Mark Muñoz | |
---|---|
Born |
Yokosuka, Japan |
February 9, 1978
Other names | The Filipino Wrecking Machine |
Nationality | American & Filipino |
Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
Weight | 186 lb (84 kg; 13 st 4 lb) |
Division |
Middleweight (2009 – 2015) Light Heavyweight (2007–2009) |
Reach | 72.0 in (183 cm) |
Style | Wrestling, BJJ, GJJ, Boxing, Jujitsu, |
Fighting out of | Lake Forest, California, United States |
Team | Reign Training Center RVCA Training Center Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy |
Rank | Purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Antônio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira |
Wrestling | NCAA Division I Wrestling |
Years active | 2007–2015 |
Mixed martial arts record | |
Total | 20 |
Wins | 14 |
By knockout | 6 |
By submission | 1 |
By decision | 7 |
Losses | 6 |
By knockout | 3 |
By submission | 2 |
By decision | 1 |
University | Oklahoma State University |
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
|
Mark Kenery Muñoz (born February 9, 1978) is a retired Japanese-born Filipino-American professional mixed martial artist who most recently competed in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional competitor from 2007 until 2015, Munoz also formerly competed for the WEC. Throughout his career, Munoz was credited as one of "the nicest guys in MMA" even being officially ranked as No.1 during an Episode of "UFC Tonight" due to his contributions to both the sport of MMA, and his local community through activities such as starting up and running his own gym, and heading his own "anti-bullying" campaign.
Muñoz was born on United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka, a United States Navy base in Yokosuka, Japan, to parents from the Philippines. At the age of two, Muñoz and his family relocated to Vallejo, California. Muñoz began wrestling at the age of 13 and also played football, but had to give up the latter sport when he was a sophomore in high school due to an injury. Because of his size and raw talent, Muñoz began wrestling with the varsity team at Vallejo High School. At Vallejo, Muñoz went on to be a two-time State Champion, an Asics First Team All-American, a 1995 National High School Champion, and the 1996 NHSCA National High School Champion. Muñoz was also on the honor roll for all four years and a member of the National Honors Society. That same year, Muñoz won a silver medal for the USA Junior National Team and finished fifth in his weight class at the FILA Junior World Wrestling Championship. Muñoz went on to compete at Oklahoma State University, where he compiled 121 wins overall, was a two-time All-American, and won a NCAA National Championship in 2001 as a senior. Muñoz was also a three-year member of the FILA Junior World Wrestling Team, earning the silver medal in 1998. Muñoz received a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Science from Oklahoma State University, and was also a three-time member of the NWCA All-Academic Team. After finishing college, Muñoz came back to be an assistant coach at Oklahoma State for two years, leading the team to an NCAA National Championship in 2003. Muñoz then began coaching at UC Davis, before transitioning into a career in mixed martial arts.