Tra Telligman
Encyclopedia
Tracy Telligman is a retired American
mixed martial artist and boxer
who has fought in Japan
, Russia
and the USA. He is best known for his bouts in the UFC, and for fighting despite having only one pectoral muscle.
started in 1996 and has spanned a great deal of the sport's history. His record is highlighted by wins over Brad Kohler
and Igor Vovchanchyn
. He trained with the Lion's Den
gym, home to such other well-known MMA practitioners as Ken Shamrock
and Guy Mezger
. He started his professional MMA career in Russia
, fighting at Absolute Fighting Championship 1 in Moscow
.
Tra bears a notable distinguishing physical mark; he is missing his right pectoral
, leaving a deep recess in his chest. Tra was involved in a car accident as a young child and has lived with the deformity ever since.
Tra's first major fight was against popular Brazilian fighter Vitor Belfort
at UFC 12
. Tra lost due to a verbal submission due to strikes. He would return to the UFC that same year to beat Brad Kohler
by armbar at UFC Japan. During the next few years Tra would fight in both PRIDE and the UFC, with his most notable accomplishment being an upset win over powerful Ukrainian striker Igor Vovchanchyn
at PRIDE 13
. Tra took the fight on two weeks notice, replacing teammate Ken Shamrock
after Shamrock suffered a neck injury in training. As described by noted writer Dave Meltzer, "Telligman’s footwork and boxing technique completely threw Vovchanchyn off, and in one of the biggest upsets in the sport’s history at the time, Telligman won a unanimous decision."
Tra's career did not progress a great deal after his bout with Vovchanchyn; he only fought two times in the next five years, losing both of his bouts, which took place in the UFC. The UFC website has his record placed at 16–5–1. Tra was last seen coaching in the World Combat League
.
|Loss
|7-5-1
|Tim Sylvia
|KO (Head Kick)
|UFC 54
|2005-08-20
|1
|4:59
|
|
|-
|Loss
|7-4-1
|Pedro Rizzo
|TKO (Cut)
|UFC 43
|2003-06-06
|2
|4:24
|
|
|-
|Win
|7-3-1
|Igor Vovchanchyn
|Decision (Unanimous)
|PRIDE 13 – Collision Course
|2001-03-25
|3
|5:00
|
|
|-
|Loss
|6-3-1
|Carlos "Carlão" Barreto
|Decision (Unanimous)
|PRIDE 9 – New Blood
|2000-06-04
|2
|10:00
|
|
|-
|Loss
|6-2-1
|Pedro Rizzo
|KO (Punches)
|UFC 20
|1999-05-07
|1
|4:30
|
|
|-
|Win
|6-1-1
|David Rivera
|TKO
|World Pancration Championships 2
|1998-01-16
|1
|?
|
|
|-
|Win
|5-1-1
|Brad Kohler
|Submission (Armbar)
|Ultimate Japan
|1997-12-21
|1
|10:05
|
|
|-
|Draw
|4-1-1
|Keiichiro Yamamiya
|Draw
|Pancrase-Alive 9
|1997-10-29
|2
|3:00
|
|
|-
|Win
|4-1
|Rick Mathis
|Submission (Heel Hook
)
|World Pankration Championships 1
|1997-10-26
|1
|?
|
|
|-
|Loss
|3-1
|Vitor Belfort
|TKO (Cut)
|UFC 12
-Judgement Day
|1997-02-07
|1
|1:17
|
|
|-
|Win
|3-0
|Walt Darby
|Submission (Punches)
|SB 1-SuperBrawl 1
|1996-06-28
|1
|2:09
|
|
|-
|Win
|2-0
|Brian Matapua
|Submission (Punches)
|SB 1-SuperBrawl 1
|1996-06-28
|1
|2:04
|
|
|-
|Win
|1-0
|Urajimir Hoodenkin
|KO (Punches)
|IAFC-Absolute Fighting Championship 1
|1995-09-25
|1
|1:40
|
|
|-
} || 1 ||
|-
| || align=left|
Jonathan Williams
|| || 1 ||
|-
| || align=left| Jon Dixon
|| || 4 ||
|-
| || align=left| Victor Bursey
|| || 1 ||
|-
| || align=left| Hector Ferreyro
|| || 4 ||
|-
| || align=left| Walter Wiggins
|| || 1 ||
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
mixed martial artist and boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
who has fought in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and the USA. He is best known for his bouts in the UFC, and for fighting despite having only one pectoral muscle.
Biography
Tra Telligman's career in Mixed Martial ArtsMixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
started in 1996 and has spanned a great deal of the sport's history. His record is highlighted by wins over Brad Kohler
Brad Kohler
Brad Kohler is an American mixed martal artist who competes in the Heavyweight division.-Career:Kohler's most notable fight occurred at UFC 22 against Steve Judson, where he scored one of the more infamous knockouts in MMA history. 30 seconds into Round 1, Kohler feigned a takedown attempt, only...
and Igor Vovchanchyn
Igor Vovchanchyn
Igor Yaroslavovich "Ice Cold" Vovchanchyn is a retired Ukrainian mixed martial artist and kickboxer. He won seven mixed martial arts tournaments, as well as acquiring a 37 fight unbeaten streak, and reaching the final of the Pride Grand Prix 2000....
