Quick Facts
Biography
Michael Joe Whitehead (born June 29, 1981) is a former professional mixed martial artist. He competed in the Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight weight classes for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, IFL, Affliction, and Strikeforce.
Mixed martial arts career
At Crater High School, Mike was a state champion wrestler in the 189lb division in 1999 and played defensive lineman in football.
Mike Whitehead started wrestling at North Idaho College, Southern Oregon University, and the University of Missouri. He is a 3 time All American Wrestler and Abu Dhabi qualifier. In 2005, he participated in the The Ultimate Fighter 2 reality series on Spike TV.
Prior to his fight with Renato Sobral, he was on a 13 fight win streak, including five straight victories in the IFL. He has proven himself dangerous standing and striking, as well as with wrestling and submission grappling.
He has also competed in the standup only fight organization Xtreme Fighting Association where he defeated Ethen Cox by unanimous decision.
Personal life
Whitehead was arrested by Las Vegas Metro Police on April 14, 2010, after a female acquaintance filed a report that he had sexually assaulted her at his home. He faces several charges including two counts of sexual assault and one count each of attempted sexual assault and open and gross lewdness. Additional charges could still be coming for Mike based on the marijuana grow operation detectives found when they went to serve a warrant in response to the sexual assault. Detectives found 50 marijuana plants inside the residence, all of which were confiscated and destroyed after they were granted a warrant for the plants.
Whitehead reached an agreement with Clark County prosecutors to make a no-contest plea. On September 12, 2011, he pleaded no-contest to the charges and faced up to 20 years in prison. On January 19, 2012, Whitehead was sentenced to one to four years in prison.
Championships and accomplishments
- Icon Sport
- SuperBrawl 24: Return of the Heavyweights Tournament Runner Up
- International Fighting Championship
- IFC Heavyweight Championship (One time)
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 34 matches | 27 wins | 7 losses |
| By knockout | 6 | 4 |
| By submission | 14 | 0 |
| By decision | 6 | 3 |
| Unknown | 1 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 27–8 | Brian Heden | Decision (unanimous) | Dakota FC / Ultimate Productions - Winter Brawl | December 5, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Fargo, North Dakota, United States | |
| Win | 27–7 | Jojo Thompson | Submission (neck crank) | RITC - Rage in the Cage 156 | October 22, 2011 | 1 | 1:58 | Chandler, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 26–7 | Eddie Sanchez | Decision (split) | PFC - Pure Fighting Championships 6 | December 10, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Red Deer, Alberta, Canada | |
| Win | 25–7 | Chase Gormley | TKO (punches) | IFC: Extreme Challenge | July 10, 2010 | 4 | 2:22 | Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, United States | Won the IFC Heavyweight Championship. |
| Loss | 24–7 | Muhammed Lawal | KO (punches) | Strikeforce: Evolution | December 19, 2009 | 1 | 3:08 | San Jose, California, United States | |
| Win | 24–6 | Kevin Randleman | Decision (unanimous) | Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields | June 6, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | St. Louis, Missouri, United States | Light heavyweight bout. |
| Win | 23–6 | Leo Pla | Submission (guillotine choke) | M-1 Challenge 8: USA | October 29, 2008 | 1 | 1:20 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | |
| Loss | 22–6 | Renato Sobral | Decision (unanimous) | Affliction: Banned | July 19, 2008 | 3 | 5:00 | Anaheim, California, United States | |
| Win | 22–5 | Zak Jensen | Submission (armbar) | Beatdown - 4 Bears Casino | May 10, 2008 | 1 | 2:06 | North Dakota, United States | |
| Win | 21–5 | Soakai Pulu | Submission (keylock) | Throwdown Showdown 1 - Showdown | April 18, 2008 | 1 | 0:59 | Orem, Utah, United States | |
