Dave Strasser (born July 13, 1969) is a retired American mixed martial arts fighter who competed in the Welterweight division for the UFC, Shooto, M-1 Global, and Cage Rage. 14 of his 25 career wins came by way of submission.

Dave Strasser
Born (1969-07-13) 13 July 1969 (age 54)
NationalityAmerican
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight167 lb (76 kg; 11.9 st)
DivisionWelterweight
Fighting out ofKenosha, Wisconsin
TeamFreestyle Academy
Years active1996–2008
Mixed martial arts record
Total37
Wins25
By knockout5
By submission14
By decision6
Losses8
By knockout1
By submission5
By decision2
Draws4

Background edit

Strasser competed in high school wrestling and collegiate wrestling, in addition to boxing and Shidokan Karate. His studying of Shidokan led a six-month stay in Japan to compete in kickboxing.[1]

Mixed martial arts career edit

Strasser's second professional fight was a no-rules bout against a fighter making his professional debut, Travis Fulton.[2] Strasser subdued the inexperienced Fulton with a choke hold from behind.[2] Fulton would go on to become one of the most prolific fighters in mixed martial arts history, with over 300 recorded professional fights as of November 2011.

Strasser trained with Pat Miletich and Jeremy Horn from 1996-97.[1]

UFC edit

At UFC 42, Strasser fought against Romie Aram.[3] Aram had been undefeated before the fight, and was being groomed by the UFC for a possible title shot against Matt Hughes.[4] As such, Aram came into the fight as the favorite.[4] In the first round, Strasser was immediately dropped by a punch to the head, but he successfully pulled guard, and the referee stood the fighters up.[3] Strasser scored a takedown later in the round, delivering punches and elbows from the top position.[3] Strasser controlled the second round with standup striking, though Aram remained competitive.[3] The fighters remained on their feet in the third round, with Aram delivering more powerful punches but Strasser displaying better precision.[3] Strasser's blows in this round made Aram's nose bleed.[3] All three judges scored the fight for Strasser, and he won by unanimous decision.[3]

Strasser fought again in the UFC at UFC 44.[5] In the welterweight match, his opponent was judo practitioner Karo Parisyan, who was making his debut in the UFC.[5] Parisyan's status as a student of notable judokas Gene LeBell and Gokor Chivchyan increased fan interest in the bout,[5] but the 21-year-old was still seen as a significant underdog.[6] When the fight started, Strasser attempted to stay on his feet and exchange punches.[5] Parisyan, however, performed a judo throw, which put Strasser on the ground and placed him in position for a kimura armlock, which Parisyan duly applied.[6] As a result of the hold, Strasser submitted at 3:52 of the first round.[5] This fight was notable, as judokas had not enjoyed many prior successes in MMA competitions, and Parisyan's win helped to establish judo as a viable martial arts style in MMA.[6]

Other ventures edit

Strasser has also worked as a mixed martial arts trainer and promoter. He runs a gym, Dave Strasser's Freestyle Academy, in Kenosha, Wisconsin.[7] Nick Thompson,[8] Jameel Massouh, and Ben Rothwell[9] are among the fighters who have trained with Strasser.

Personal life edit

Strasser comes from a very athletic family and has three brothers and two sisters. His father was an all-state sprinter and football player who was recruited by Miami University and other NCAA Division I schools. Strasser's uncle was a talented weightlifter, holding the state record for the squat and dead-lift. Strasser's siblings' accomplishments have ranged from a state finals champion in Cross Country, player of the year in baseball, all-state in basketball, NCAA Division I runner, among many other notable feats. One of his brothers, Mark, played professional football in Sweden and set Division I records for Central Connecticut State University. Mark went on to work for the Minnesota Twins organization.[10] He is currently[when?] a physical education teacher Eleanor Roosevelt High School in New York City.[citation needed] Strasser now has a wife and one daughter and one son.[citation needed]