. He trained with the Lion's Den
Lion's Den (mixed martial arts)
The Lion's Den is a mixed martial arts team and training facility that was based out of Susanville, California and San Diego, California but has recently moved its headquarters to Reno, Nevada. The team was founded in the early 1990s by UFC Hall of Famer Ken Shamrock, and was the most dominant...
gym, home to such other well-known MMA practitioners as Ken Shamrock
Ken Shamrock
Kenneth Wayne Shamrock is an American mixed martial arts fighter, UFC Hall of Famer and professional wrestler...
and Guy Mezger
Guy Mezger
Guy Mezger is a retired American martial artist who competed in professional combat sports ranging from full contact karate, kickboxing, and boxing, but is most recognized as a mixed martial arts fighter . He is associated with Lion's Den Dallas...
. He started his professional MMA career in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, fighting at Absolute Fighting Championship 1 in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
.
Tra bears a notable distinguishing physical mark; he is missing his right pectoral
Pectoralis major muscle
The pectoralis major is a thick, fan-shaped muscle, situated at the chest of the body. It makes up the bulk of the chest muscles in the male and lies under the breast in the female...
, leaving a deep recess in his chest. Tra was involved in a car accident as a young child and has lived with the deformity ever since.
Tra's first major fight was against popular Brazilian fighter Vitor Belfort
Vitor Belfort
Vítor Vieira Belfort is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. Belfort was born in Rio de Janeiro and studied jiu-jitsu with the Gracie family, namely Carlson Gracie. He received a black belt under Carlson and currently trains with Xtreme Couture, fighting in...
at UFC 12
UFC 12
UFC 12: Judgement Day was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on February 7, 1997 at the Dothan Civic Center in Dothan, Alabama...
. Tra lost due to a verbal submission due to strikes. He would return to the UFC that same year to beat Brad Kohler
Brad Kohler
Brad Kohler is an American mixed martal artist who competes in the Heavyweight division.-Career:Kohler's most notable fight occurred at UFC 22 against Steve Judson, where he scored one of the more infamous knockouts in MMA history. 30 seconds into Round 1, Kohler feigned a takedown attempt, only...
by armbar at UFC Japan. During the next few years Tra would fight in both PRIDE and the UFC, with his most notable accomplishment being an upset win over powerful Ukrainian striker Igor Vovchanchyn
Igor Vovchanchyn
Igor Yaroslavovich "Ice Cold" Vovchanchyn is a retired Ukrainian mixed martial artist and kickboxer. He won seven mixed martial arts tournaments, as well as acquiring a 37 fight unbeaten streak, and reaching the final of the Pride Grand Prix 2000....
at PRIDE 13
PRIDE 13
Pride 13: Collision Course was a mixed martial arts event held by the Pride Fighting Championships. This was the first Pride event allowing knee strikes to the head of someone in the "four-points" position . It took place at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan on March 25, 2001...
. Tra took the fight on two weeks notice, replacing teammate Ken Shamrock
Ken Shamrock
Kenneth Wayne Shamrock is an American mixed martial arts fighter, UFC Hall of Famer and professional wrestler...
after Shamrock suffered a neck injury in training. As described by noted writer Dave Meltzer, "Telligman’s footwork and boxing technique completely threw Vovchanchyn off, and in one of the biggest upsets in the sport’s history at the time, Telligman won a unanimous decision."
Tra's career did not progress a great deal after his bout with Vovchanchyn; he only fought two times in the next five years, losing both of his bouts, which took place in the UFC. The UFC website has his record placed at 16–5–1. Tra was last seen coaching in the World Combat League
World Combat League
The World Combat League is a defunct full contact, team-based kickboxing promotion. It was founded by movie star and martial artist Chuck Norris.- Rules :The rules are typical of other full contact striking competitions, with some minor variation....
.
Mixed martial arts record
|-|Loss
|7-5-1
|Tim Sylvia
Tim Sylvia
Timothy Deane Sylvia is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter, professional wrestler, and former Ultimate Fighting Championship Heavyweight Champion. He trains as a member of the Miletich Fighting Systems camp and is part of their MFSE group...
|KO (Head Kick)
|UFC 54
UFC 54
UFC 54: Boiling Point was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on August 20, 2005, at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada...
|2005-08-20
|1
|4:59
|
|
|-
|Loss
|7-4-1
|Pedro Rizzo
Pedro Rizzo
Pedro Augusto Rizzo is an Brazilian mixed martial artist and Muay Thai fighter. He has a professional MMA record of 19–9–0 as of July 17, 2010. He holds notable victories over former UFC Champions Mark Coleman, Dan Severn, Josh Barnett, Andrei Arlovski, Ricco Rodriguez and Ken Shamrock.-Mixed...
