Travis Browne

Travis Kuualiialoha Browne (born July 17, 1982) is a retired American mixed martial artist who last competed as a Heavyweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Browne was born in Hawaii to a father with Native Hawaiian ancestry and a European American mother.

He played basketball and won the 2000 Coastal North League Player of the Year while attending high school in San Diego and then continued his career at Palomar College.

Browne had no martial arts experience before being introduced to Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the age of 26.

Browne also began training in boxing and had his first professional fight less than a year later.

Browne began his professional MMA career in 2009, fighting in smaller organizations such as Bellator Fighting Championships, Gladiator Challenge, and King of the Cage.

He quickly amassed an undefeated winning streak of 9–0.

In March 2010, Browne signed with the UFC.

He made his debut at The Ultimate Fighter: Team Liddell vs. Team Ortiz Finale against James McSweeney.

Browne won the fight via TKO at 4:32 of the first round.

Browne fought UFC veteran Cheick Kongo at UFC 120.

The fight was even heading into the third round, with Browne winning the first round on the judge's scorecards and Kongo taking the second.

In the third and final round, Kongo was penalized with a point deduction for repeatedly grabbing and holding Browne's shorts and the fight, therefore, resulted in a somewhat controversial draw.

Browne faced Stefan Struve on May 28, 2011, at UFC 130.

He won the fight via superman punch KO in the first round, earning a "Knockout of the Night" bonus in the process.

Browne faced Rob Broughton on September 24, 2011, at UFC 135 where he won by unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, and 30–27).

Browne agreed to fight UFC newcomer Chad Griggs on April 21, 2012, at UFC 145.

He defeated Griggs by submission due to an arm-triangle choke in the first round.

The performance earned Browne Submission of the Night honors.

Browne was expected to fight Ben Rothwell at UFC on FOX 4 on August 4, 2012, in Los Angeles, California.

However, Rothwell was forced to pull out of the fight due to injury.

Browne faced Antônio Silva on October 5, 2012, at the main event of UFC on FX 5.

Browne came out aggressive, showing a variety of striking techniques.

Browne strained his left hamstring throwing a flashy kick.

Silva was able to capitalize, backing Browne up, landing a big right hand, and finishing with punches from the top, giving Browne his first professional loss.

A camera crew from Vice Media followed and interviewed Browne before and after the fight with Silva.

Browne faced Gabriel Gonzaga on April 13, 2013, at The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale.

Browne defeated Gonzaga via first-round knockout by elbows to the side of the head.

The performance earned Browne Knockout of the Night honors.

The win however was not without controversy as Browne not only held on to the fence to defend a takedown but also connected with illegal 12–6 elbows to the back of the head to Gonzaga.

Gonzaga's appeal to the Nevada State Athletic Commission to overturn the fight to a no-contest was denied.

Browne faced Alistair Overeem on August 17, 2013, at UFC Fight Night 26.

After surviving Overeem's initial flurry, Browne won via knockout due to a front kick and punches in the first round.

The impressive knockout also earned Browne his third Knockout of the Night bonus award.

Browne faced Josh Barnett on December 28, 2013, at UFC 168.

Browne won exactly a minute into the match via knockout due to elbows while Barnett was attempting a takedown.

This earned him the Knockout of the Night bonus for his third straight fight.

Browne faced Fabrício Werdum on April 19, 2014, at UFC on Fox 11.

Despite being a betting favorite with better considered striking, Browne was outstruck for nearly all five rounds after scoring an early knockdown on Werdum in the first round.

Browne also said that he suffered a broken hand, ribs and dislocated his foot at some point during the fight.