Anthony "TJ" Waldburger Jr. (born April 25, 1988) is a retired American mixed martial artist who competed in the

Welterweight Welterweight is a weight class in combat sports. Originally the term "welterweight" was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like Muay Thai, taekwondo, and mixed martial arts also use it for their own weight division system to classify the ...

division. A professional MMA competitor since 2005, he competed for the

UFC The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...

, Shark Fights, and

HDNet Fights HDNet Fights was a US based television outlet for various MMA and combat sports promotions. Its broadcast lineup included DREAM, Sengoku, K-1, Strikeforce, Adrenaline MMA, M-1 Global, Ring of Honor, Maximum Fighting Championship, Affliction E ...

Background

Waldburger went to Belton High School (Texas).

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

He held an amateur record of 3-0 before turning professional at the age of 17. He lost his professional debut against Sammy Say but defeated him in his next bout to move to 1-1. At the event, IFC: Road to Global Domination, he lost to

Josh Neer Joshua Martin Neer (born March 24, 1983) is an American bare-knuckle boxer and former mixed martial artist. A professional competitor since 2003, he has competed for the UFC, Bellator, the Quad Cities Silverbacks of the IFL, and Shark Fights. Ne ...

but rebounded with a win over Jeff Lindsay. Waldburger defeated UFC veteran

Pete Spratt Aaron Dewain "Pete" Spratt (born January 9, 1971) is a former American professional mixed martial artist who competed in the Welterweight division. A professional competitor since 1999, Spratt has formerly competed for the UFC, the MFC, Legacy FC ...

via triangle choke submission in the second round. Spratt demanded a rematch and got one defeating Waldburger via knockout. He lost another fight before winning three straight. His early accomplishments include winning the Shark Fights Welterweight Championship belt in May 2009 and then defending it in September 2009.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

In July 2010 it was announced Waldburger had signed with the UFC. His debut came at

UFC Fight Night 22 ''UFC Fight Night: Marquardt vs. Palhares'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 22'') and originally scheduled as ''UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Belcher'', was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on September 15, 2010 ...

against David Mitchell. He won the fight via unanimous decision. Waldburger was expected to face Matthew Riddle on December 11, 2010 at UFC 124. However, Waldburger was forced from the card with an injury. Waldburger was expected to face Dennis Hallman on March 26, 2011 at

UFC Fight Night 24 ''UFC Fight Night: Nogueira vs. Davis'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 24'') was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on March 26, 2011 at the KeyArena in Seattle, Washington. Background The event did not lead ...

. However, Hallman was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by Johny Hendricks. Waldburger was defeated early in round one via TKO. Waldburger was expected to face Daniel Roberts on September 17, 2011 at

UFC Fight Night 25 ''UFC Fight Night: Shields vs. Ellenberger'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 25'' or ''UFC Fight Night: Battle on the Bayou'') was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on September 17, 2011 at the Ernest N. Moria ...

. However, Roberts was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by promotional newcomer Mike Stumpf. Waldburger defeated Stumpf via first round triangle choke submission earning ''Submission of the Night'' honors. Waldburger next faced

Jake Hecht Jake Hecht (born ) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Welterweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2006, Hecht fought mostly in regional promotions across the midwestern and southeastern United States before si ...

on March 3, 2012 at

UFC on FX 2 ''UFC on FX: Alves vs. Kampmann'' (also known as ''UFC on FX 2'') was a mixed martial arts event held live by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on Saturday March 3, 2012 at the Allphones Arena in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Background ...

. He won the fight via submission in the first round. Waldburger faced

Brian Ebersole Brian Keith Ebersole (born November 27, 1980) is an American retired mixed martial artist who competed in the UFC's Welterweight division, and holds a record of 5-3 with the organization. In addition to the UFC, Ebersole has competed in Shooto, ...

on June 22, 2012 at UFC on FX 4. He lost the back-and-forth fight via unanimous decision. Waldburger faced

Nick Catone Nicholas Catone (born September 1, 1981) is a retired American mixed martial artist. Catone competed most recently in the Ultimate Fighting Championship in their Middleweight division. Mixed martial arts career Wrestling Catone began wrestling ...

on December 15, 2012 at The Ultimate Fighter: Team Carwin vs. Team Nelson Finale. He won the fight via technical submission in the second round. He earned the ''Submission of the Night'' honors for his performance. Waldburger was expected to face

Sean Pierson Sean Ian Pierson (born March 10, 1976) is a retired Canadian mixed martial artist. A professional from 1999 until 2013, he fought for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Bellator. Background Pierson began wrestling in the fourth grade ...

on June 15, 2013 at UFC 161. However, Waldburger was pulled from the event and replaced by

Kenny Robertson Kenneth Duane Robertson (born February 14, 1984) is an American mixed martial artist. A professional mixed martial artist since 2008, he has also competed for the UFC and Bellator. Before MMA In high school he wrestled for Metamora Township H ...

