James Wilks

James Wilks
James Wilks
	James Wilks in 2011
Born	James Brett Wilks; 5 April 1978 (age 46); Leicestershire, England
Other names	Lightning
Nationality	English
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight	170 lb (77 kg; 12 st)
Division	Welterweight
Reach	75 in (190 cm)
Team	Lightning MMA
Rank	Black belt in taekwondo; Brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu; Instructor in Jeet Kune Do; Instructor in CSW
Years active	2003–2012
Mixed martial arts record
Total	11
Wins	7
By knockout	2
By submission	4
By decision	1
Losses	4
By knockout	1
By submission	1
By decision	2
Other information
	Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
	Last updated on: 17 October 2010

James Brett Wilks (born 5 April 1978) is an English former professional mixed martial artist. As a professional competitor from 2003 until 2012, he competed for the UFC, King of the Cage, and was the winner of Spike TV's The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom

Biography

Wilks was born and raised in Leicestershire, England. He attended Uppingham School. After leaving Uppingham in 1996, Wilks went to Bournemouth University, obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Land Management.^[1]

Mixed martial arts career

Wilks began training taekwondo and Jeet Kune Do while living in the United Kingdom. Wilks is a black belt in taekwondo, brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and an instructor of Jeet Kune Do and Combat Submission Wrestling.^[1]^[2]

He had his first professional fight against The Ultimate Fighter 5 competitor, Roman Mitichyan. Wilks won the fight via armbar submission in the second round. He came back to have his second fight and lost to Jimmy Smith. Before going to tape The Ultimate Fighter 9, Wilks won the Gladiator Challenge welterweight title.^[3]

The Ultimate Fighter

He defeated the highly regarded Che Mills by submission in an elimination match earning him a trip to Las Vegas, Nevada to compete on the show. Wilks had his second fight against Team United States fighter Frank Lester; Wilks won by submission in the second round. In the semi-finals, Wilks faced Lester for a second straight time, after Lester returned to the tournament to defeat David Faulkner while substituting for Jason Pierce, who was removed from the competition by Dana White. In the rematch, Wilks defeated Lester by TKO via knees in the third round, earning a spot in the live finale.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Wilks made his debut for the UFC winning against DaMarques Johnson at The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom Finale on 20 June 2009. The fight crowned Wilks as the TUF 9 welterweight champion. Wilks dominated the fight against Johnson showing off strong striking and good submission attempts. Wilks finished the fight with Johnson via a rear naked choke submission in the closing seconds of the first round.^[4]

Wilks lost to Matt Brown via 3rd-round TKO, on 14 November 2009 at UFC 105. After being knocked down in the second and being saved by the bell from a submission attempt, Wilks came back early in the third round, attempting a kimura, before losing top position. Brown then secured the TKO victory. Prior to UFC 115, Wilks revealed that Brown had broken his orbital bone with an elbow strike after just 30 seconds of the first round.^[5]

Wilks then faced Peter Sobotta at UFC 115.^[6] He won the fight via unanimous decision.^[7]

Wilks next fought Canadian prospect Claude Patrick at UFC 120 in London.^[8] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Wilks was expected to face Rory MacDonald on 30 April 2011 at UFC 129.^[9] However, Wilks was replaced on the card by Nate Diaz.^[10]

Wilks was expected to replace Duane Ludwig, and face Amir Sadollah at UFC Fight Night 24.^[11] However, Wilks was also injured and was replaced by DaMarques Johnson.^[12]

Retirement

After suffering extensive injuries which included a fractured vertebra and after doctors told him he faced "significantly high risk of paralysis" if he continued to fight, Wilks announced his retirement from active MMA competition on 14 May 2012.^[13]

Personal life

Wilks has a wife named Alicia.^[14] Wilks is also known for his dedication to veganism.^[15] Wilks is also a combatives instructor.^{[citation needed]}

The Game Changers

Wilks had a leading role in the documentary film The Game Changers (2018), advocating a primarily plant-based diet in high-performance sport and produced by James Cameron.^[16]^[17]

Championships and accomplishments

Brazilian jiu-jitsu

Gracie US Nationals
- Gracie US Nationals 2008 Gold Medalist (Advanced Division, 185lbs)^[18]

Mixed martial arts

Ultimate Fighting Championship
- The Ultimate Fighter Season 9 Winner
Gladiator Challenge
- GC Welterweight Championship (One time)^[3]

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
11 matches	7 wins	4 losses
By knockout	2	1
By submission	4	1
By decision	1	2


Res.	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location	Notes
Loss	7–4	Claude Patrick	Decision (unanimous)	UFC 120	16 October 2010	3	5:00	London, England
Win	7–3	Peter Sobotta	Decision (unanimous)	UFC 115	12 June 2010	3	5:00	Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Loss	6–3	Matt Brown	TKO (punches)	UFC 105	14 November 2009	3	2:26	Manchester, England
Win	6–2	DaMarques Johnson	Submission (rear naked choke)	The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom Finale	20 June 2009	1	4:54	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Won the TUF 9 Welterweight Tournament.
Win	5–2	Mike Robles	Submission (armbar)	GC 85: Cross Fire	25 October 2008	2	4:27	San Diego, California, United States
Win	4–2	John Cole	TKO (knees)	Apocalypse Fights 1: The First Sign	7 August 2008	1	0:26	Coachella, California, United States
Win	3–2	Shawn Nagano	Submission (rear naked choke)	UAGF 4: Kaos on the Kampus	20 May 2006	2	4:22	Los Angeles, California, United States
Loss	2–2	Patrick Speight	Decision (unanimous)	Total Combat 13: Anarchy	11 March 2006	3	3:00	Del Mar, California, United States
Win	2–1	Ray Lizama	TKO (cut)	KOTC 41: Relentless	24 September 2004	1	1:14	San Jacinto, California, United States
Loss	1–1	Jimmy Smith	Submission (kneebar)	KOTC 39: Hitmaster	6 August 2004	1	1:40	San Jacinto, California, United States
Win	1–0	Roman Mitichyan	Submission (armbar)	UAGF Ultimate Cage Fighting 4	12 October 2003	2		Upland, California, United States

Mixed martial arts exhibition record

Exhibition record breakdown
3 matches	3 wins	0 losses
By knockout	1	0
By submission	2	0


Res.	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Round	Time	Location	Notes
Win	3–0	Frank Lester	TKO (knees)	The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom	3		Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Semi-finals
Win	2–0	Frank Lester	Submission (armbar)		2	3:06	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Quarter-finals
Win	1–0	Che Mills	Submission (heel hook)		1	0:30	Cheshire, England, United Kingdom	Elimination bout