Mixed martial arts record edit

Professional record breakdown
37 matches 25 wins 8 losses
By knockout 5 1
By submission 14 5
By decision 6 2
Draws 4
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 25–8–4 Steve Corley Submission (injury) FCC 34 – Freestyle Combat Challenge 34 March 29, 2008 1 Wisconsin, United States
Loss 24–8–4 Paul Daley Decision (unanimous) Cage Rage 16 April 22, 2006 3 5:00 London, England
Win 24–7–4 Emyr Bussade Decision MFC – Boardwalk Blitz March 4, 2006 3 5:00 New Jersey, United States
Win 23–7–4 Derrick Reed Submission LOF 2 – Legends of Fighting 2 October 21, 2005 1 Indiana, United States
Loss 22–7–4 Hidetaka Monma KO (punch) GCM – D.O.G. 2 June 11, 2005 1 3:30 Tokyo, Japan
Win 22–6–4 Brian Dunn TKO FCC 19 – Freestyle Combat Challenge 19 May 14, 2005 N/A Wisconsin, United States
Loss 21–6–4 Georges St-Pierre Submission (kimura) TKO 19 – Rage January 29, 2005 1 1:52 Quebec, Canada
Win 21–5–4 Pat Healy Decision (unanimous) MT 1 – Madtown Throwdown 1 August 21, 2004 N/A Wisconsin, United States
Loss 20–5–4 Ansar Chalangov Submission (guillotine choke) M-1 MFC - Russia vs. The World 7 December 5, 2003 1 0:53 St. Petersburg, Russia
Loss 20–4–4 Karo Parisyan Submission (kimura) UFC 44 September 26, 2003 1 3:52 Nevada, United States
Win 20–3–4 Romie Aram Decision (unanimous) UFC 42 April 25, 2003 3 5:00 Florida, United States
Draw 19–3–4 Islam Karimov Draw M-1 MFC - Russia vs. the World 4 November 15, 2002 2 5:00 St. Petersburg, Russia
Win 19–3–3 Seichi Ikemoto Submission (rear naked choke) Shooto - Treasure Hunt 7 June 29, 2002 1 3:10 Osaka, Japan
Win 18–3–3 Takuya Wada Decision (split) Shooto - Treasure Hunt 6 May 5, 2002 3 5:00 Tokyo, Japan
Win 17–3–3 Alexandre Barros Decision HOOKnSHOOT – Overdrive March 9, 2002 3 5:00 Indiana, United States
Loss 16–3–3 Ronald Jhun Submission (armbar) SB 21 – SuperBrawl 21 May 24, 2001 2 4:42 Hawaii, United States
Draw 16–2–3 Chris Lytle Draw RSF 3 – Reality Submission Fighting 3 March 30, 2001 1 18:00 Illinois, United States
Win 16–2–2 Steve Miller TKO (cut) IC 1 – Iowa Challenge 1 February 10, 2001 1 Iowa, United States
Win 15–2–2 Riley McIlhon Submission (strikes) FCC 3 – Freestyle Combat Challenge 3 January 6, 2001 1 3:23
Win 14–2–2 Paul Rodriguez Decision (majority) WEF 8 – Goin' Platinum January 15, 2000 3 4:00 Georgia, United States
Win 13–2–2 Eric Meaders TKO NG 13 – Neutral Grounds 13 November 20, 1999 2 California, United States
Win 12–2–2 Toby Imada Submission (armbar) NG 13 – Neutral Grounds 13 November 20, 1999 1 California, United States
Loss 11–2–2 Tom Schmitz Submission (triangle choke) EC 29 – Extreme Challenge 29 November 13, 1999 1 1:56 Wisconsin, United States
Win 11–1–2 Sean Brockmole TKO (guillotine choke) EC 23 – Extreme Challenge 23 April 2, 1999 1 1:32 Indiana, United States
Win 10–1–2 Jeff Lindsay Submission (punches) EC 23 – Extreme Challenge 23 April 2, 1999 1 3:01 Indiana, United States
Win 9–1–2 Brian Campbell Submission (keylock) Gladiators 2 – Gladiators 2 March 18, 1999 1 12:20 Iowa, United States
Loss 8–1–2 Adrian Serrano Decision (split) EC 13 – Extreme Challenge 13 January 16, 1998 1 20:00 Wisconsin, United States
Win 8–0–2 Brett Al-azzawi Submission (punches) EC 12 – Extreme Challenge 12 December 13, 1997 1 3:55 Michigan, United States
Win 7–0–2 Daniel Vianna Submission (punches) EC 12 – Extreme Challenge 12 December 13, 1997 1 8:59 Michigan, United States
Win 6–0–2 Phil Johns Submission (punches) EC 11 – Extreme Challenge 11 November 22, 1997 1 8:39 Iowa, United States
Draw 5–0–2 Adrian Serrano Draw EC 10 – Extreme Challenge 10 October 4, 1997 1 15:00 Iowa, United States
Win 5–0–1 Jesse Jones Submission (keylock) EC 5 – Extreme Challenge 5 April 18, 1997 1 9:25 Iowa, United States
Win 4–0–1 Caz Daniels Submission (armbar) EC 5 – Extreme Challenge 5 April 18, 1997 1 N/A Iowa, United States
Win 3–0–1 Rolando Higueros TKO (cut) EC 1 – Extreme Challenge 1 November 23, 1996 1 8:32 Iowa, United States
Draw 2–0–1 George Schirmer Draw BATB 1 – Brawl at the Ballpark 1 September 1, 1996 1 15:00 Iowa, United States
Win 2–0 Travis Fulton Submission (rear naked choke) Gladiators – Gladiators 1 July 26, 1996 1 Iowa, United States
Win 1–0 CG Sierra Submission (rear naked choke) QCU 2 – Quad City Ultimate 2 May 11, 1996 1 1:40 Illinois, United States

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Home".
  2. ^ a b McCauley, Bob. "Travis Fulton – on the road to the top", Martial Arts magazine, November 1, 1999.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Plott, J. Michael. "Xtreme Fighting: UFC 42: Sudden Impact", Black Belt magazine, August 2003, pp. 54–55.
  4. ^ a b Meltzer, Dave. "UFC 42: Wrestler vs. wrestler", Yahoo! Sports, May 14, 2009.
  5. ^ a b c d e Plott, J. Michael. "Xtreme Fighting: Couture Spanks Ortiz at UFC 44", Black Belt magazine, January 2004, pp. 52 & 94.
  6. ^ a b c Fogan, Sara. "Judo Stylist Triumphs at UFC 44", Black Belt magazine, April 2004, p. 118.
  7. ^ Cole, David. "Ready to rumble `Ultimate fighting,' described by some as barbaric, will brawl in Kenosha", The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, October 19, 1999.
  8. ^ "20 questions for... NICK THOMPSON Archived 2008-10-03 at the Wayback Machine", mmaranks.com interview, published February 27, 2006.
  9. ^ Knapp, Brian. "Torres retains title in all-out slugfest", ESPN.com, published April 6, 2009.
  10. ^ "Interview with Mark Strasser CSCS - Strength & Conditiong Expert".

External links edit