Tim Boetsch

Timothy A. Boetsch (born January 28, 1981) is a retired American professional mixed martial artist who fought in the Middleweight and Light Heavyweight divisions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

A professional since 2006, Boetsch has formerly competed as an alternate for the New York Pitbulls in the International Fight League and King of the Cage.

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 he was very successful at the local high school level.

Boetsch was a four-time state wrestling champion, and won almost every tournament that he participated in.

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.

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.

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.

He lost the fight via submission.

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.

Boetsch faced Nick Ring on September 24, 2011, at UFC 135.

He won the fight via unanimous decision.

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.

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 Héctor Lombard.

Boetsch defeated Lombard via split decision.

Boetsch was expected to face Chris Weidman on December 29, 2012, at UFC 155.