| Win | 20–5 | Daniel Sarafian | Decision (unanimous) | PFP: Ring Of Fire | December 9, 2007 | 3 | 5:00 | Manila, Philippines | |
| Win | 19–5 | Vernon White | TKO (punches) | IFL: Las Vegas | June 16, 2007 | 2 | 0:54 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 18–5 | Wojtek Kaszowski | TKO (punches) | IFL: Connecticut | April 13, 2007 | 1 | 2:43 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
| Win | 17–5 | Krzysztof Soszynski | Decision (unanimous) | IFL: World Championship Final | December 29, 2006 | 3 | 4:00 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
| Win | 16–5 | Mark Kerr | TKO (punches) | IFL: World Championship Semifinals | November 2, 2006 | 1 | 2:40 | Portland, Oregon, United States | |
| Win | 15–5 | Michael Buchkovich | Submission (punches) | CFC2: Combat Fighting Championship | September 23, 2006 | 1 | 4:04 | Orlando, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 14–5 | Ruben Villareal | Submission (keylock) | Valor Fighting: Showdown At Cache Creek II | September 15, 2006 | 1 | 1:02 | Brooks, California, United States | |
| Win | 13–5 | Rich Beecroft | Submission (keylock) | RITC 85 - Xtreme Cage Fighting | August 5, 2006 | 1 | 1:17 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 12–5 | Rocky Batastini | Submission (kimura) | RITC 83 - Rampage | June 10, 2006 | 1 | 0:14 | Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 11–5 | Mike Bourke | Forfeit | UAGF - Kaos on the Kampus | May 20, 2006 | 3 | N/A | Los Angeles, California, United States | |
| Win | 10–5 | Robert Beraun | Submission (kimura) | RITC 80 - Fight Night at The Fort | March 18, 2006 | 1 | 2:57 | Fountain Hills, Arizona, United States | |
| Loss | 9–5 | Keith Jardine | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 57: Liddell vs. Couture 3 | February 4, 2006 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 9–4 | Travis Fulton | Submission (bulldog choke) | EC 61 - Extreme Challenge 61 | April 22, 2005 | 1 | 1:30 | Osceola, Iowa, United States | |
| Win | 8–4 | Aaron Brink | Decision (unanimous) | UAGF - Clover Combat | March 25, 2005 | 3 | 5:00 | California, United States | |
| Win | 7–4 | Matt Bear | Submission (strikes) | VFC 9 - Madness | March 5, 2005 | 2 | 0:54 | Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States | |
| Loss | 6–4 | Brandon Vera | TKO (doctor stoppage) | WEC 13 - Heavyweight Explosion | January 22, 2005 | 2 | 1:12 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Win | 6–3 | Terrell Dees | Submission (neck crank) | WEC 13 - Heavyweight Explosion | January 22, 2005 | 1 | 3:43 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Win | 5–3 | Demian Decorah | TKO (punches) | EC 59 - Extreme Challenge 59 | September 24, 2004 | 1 | 3:25 | Medina, Minnesota, United States | |
| Win | 4–3 | Brian Stromberg | Submission | SF 5 - Stadium | August 28, 2004 | 2 | N/A | Gresham, Oregon, United States | |
| Win | 3–3 | Karl Knothe | Submission (neck crank) | EC 58 - Extreme Challenge 58 | June 11, 2004 | 1 | 1:17 | Medina, Minnesota, United States | |
| Loss | 2–3 | Alex Paz | Decision (split) | HOOKnSHOOT - Absolute Fighting Championships 2 | March 28, 2003 | 2 | 5:00 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | |
| Loss | 2–2 | Tim Sylvia | TKO (knee and punches) | SB 24 - Return of the Heavyweights 2 | April 27, 2002 | 1 | 2:38 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | SuperBrawl Return of the Heavyweights Finals |
| Win | 2–1 | Ben Rothwell | Decision (unanimous) | SB 24 - Return of the Heavyweights 2 | April 27, 2002 | 2 | 5:00 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | SuperBrawl Return of the Heavyweights Semifinals |
| Loss | 1–1 | Tim Sylvia | TKO (punches) | SB 24 - Return of the Heavyweights 1 | April 26, 2002 | 1 | 3:46 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | SuperBrawl Return of the Heavyweights Round One |
| Win | 1–0 | Kim Bower | TKO (punches) | GVT - Gladiators Vale Tudo | March 10, 2001 | 1 | N/A | Worley, Idaho, United States |
Kickboxing record
| Kickboxing record | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 win (0 KOs), 0 losses, 0 draws
Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest Notes | ||||||||||||||||||