|TKO (Cut)
|UFC 43
UFC 43
UFC 43: Meltdown was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on June 6, 2003, at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas...
|2003-06-06
|2
|4:24
|
|
|-
|Win
|7-3-1
|Igor Vovchanchyn
Igor Vovchanchyn
Igor Yaroslavovich "Ice Cold" Vovchanchyn is a retired Ukrainian mixed martial artist and kickboxer. He won seven mixed martial arts tournaments, as well as acquiring a 37 fight unbeaten streak, and reaching the final of the Pride Grand Prix 2000....
|Decision (Unanimous)
|PRIDE 13 – Collision Course
|2001-03-25
|3
|5:00
|
|
|-
|Loss
|6-3-1
|Carlos "Carlão" Barreto
|Decision (Unanimous)
|PRIDE 9 – New Blood
|2000-06-04
|2
|10:00
|
|
|-
|Loss
|6-2-1
|Pedro Rizzo
Pedro Rizzo
Pedro Augusto Rizzo is an Brazilian mixed martial artist and Muay Thai fighter. He has a professional MMA record of 19–9–0 as of July 17, 2010. He holds notable victories over former UFC Champions Mark Coleman, Dan Severn, Josh Barnett, Andrei Arlovski, Ricco Rodriguez and Ken Shamrock.-Mixed...
|KO (Punches)
|UFC 20
UFC 20
UFC 20: Battle for the Gold was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on May 7, 1999 at the Boutwell Auditorium in Birmingham, Alabama...
|1999-05-07
|1
|4:30
|
|
|-
|Win
|6-1-1
|David Rivera
David Rivera
David Mauricio Rivera is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Republican Party. He is a Miami-based public affairs consultant and formerly represented District 112 in the Florida House of Representatives....
|TKO
|World Pancration Championships 2
|1998-01-16
|1
|?
|
|
|-
|Win
|5-1-1
|Brad Kohler
Brad Kohler
Brad Kohler is an American mixed martal artist who competes in the Heavyweight division.-Career:Kohler's most notable fight occurred at UFC 22 against Steve Judson, where he scored one of the more infamous knockouts in MMA history. 30 seconds into Round 1, Kohler feigned a takedown attempt, only...
|Submission (Armbar)
|Ultimate Japan
|1997-12-21
|1
|10:05
|
|
|-
|Draw
|4-1-1
|Keiichiro Yamamiya
Keiichiro Yamamiya
Keiichiro Yamamiya is a Japanese mixed martial artists. After regularly competing in the light heavyweight and middleweight divisions, Yamamiya now competes in the welterweight division...
|Draw
|Pancrase-Alive 9
|1997-10-29
|2
|3:00
|
|
|-
|Win
|4-1
|Rick Mathis
|Submission (Heel Hook
Heel hook
Heel hook may refer to:* Heel hook, in grappling* A climbing technique...
)
|World Pankration Championships 1
|1997-10-26
|1
|?
|
|
|-
|Loss
|3-1
|Vitor Belfort
Vitor Belfort
Vítor Vieira Belfort is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. Belfort was born in Rio de Janeiro and studied jiu-jitsu with the Gracie family, namely Carlson Gracie. He received a black belt under Carlson and currently trains with Xtreme Couture, fighting in...
|TKO (Cut)
|UFC 12
UFC 12
UFC 12: Judgement Day was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on February 7, 1997 at the Dothan Civic Center in Dothan, Alabama...
-Judgement Day
|1997-02-07
|1
|1:17
|
|
|-
|Win
|3-0
|Walt Darby
|Submission (Punches)
|SB 1-SuperBrawl 1
|1996-06-28
|1
|2:09
|
|
|-
|Win
|2-0
|Brian Matapua
|Submission (Punches)
|SB 1-SuperBrawl 1
|1996-06-28
|1
|2:04
|
|
|-
|Win
|1-0
|Urajimir Hoodenkin
|KO (Punches)
|IAFC-Absolute Fighting Championship 1
|1995-09-25
|1
|1:40
|
|
Professional boxing record
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="8"|4 Wins (3 knockouts, 1 decision), 2 Defeats (2 by knockout), 0 Draws|-
| Result | Opponent | Method | Round/Time | Date | Notes |
| Clifton Rubin |
|-
| || align=left|
Jonathan WilliamsJonathan Williams
Jonathan Williams or Jon Williams may refer to:*Jonathan Williams , Welsh antiquary*Jonathan Williams , American businessman, military figure, politician, writer and engineer...
|| || 1 ||
|-
| || align=left|
Jon Dixon|| || 4 ||
|-
| || align=left|
Victor Bursey|| || 1 ||
|-
| || align=left|
Hector Ferreyro|| || 4 ||
|-
| || align=left|
Walter Wiggins|| || 1 ||