Mike Kyle

Michael Andrew Kyle (born March 31, 1980) is an American professional mixed martial artist and boxer currently competing in the Heavyweight division.

This marks the first time a bite has ever happened in a UFC fight since its inception at UFC 1 in 1993, when Gerard Gordeau bit Royce Gracie in the championship match.

Kyle still denies any wrongdoing.

Kyle then fought the late Justin Eilers in a Heavyweight bout.

This was a significant match up as Eilers was a friend of Kyle's who had actually introduced Kyle to the sport of mixed martial arts.

Kyle lost the fight when he was knocked out from a punch 74 seconds into the first round.

He then fought former WEC Heavyweight Champion James Irvin at UFC 51 winning via knockout in the first round.

Despite this relatively notable win in the UFC, Kyle requested his release in from the UFC to compete in Japan.

Kyle then left the UFC and had planned to fight in the PRIDE Fighting Championships in Japan.

However, the plan fell through and in his next bout he fought in Japan's Pancrase where he defeated Japanese legend Tsuyoshi Kohsaka.

Kyle won the fight via (technical) decision in round three after ringside doctors ruled Kohsaka unable to continue.

Kyle had cut down from 245 lbs.

A professional competitor since 2001, Kyle has competed for the UFC, the WEC, Strikeforce, the World Series of Fighting, Absolute Championship Berkut, Pancrase, and King of the Cage.

He is the former WEC Heavyweight Champion and King of the Cage Light Heavyweight Champion.

Kyle is from Boise, Idaho.

He attended Nampa High School and was friends with the late Justin Eilers, who Kyle would actually end up fighting in his second fight for the UFC.

Eilers and a friend who were both two grades ahead of Kyle, taught him Brazilian jiu-jitsu techniques when he was a sophomore in high school.

Kyle was also a talented football player, playing fullback for Butte College in Oroville, California and Eastern Oregon University.

During his early mixed martial arts career he split time between fighting and playing football.

He was invited to a spring camp for the San Francisco 49ers, but ultimately decided to focus on mixed martial arts.

Kyle held an undefeated amateur record of 3–0 before turning professional.

Kyle made his professional debut on March 10, 2001, when he was 18 years old and won by TKO only 90 seconds into the fight.

He then won his next two fights, also by punches before debuting in the King of the Cage promotion.

Kyle made his King of the Cage debut in a fight for the King of the Cage Super Heavyweight Championship against then King of the Cage Super Heavyweight Champion Dan Bobish.

Kyle, who then weighed 275 lbs.

was outweighed by Bobish, who was 55 lbs.

bigger than Kyle.

Despite rocking Bobish early in the fight and almost pulling off the upset, Kyle was handed his first career loss after he submitted due to punches.

In his next KOTC bout, Kyle made his Heavyweight debut against future King of the Cage Heavyweight Champion Paul Buentello.

Kyle lost after he was knocked out from punches.

After losing to Buentello, the San Jose-based American Kickboxing Academy invited Kyle to train.

He accepted and has been training with AKA ever since.

In his next fight, Kyle made his debut in the WEC, and snapped his two-fight losing streak with a knockout win.

The 4–2 Kyle then fought in the IFC and again won by strikes as his opponent tapped out due to punches.

Kyle then also won his next two fights, which included another win under the WEC banner.

Kyle made his UFC debut against Wes Sims winning via KO at 4:59 of round one.

Sims took the fight a days notice after Kyle's original opponent filled into the main event after Tim Sylvia failed a drug test.

Kyle dominated the entire first round and knocked Sims out at 4:59.

Sims protested after the fight that Kyle had bitten him on the chest.

During the post-fight interview, a bite mark could clearly be seen on Sims' left pectoral muscle.