Travis Wiuff

Background Wiuff is from Owatonna, Minnesota, and is of Danish and Irish descent. As his father was a professional wrestler, Wiuff also began wrestling when he was five years old, and continued through high school and college. While at Owatonna High School, he also played football. He was injured during his senior year and had to miss out on the state wrestling championship tournament despite being ranked number one in the state of Minnesota.

Wiuff continued to wrestle and also continued to play football for two years in junior college, at Rochester Technical Community College, where he was a two-time NJCAA All-American, finishing second as a heavyweight at the national championship in 1999. After junior college, Wiuff attended Minnesota State University but dropped out a year before graduating with a law enforcement degree.

Mixed martial arts career Early career Applying for a bouncer job in his early adulthood, Wiuff bumped into Brad Kohler who tried to lure the accomplished wrestler into fighting.

Bellator Fighting Championships Wiuff signed to a contract with Bellator. He debuted in October 2011 where he defeated reigning Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion Christian M'Pumbu in a non-title superfight at Bellator 55, marking the first time a reigning Bellator Champion had lost to someone not under an ongoing contract with the promotion. Bellator signed Wiuff to a contract that December, and he returned to the promotion in March 2012 where he defeated Anthony Gomez in a unanimous decision at Bellator 60.

In the summer of 2012, Wiuff entered Bellator's Light Heavyweight Tournament. In the opening round at Bellator 71, he faced Chris Davis and won via KO in the first round. Wiuff faced Tim Carpenter in the semifinals at Bellator 72. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

On August 24, 2012, Wiuff faced Attila Vegh in the tournament finals at Bellator 73 and lost via KO in 25 seconds of round one.

On March 21, 2013, Wiuff faced Ryan Martinez at Bellator 93 in a Heavyweight bout, He lost via KO in 18 seconds of round one.

Independent promotions Wiuff faced Brett Murphy at VCF: Countdown to War on December 31, 2013. He won the fight via unanimous decision, snapping his four fight losing streak.

Wiuff signed with the Driller Promotions organization in March 2014, and made his debut against Terry Davinney at DP: O-Town Throwdown 1 on April 12, 2014. He won the fight via first-round TKO.

He then faced Brian Heden at Driller Promotions: No Mercy 11 on May 24, 2014, for the DP Heavyweight Championship. He won the fight via first-round TKO, and won his first championship since 2009. He then faced Dallas Mitchell at Dakota FC: Beatdown 11 on June 7, 2014, which he won in a unanimous decision.

Wiuff made his first title defense on June 27, 2014, when he faced Danyelle Williams at Driller Promotions: A-Town Throwdown III. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Wiuff then faced Chris Barnett at Inoki Genome Fight 2 on August 23, 2014. Wiuff lost the bout via TKO after being struck by a right hand from Barnett.

Wiuff faced Timothy Johnson at Dakota FC 19: Fall Brawl on October 25, 2014, for the DFC Heavyweight Championship. He was defeated via TKO due to punches in the first round.

Wiuff faced Kevin Asplund at Driller Promotions: O-Town Throwdown 2 on April 18, 2015. He won via submission in round three.

Submission wrestling career Wiuff has also competed in catch wrestling. In July 2016, he won gold in the 219 lb division at the Frank Gotch World Catch Championships in Humboldt, Iowa. Wiuff returned for the tournament's 2017 edition, which used an openweight format. He placed second, losing in the final to Curran Jacobs, who Wiuff outweighed by over 50 lbs.

In December 2023, Wiuff competed at the American Catch Wrestling Association (ACWA) US Open championships in Brea, California, winning gold in the +214 lb division.

Personal life Wiuff has two daughters. He is a special education teacher and a football and wrestling coach in the Kasson-Mantorville School District. Win

Terry Davinney TKO (punches) Driller Promotions: O-Town Throwdown 1

Owatonna, Minnesota, United States Win

Brett Murphy Decision (unanimous) Valhalla Cage Fighting: Countdown to War

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States Loss

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

Coral Gables, Florida, United States Loss

Ryan Martinez KO (punches) Bellator 93

Lewiston, Maine, United States Loss

Maro Perak Decision (split) Abu Dhabi Warriors 1

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Return to Heavyweight. Loss

Attila Vegh KO (punches) Bellator 73

Tunica, Mississippi, United States Win

Tim Carpenter Decision (unanimous) Bellator 72

Tampa, Florida, United States Win

Chris Davis TKO (punches) Bellator 71

Chester, West Virginia, United States Win

Anthony Gomez Decision (unanimous) Bellator 60

Hammond, Indiana, United States Catchweight (215 lbs) bout. Win

Christian M'Pumbu Decision (unanimous) Bellator 55

Yuma, Arizona, United States Return to Light Heavyweight. Win

Nick Baker TKO (punches) Extreme Challenge 183

Black River Falls, Wisconsin, United States Win

Richard White TKO (submission to punches) CFX: Extreme Challenge on Target

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States Loss

Tim Hague KO (punch) AMMA 5: Uprising

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Win

Josh Barnes TKO (punches) Moosin: God of Martial Arts

Worcester, Massachusetts, United States Win

Jeff Monson Decision (split) CFX/XKL: Mayhem in Minneapolis

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States Win

Chuck Hoskins Decision (unanimous) Combat USA: 18

Onalaska, Wisconsin, United States NC

Mike Kyle NC (punch after the bell) KOTC: Vengeance

Mescalero, New Mexico, United States Win

Justin Newcomb TKO (punches) IFC: Wiuff vs. Newcomb

Green Bay, Wisconsin, United States Win

Waylon Goldsmith Submission (armbar) Fight Nation

Rochester, Minnesota, United States Win

Tracy Willis TKO (submission to punches) IFC: Caged Combat

Penticton, British Columbia, Canada Win

Chris Barden TKO (submission to punches) Extreme Challenge 128

Rochester, Minnesota, United States Loss

Stanislav Nedkov TKO (punches) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 8

Tokyo, Japan Light Heavyweight bout. Win

Steve Pilkington TKO (punches) Extreme Challenge 119

Rochester, Minnesota, United States Loss

Muhammed Lawal TKO (punches) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 5

Tokyo, Japan Win

Kazuyuki Fujita KO (punches) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 3

Saitama, Japan Win

Chris Tuchscherer Decision (unanimous) YAMMA Pit Fighting 1

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Ricco Rodriguez Decision (unanimous) YAMMA Pit Fighting 1

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States YAMMA Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal. Win

Marcelo Donald Pereira Decision (unanimous) YAMMA Pit Fighting 1

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States YAMMA Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal. Win

Jesse Veium TKO (punches) IFO: Fireworks in the Cage IV

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Travis Fulton TKO (punches) Smash: MMA

Virginia, United States Win

Wade Hamilton TKO (punches) WFC: Downtown Throwdown

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States Win

Sean Salmon Submission (guillotine choke) IFO: Wiuff vs. Salmon

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Ralph Kelly TKO (submission to punches) CCCF: Red River Riot 2

Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States Loss

Jared Hamman KO (punches)

Win

Josh Bennett KO (punches)

Win

Arthur Cesar Submission IFC: Caged Combat

Corpus Christi, Texas, United States Loss

James Lee Submission (guillotine choke) PRIDE 33

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Catchweight (210 lbs) bout. Win

Jason Guida Decision (unanimous) Xtreme Fighting Organization 14

Mokena, Illinois, United States Win

Wojtek Kaszowski Decision (unanimous) IFL: Gracie vs. Miletich

Moline, Illinois, United States Loss

Devin Cole Decision (unanimous) IFL: Championship 2006

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Heavyweight bout. Loss

Alex Schoenauer Submission (heel hook) IFL: Legends Championship 2006

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Loss

Marvin Eastman Decision (majority) Elite Fighting 1: Supremacy

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Win

Fabiano Capoani KO (punches) Battle at the Boardwalk (Day 1)

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Ron Fields TKO (submission to elbows) Coliseum 2

Rochester, Minnesota, United States Win

Jimmy Westfall Submission (armbar) Extreme Challenge 65

Medina, Minnesota, United States Loss

Jason Lambert KO (punches) Freestyle FC 15: Fiesta Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