. Waldburger faced

Adlan Amagov Chechen Van Damme , image = , image_size = 400px , alt = , caption = , birth_name = , birth_date = , birth_place = Sunzhensky District, Chechen–Ingush ASSR, Russian SFSR, Soviet Un ...

on October 19, 2013 at UFC 166. He lost the fight by knockout in the first round. Waldburger faced Mike Pyle on February 22, 2014 at

UFC 170 ''UFC 170: Rousey vs. McMann'' was a mixed martial arts held on February 22, 2014, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event was released on DVD on May 27, 2014. The DVD was distributed by ''Anchor Bay Entertainment''. Ba ...

. He lost the fight via TKO in the third round. Waldburger was expected to face Wendell Oliveira on February 22, 2015 at

UFC Fight Night 61 ''UFC Fight Night: Bigfoot vs. Mir'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 61'') was a mixed martial arts event held on February 22, 2015, at the Ginásio Gigantinho in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Background The event was the first that the UFC has hosted ...

. However, the fight was cancelled on the day of the weigh ins, as Waldburger passed out while cutting weight. Both fighters were paid their show money. The bout with Oliveira was rescheduled for May 30, 2015 at

UFC Fight Night 67 ''UFC Fight Night: Condit vs. Alves'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 67'') was a mixed martial arts event held on May 30, 2015, at the Goiânia Arena in Goiânia, Brazil. Background The event was the second that the UFC has hosted in Goiânia ...

. However, it was scrapped yet again after Waldburger pulled out of the bout on May 19 due to undisclosed reasons. He was replaced by promotional newcomer

Darren Till Darren Till (born 24 December 1992) is an English professional mixed martial artist and former Muay Thai fighter. He currently competes in the middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of December 13, 2022, he is #15 ...

. In turn, Waldburger was released from the promotion.

Personal life

Waldburger is married to Shayla Moore who is the daughter of his coach, John Moore of the Grappler's Lair gym. They have two sons and one daughter as of 2017.

Championships and accomplishments

Ultimate Fighting Championship The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...

** Submission of the Night (Two times) vs. Mike Stumpf,

* Shark Fights ** Shark Fights Welterweight Championship (One time) **One successful championship defense

Mixed martial arts record

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Pat Healy Patrick Healy, Pat Healy, Patrick Healey or Pat Healey may refer to: * Felix Healy (Patrick Joseph Healy, born 1955), former Northern Irish football player and manager * Pat Healy (actor) (born 1971), American actor, writer, and director * Pat H ...

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Lubbock, Texas Lubbock ( ) is the 10th-most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and the seat of government of Lubbock County. With a population of 260,993 in 2021, the city is also the 85th-most populous in the United States. The city is in the northw ...

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Ricardo Funch Ricardo Funch (born August 14, 1980) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the Welterweight division. A professional competitor since 2006, Funch has formerly competed for the UFC. Mixed martial arts career Ulti ...

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Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Oklahoma City (), officially the City of Oklahoma City, and often shortened to OKC, is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, it ranks 20th among United States cities in population, and ...

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, TKO (punches) , IFC: Road to Global Domination , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:24 , Belton, Texas, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 7–2 , Jeff Lindsay , Submission (triangle choke) , Masters of the Cage 7 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:43 ,

Norman, Oklahoma Norman () is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Oklahoma, with a population of 128,097 as of 2021. It is the largest city and the county seat of Cleveland County, Oklahoma, Cleveland County, and the second-largest city in the Oklahoma C ...

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Todd Moore Todd Labanes Moore (born December 30, 1983) is a retired American professional mixed martial artist. A professional competitor from 2005 until 2014, Moore fought in the WEC, Strikeforce, Titan FC, Legacy FC, and DREAM. Background Born and rais ...

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References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Waldburger, Tj 1988 births Living people American male mixed martial artists American practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu People awarded a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu Mixed martial artists from Texas People from Temple, Texas Welterweight mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters