Tim Boetsch

Timothy A. Boetsch (/ˈboʊtʃ/; born January 28, 1981) is an American professional mixed martial artist currently fighting in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. In addition to the UFC, Boetsch has formerly competed as an alternate for the New York Pitbulls in the International Fight League and King of the Cage. He is known for his aggressive, fan-friendly fighting style and his ability to come back from losing fights, as shown in his bouts with Yushin Okami & Brad Tavares.

Boetsch was born in Lincolnville, Maine and has a brother, Aaron, who is ten years older than him. Boetsch began wrestling when he was six years old, and had always admired his older brother's wrestling abilities. Boetsch, who also practiced Jeet Kune Do, attended Camden Hills Regional High School, where his achievements on the wrestling mat were staggering. Boetsch was a four-time state wrestling champion, and won almost every tournament that he participated in. On August 4, 2012, he was inducted into the Maine Wrestling Hall of Fame. He then attended Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania on a wrestling scholarship, but had mixed results in his wrestling career there. Boetsch had trouble settling into the right weight-class, and was not consistent. His college roommate, who was also on the wrestling team, had been training with the legendary Pat Miletich after he left college. Boetsch's roommate then offered Boetsch the opportunity to fight in Iowa, and Boetsch, who was landscaping in Pennsylvania at the time, accepted.

Early career

Boetsch had his first amateur fight in August 2006, and after dominating the first two opponents he faced in less than two minutes, made his transition to the professional ranks. Boetsch made his IFL debut as a late replacement to fight veteran Vladimir Matyushenko. He was given three days to prepare for the match, and fought the future champion to a decision, his first professional loss.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

After this performance, Boetsch made his UFC debut at UFC 81 as a late replacement to fight David Heath. He was given ten days to prepare for the fight, and won by TKO in the first round. Boetsch received particular acclaim and a fan following for the way he threw Heath onto his head at the end of the fight. Boetsch next made his main card debut in the UFC as a replacement to fight Matt Hamill at UFC Fight Night 13 with six weeks to prepare for the fight. Though he opened a large gash on Hamill's lower lip, he found himself winded in the second round, leading to a TKO loss due to strikes from the ground.

Boetsch fought submission specialist Michael Patt at UFC 88. For the first time in four fights, Boetsch did not enter the bout as a replacement for another fighter. Boetsch won by TKO in the first round.

Boetsch was released from the UFC following his loss to Jason Brilz at UFC 96, ending his four-fight contract with a 2–2 record.

Boetsch earned a record of 3-0 before getting re-signed with the UFC.

Return to the UFC

Boetsch was scheduled to face Thiago Silva on August 7, 2010 at UFC 117, but Silva was forced out of the bout due to an injury. and replaced by UFC newcomer Todd Brown. Boetsch won a unanimous decision.

Boetsch faced Phil Davis on November 20, 2010 at UFC 123. and lost via a modified kimura, affectionately coined as "Mr. Wonderful," in the second round.

Boetsch subsequently dropped down to the Middleweight division. He faced Kendall Grove on May 28, 2011 at UFC 130 and won the fight via unanimous decision.

In his second fight at Middleweight, Boetsch faced, then undefeated, Nick Ring on September 24, 2011 at UFC 135. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Boetsch was victorious in his fight against former UFC title challenger Yushin Okami on February 26, 2012 at UFC 144. Boetsch was badly beaten in the first two rounds before rallying to claim a TKO victory in what is arguably the biggest victory of his career to date. Veteran commentator Joe Rogan stated it as the greatest comeback in UFC history.

Boetsch was expected to face Michael Bisping on July 21, 2012 at UFC 149. However, Bisping was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by promotional newcomer Hector Lombard. Boetsch defeated Lombard via split decision.

Boetsch was expected to face Chris Weidman on December 29, 2012 at UFC 155. However, Weidman was forced out of the bout due citing an injury and was replaced by Costas Philippou. Boetsch had dominated the first round, but he received an eye poke and headbutt later in the fight and was bleeding a significant amount. Boetsch was never able to fully recover and slowed down significantly. He eventually lost the fight via TKO due to strikes, making this his first loss since moving to Middleweight.

Boetsch faced Mark Muñoz on July 6, 2013 at UFC 162, He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Boetsch was expected to face Luke Rockhold on October 19, 2013 at UFC 166. However, Rockhold was forced out of the bout citing a knee injury and was replaced by C.B. Dollaway. While Dollaway seemingly controlled the action for the majority of the bout, he was docked a point for multiple eye pokes to Boetsch. Boetsch was declared the winner via split decision.

Boetsch eventually faced Luke Rockhold on April 26, 2014 at UFC 172. He lost the fight via submission in the first round.

Boetsch faced Brad Tavares on August 16, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 47. Boetsch scored a come from behind victory, defeating Tavares via second round TKO. The win also earned Boetsch his first Performance of the Night bonus award.

Boetsch next faced Thales Leites on January 31, 2015 at UFC 183. He lost the fight via technical submission due to an arm-triangle choke in the second round. Despite the loss, Boetsch was awarded a Fight of the Night bonus.

Boetsch faced Dan Henderson on June 6, 2015 in the main event at UFC Fight Night 68. He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.

Boetsch faced Ed Herman in a light heavyweight bout on January 17, 2016 at UFC Fight Night 81. He lost the fight via TKO in the second round.

Boetsch next faced Josh Samman on July 13, 2016 at UFC Fight Night 91. He won the fight via TKO in the second round.

Boetsch faced Rafael Natal on November 12, 2016 at UFC 205. He won the fight via TKO in the first round.

In the last fight of his contract, Boetsch faced Ronaldo Souza on February 11, 2017 at UFC 208. He lost the fight via submission in the first round.

Boetsch is expected to face Johny Hendricks on June 25, 2017 at UFC Fight Night 112.

Boetsch is married and has two sons and a daughter.

Boetsch has a degree in Criminal Justice from the Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania. He was formerly a social worker with adolescents prior to pursuing his mixed martial arts career, and he now owns a lawn and landscape business.

Mixed martial arts

• 5150 Combat League
  • Light Heavyweight Championship (One time)
• Tequila CAZADORES Spirit Award
  • Tequila CAZADORES Spirit Award (Two times)
• Ultimate Fighting Championship
  • Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Thales Leites
  • Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Brad Tavares