William Hill TKO (doctor stoppage) IFC: Rock N' Rumble

Reno, Nevada, United States Win

Matt Horwich Decision (unanimous) Extreme Challenge 62

Medina, Minnesota, United States Win

Ramazan Akhadullaev Decision (unanimous) Euphoria: USA vs. Russia

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Loss

Renato Sobral Submission (armbar) UFC 52

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Light Heavyweight debut. Win

Antoine Jaoude Decision (unanimous) Euphoria: USA vs World

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Ibragim Magomedov Decision (unanimous) Euphoria: Road to the Titles

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Josh Hendricks TKO (submission to punches) Extreme Challenge 59

Medina, Minnesota, United States Win

Ruben Villareal Submission (keylock) Xtreme Kage Kombat: Eastc Side Rumble

St. Paul, Minnesota, United States Win

John Dixon TKO (cut) Extreme Challenge 58

Medina, Minnesota, United States Win

Leopoldo Montenegro KO (slam and punches) Jungle Fight 2

Manaus, Brazil Win

Demian Decorah TKO (punches) Extreme Challenge 56

Medina, Minnesota, United States Win

Roman Zentsov TKO (cut) Euphoria: Russia vs USA

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Carlos Barreto Decision (unanimous) Heat FC 2: Evolution

Natal, Brazil Win

Nate Sauer KO (slam) Red Wing Rumble

Minnesota, United States Win

Travis Fulton Decision (split) Iowa Challenge 11

Iowa, United States Win

Mark Tullius Decision (unanimous) CFM: Octogono Extremo

Monterrey, Mexico Win

Royce Louck TKO (punches) IFA: Summer Bash

Minnesota, United States Win

Greg Wikan Decision (unanimous) Ring of Fire 9: Eruption

Baraboo, Wisconsin, United States Win

Tony Mendoza Submission (forearm choke) Victory Fighting 5

Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States Win

DR Williams TKO (submission to punches) IFA: Explosion

Minnesota, United States Win

Chad Rafdel TKO (submission to punches) IFA: Clash of the Champions

Owatonna, Minnesota, United States Win

Royce Louck TKO (submission to punches) Bar Room Brawl 10

United States Win

DR Williams TKO (punches) Bar Room Brawl 5

United States Loss

Kauai Kupihea KO (punch) Rumble on the Rock 2

Hilo, Hawaii, United States Win

Andy Montana Decision (unanimous) Rage in the Cage 45: Finally

Phoenix, Arizona, United States Win

Royce Louck TKO (submission to punches) Bar Room Brawl 1

United States Win

Buddy Lewis TKO (submission to punches) Tennessee Shooto: Conquest

Clarksville, Tennessee, United States Win

Brian Shepard TKO (submission to punches) International Cage Combat 1: Retribution

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States Loss

Vladimir Matyushenko TKO (submission to punches) UFC 40

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Jason Godsey Decision Ultimate Wrestling: Godsey vs Wiuff

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States Win

Johnathan Ivey Decision Ultimate Wrestling: Minnesota

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States Win

Travis Fulton Decision (unanimous) Iowa Challenge 5

Iowa, United States Win

Kevin Jordan Decision (unanimous) Ultimate Wrestling

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States Win

Tom McCloud TKO (punches) Victory Fighting Championships 1

Iowa, United States Loss

Wesley Correira TKO (knees) SB 24: Return of the Heavyweights 2

Honolulu, Hawaii, United States Win

Chad Rafdel Submission (keylock)

Win

Josh Mueller TKO (submission to punches)

Win

Chad Rafdel Submission (keylock)

Win

Chad Brady TKO (punches)

Loss

Mike Radnov TKO (cut)

Win

Keith Jardine KO (punch)

Win

Lenn Walker TKO (submission to punches) Ultimate Wrestling: New Blood

Minnesota, United States Win

Jeff Greer TKO (submission to punches) Ultimate Wrestling: Rumble in Ramsey 1

Ramsey, Minnesota, United States