC 73: Arizona vs. Nevada

Glendale, Arizona, United States Lethwei record

Mixed martial arts exhibition record Loss

Gilbert Smith Decision (unanimous) The Ultimate Fighter: Team Garbrandt vs Team Dillashaw

Loss

Brad Tavares DQ (illegal knee)

Win

Joseph Henle Decision (unanimous)

Loss

Court McGee Decision (unanimous)