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "UFC® : Ultimate Fighting Championship®". www.ufc.com. Archived from the original on 21 June 2009.
^ ^a ^b ^c "James Wilks". greatveganathletes.com. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
^ ^a ^b "Biography". Archived from the original on 23 November 2016.
^ "The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale live round by round updates and official results". MMAJunkie.com. 20 June 2009. Archived from the original on 22 June 2009.
^ "Previously spurned by lady luck, James Wilks ready for UFC". mmajunkie.com. 11 June 2010. Archived from the original on 15 June 2010.
^ "UFC 115 full card set. Main card includes Cro Cop vs. Barry; Condit vs. MacDonald". mmajunkie.com. 12 April 2010. Archived from the original on 9 June 2010.
^ "UFC 115 Prelim card recap: Dunham remains unbeaten; Wiman wins controversially". mmajunkie.com. 13 June 2010. Archived from the original on 16 June 2010.
^ ""TUF 9" champ James Wilks meets Claude Patrick at UFC 120". mmajunkie.com. Archived from the original on 16 October 2012.
^ "UFC 129: Brookins-Makdessi, MacDonald-Wilks Set for April 30 in Toronto". mmafrenzy.com. 4 January 2011.
^ "Nate Diaz meets Rory MacDonald at UFC 129". mmajunkie.com. 14 January 2011. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012.
^ "Injured Ludwig out at UFC Fight Night 24, Wilks now faces Sadollah". MMAjunkie. Archived from the original on 7 March 2011.
^ "UFC Fight Night 24: Amir Sadollah vs DaMarques Johnson booked with James Wilks out". mmamania.com. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
^ "UFC vet James Wilks retires after docs warn of 'significantly high risk of paralysis'". mmajunkie.com. 14 May 2012. Archived from the original on 16 May 2012.
^ "Interview With James Brett Wilks (The Ultimate Fighter : Season 9 Winner)". NEELAMATIQUE.wordpress.com. 28 July 2010. Retrieved 4 October 2010.
^ "MMA Ultimate Fighter - James "Lighting" Wilks - Is Vegan". 3 December 2012. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
^ Lodge, Guy (8 March 2018). "Film Review: 'The Game Changers'". Variety. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
^ "Our Core Principles | Our Philosophy". 22 August 2019.
^ "Co-Head Instructor James Wilks". Archived from the original on 4 May 2012.

External links

[ufc.com-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "UFC® : Ultimate Fighting Championship®". www.ufc.com. Archived from the original on 21 June 2009.

[:0-2] "James Wilks". greatveganathletes.com. Retrieved 18 December 2023.

[Wilks1-3] "Biography". Archived from the original on 23 November 2016.

[TUF9Finale-4] "The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale live round by round updates and official results". MMAJunkie.com. 20 June 2009. Archived from the original on 22 June 2009.

[5] "Previously spurned by lady luck, James Wilks ready for UFC". mmajunkie.com. 11 June 2010. Archived from the original on 15 June 2010.

[6] "UFC 115 full card set. Main card includes Cro Cop vs. Barry; Condit vs. MacDonald". mmajunkie.com. 12 April 2010. Archived from the original on 9 June 2010.

[7] "UFC 115 Prelim card recap: Dunham remains unbeaten; Wiman wins controversially". mmajunkie.com. 13 June 2010. Archived from the original on 16 June 2010.

[8] ""TUF 9" champ James Wilks meets Claude Patrick at UFC 120". mmajunkie.com. Archived from the original on 16 October 2012.

[9] "UFC 129: Brookins-Makdessi, MacDonald-Wilks Set for April 30 in Toronto". mmafrenzy.com. 4 January 2011.

[10] "Nate Diaz meets Rory MacDonald at UFC 129". mmajunkie.com. 14 January 2011. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012.

[11] "Injured Ludwig out at UFC Fight Night 24, Wilks now faces Sadollah". MMAjunkie. Archived from the original on 7 March 2011.

[12] "UFC Fight Night 24: Amir Sadollah vs DaMarques Johnson booked with James Wilks out". mmamania.com. Retrieved 13 March 2011.

[WilksRetiresFromMMA-13] "UFC vet James Wilks retires after docs warn of 'significantly high risk of paralysis'". mmajunkie.com. 14 May 2012. Archived from the original on 16 May 2012.

[14] "Interview With James Brett Wilks (The Ultimate Fighter : Season 9 Winner)". NEELAMATIQUE.wordpress.com. 28 July 2010. Retrieved 4 October 2010.

[15] "MMA Ultimate Fighter - James "Lighting" Wilks - Is Vegan". 3 December 2012. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2012.

[16] Lodge, Guy (8 March 2018). "Film Review: 'The Game Changers'". Variety. Retrieved 31 October 2018.

[17] "Our Core Principles | Our Philosophy". 22 August 2019.

[Lightningmma1-18] "Co-Head Instructor James Wilks". Archived from the original on 4 May 2012.

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