Travis Wiuff (born March 15, 1978) is an American mixed martial artist competing in the Heavyweight division. A professional competitor since 2001 and veteran of over 100 fights, Wiuff has competed for the UFC, PRIDE, Bellator, World Victory Road, and the Quad Cities Silverbacks and San Jose Razorclaws of the IFL. He also competes in catch wrestling.

Background

Wiuff is from Owatonna, Minnesota, and is of Danish and Irish descent. As his father was a professional wrestler, Wiuff also began wrestling when he was five years old, and continued through high school and college. While at Owatonna High School, he also played football. He was injured during his senior year and had to miss out on the state wrestling championship tournament despite being ranked number one in the state of Minnesota. Wiuff continued to wrestle and also continued to play football for two years in junior college, at Rochester Technical Community College, where he was a two-time NJCAA All-American, finishing second as a heavyweight at the national championship in 1999. After junior college, Wiuff attended Minnesota State University but dropped out a year before graduating with a law enforcement degree.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Applying for a bouncer job in his early adulthood, Wiuff bumped into Brad Kohler who tried to lure the accomplished wrestler into fighting. Over time and after several attempts, Kohler succeeded and Wiuff begun training at Kohler's gym Lion's Lair. Rapidly after starting the sport, Wiuff made his professional debut in September 2001. Over the next year, he amassed a record of 12–2 before making his debut for the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Wiuff made his UFC debut in November 2002 as he faced Vladimir Matyushenko at UFC 40. He lost the fight via submission due to punches late in the first round. Wiuff was released from the promotion following the loss.

Post-UFC release

Following his release from the company, Wiuff fought schedule on the independent MMA circuit. He fought 24 times over the next three years, and went 22–2.

Return to UFC

Wiuff was invited back to the UFC in April 2005 when he faced Renato Sobral at UFC 52. He lost the fight via armbar submission in the opening minute of the second round. He was again released from the promotion.

Independent promotions

Wiuff continued his fight schedule after his second UFC release fighting in more independent promotions. Before joining Bellator, he fought 39 times in the ensuing six years. He added an additional 29-9 with one no-contest to his record during this period. Wiuff won the YAMMA Eight-Man Heavyweight Tournament as well as the IFO Light Heavyweight Championship twice, IFC Americas Cruiserweight Championship and IFC United States Light Heavyweight Championship once. Wiuff fought Mike Kyle on May 24, 2013, at CFA 11, Wiuff lost via knockout in 21 seconds of the first round.

Bellator Fighting Championships

Wiuff signed to a contract with Bellator. He debuted in October 2011 where he defeated reigning Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion Christian M'Pumbu in a non-title superfight at Bellator 55, marking the first time a reigning Bellator Champion had lost to someone not under an ongoing contract with the promotion. Bellator signed Wiuff to a contract that December, and he returned to the promotion in March 2012 where he defeated Anthony Gomez in a unanimous decision at Bellator 60. In the summer of 2012, Wiuff entered Bellator's Light Heavyweight Tournament. In the opening round at Bellator 71, he faced Chris Davis and won via KO in the first round. Wiuff faced Tim Carpenter in the semifinals at Bellator 72. He won the fight via unanimous decision. On August 24, 2012, Wiuff faced Attila Vegh in the tournament finals at Bellator 73 and lost via KO in 25 seconds of round one. On March 21, 2013, Wiuff faced Ryan Martinez at Bellator 93 in a Heavyweight bout, He lost via KO in 18 seconds of round one.

Independent promotions

Wiuff faced Brett Murphy at VCF: Countdown to War on December 31, 2013. He won the fight via unanimous decision, snapping his four fight losing streak. Wiuff signed with the Driller Promotions organization in March 2014, and made his debut against Terry Davinney at DP: O-Town Throwdown 1 on April 12, 2014. He won the fight via first-round TKO. He then faced Brian Heden at Driller Promotions: No Mercy 11 on May 24, 2014, for the DP Heavyweight Championship. He won the fight via first-round TKO, and won his first championship since 2009. He then faced Dallas Mitchell at Dakota FC: Beatdown 11 on June 7, 2014, which he won in a unanimous decision. Wiuff made his first title defense on June 27, 2014, when he faced Danyelle Williams at Driller Promotions: A-Town Throwdown III. He won the fight via unanimous decision. Wiuff then faced Chris Barnett at Inoki Genome Fight 2 on August 23, 2014. Wiuff lost the bout via TKO after being struck by a right hand from Barnett. Wiuff faced Timothy Johnson at Dakota FC 19: Fall Brawl on October 25, 2014, for the DFC Heavyweight Championship. He was defeated via TKO due to punches in the first round. Wiuff faced Kevin Asplund at Driller Promotions: O-Town Throwdown 2 on April 18, 2015. He won via submission in round three.

Submission wrestling career

Wiuff has also competed in catch wrestling. In July 2016, he won gold in the 219 lb division at the Frank Gotch World Catch Championships in Humboldt, Iowa. Wiuff returned for the tournament's 2017 edition, which used an openweight format. He placed second, losing in the final to Curran Jacobs, who Wiuff outweighed by over 50 lbs. In December 2023, Wiuff competed at the American Catch Wrestling Association (ACWA) US Open championships in Brea, California, winning gold in the +214 lb division.

Personal life

Wiuff has two daughters. He is a special needs teacher and a football and wrestling coach in the Kasson-Mantorville School District.

Championships and accomplishments

Catch wrestling

Collegiate wrestling

Mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts record