Justin Levens
| Justin Levens | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 18, 1980 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Marco Ruas |
| Years active | 2004-2007 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 17 |
| Wins | 9 |
| By knockout | 7 |
| By submission | 2 |
| Losses | 8 |
| By knockout | 4 |
| By submission | 2 |
| By decision | 2 |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Justin Robert Levens (April 18, 1980 – December 17, 2008) was an American
.Levens and his wife died from gunshot wounds in mid-December 2008. The incident is a murder-suicide, according to law enforcement officials.
Background
Levens grew up poor in the Philadelphia housing projects, as a child with
Mixed martial arts career
Levens fought from 2004 to 2008, taking the nickname "The Executioner". Levens' first fight was a victory against Hector Carrilo in 2004. He had a string of wins after the Carrilo fight for almost two years.
After his seventh win, he lost to
Levens' last fight was scheduled for July 2008, but did not occur due to time constraints that led to scheduling issues. He tested positive for oxymorphone before the fight and was suspended until January 2009.[4] Friend Tom Atencio said Levens was troubled by his declining career.[1]
Personal life
Kimbo Luzano, another friend, said Levens may have been depressed about not being able to fight and money issues, as well as troubled by the suicide of fellow MMA fighter and friend Jeremy Williams.[5]
In 2003, Levens was involved in a domestic violence case, and was involved in an assault case over a man who allegedly owed Levens' wife, Sara McLean-Levens, 200 dollars in 2005.[2]
On December 17, 2008, Levens and his wife, Sara, 25, were both found dead in their home in
Mixed martial arts record
| 17 matches | 9 wins | 8 losses |
| By knockout | 7 | 4 |
| By submission | 2 | 2 |
| By decision | 0 | 2 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 9–8 | Kenny Ento | Submission (triangle choke) | Palace Fighting Championship 4: Project Complete | October 18, 2007 | 1 | 2:15 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Loss | 9–7 | Nate James | Decision (unanimous) | IFO: Wiuff vs. Salmon | September 1, 2007 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 9–6 | Brian Foster | TKO (punches) | IFL: Chicago | May 19, 2007 | 1 | 1:17 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | Return to Middleweight. |
| Loss | 9–5 | Vladimir Matyushenko | TKO (strikes) | IFL: Los Angeles | March 17, 2007 | 1 | 3:53 | Los Angeles, California, United States | Light Heavyweight bout.
|
| Loss | 9–4 | Reese Andy | Decision (unanimous) | IFL: Oakland | January 19, 2007 | 3 | 4:00 | Oakland, California, United States | Light Heavyweight bout.
|
| Win | 9–3 | Brian Warren | Technical Submission (triangle choke) | Beatdown in Bakersfield | November 17, 2006 | 1 | 2:53 | Bakersfield, California, United States | |
| Win | 8–3 | Justin Hawes | TKO (strikes) | WEC 24: Full Force | October 12, 2006 | 1 | 1:28 | Lemoore, California, United States | Catchweight (198 lbs) bout. |
| Loss | 7–3 | Jorge Santiago | KO (knee) | UFC Fight Night 5 | June 28, 2006 | 1 | 2:13 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 7–2 | Evan Tanner | Submission (triangle choke) | UFC 59: Reality Check | April 15, 2006 | 1 | 3:14 | Anaheim, California, United States | Middleweight debut. |
| Loss | 7–1 | Scott Smith | KO (punches) | WEC 18: Unfinished Business | January 13, 2006 | 1 | 1:58 | Lemoore, California, United States | For the WEC Light Heavyweight Championship .
|
| Win | 7–0 | Jorge Oliveira | KO (slam) | WEC 17 | October 14, 2005 | 1 | Lemoore, California, United States | ||
| Win | 6–0 | Tony Lopez | Submission (rear naked choke) | WEC 15 | May 19, 2005 | 1 | 3:46 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Win | 5–0 | Tosh Cook | Submission (triangle choke) | Cold Fury 35 | March 13, 2005 | 1 | 3:56 | Porterville, California, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Eber Saulido | TKO | Total Combat 7 | January 29, 2005 | 1 | Tijuana, Mexico | ||
| Win | 3–0 | Mitch Nester | TKO | Gladiator Challenge 33 | December 12, 2004 | 1 | 1:02 | Porterville, California, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Jeff Dowmam | KO (kick) | Gladiator Challenge 28 | June 22, 2004 | 1 | 0:09 | Porterville, California, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Hector Carrilo | TKO | Total Combat 3 | May 30, 2004 | 1 | 2:00 | Tijuana, Mexico |
References
- ^ a b c Pugmire, Lance; Rosenblatt, Susannah (December 18, 2008). "Justin Levens' death may have been part of a murder-suicide". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2008-12-19.
- ^ a b "Fightland".
- ^ De Leon, Kris (December 18, 2008). "UFC: Justin Levens and Wife Found Dead". BuddyTV. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
- ^ "Justin Levens and wife found dead". MMAFighting.com. December 18, 2008. Archived from the original on January 23, 2009. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
- ^ Jolly, Vik; Molina, Alejandra; Caesar, Chris; Evezich, Lois (December 18, 2008). "Martial arts fighter was to be in court day he was found dead". The Orange County Register. Retrieved 2008-12-19.
- ^ a b Rosenblatt, Susannah (December 18, 2008). "Murder-suicide suspected in death of UFC fighter Justin Levens, wife". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 19, 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
- ^ Patton, Vernon (December 18, 2008). "MMA fighter Levens may have shot wife in murder-suicide". International Business Times. Archived from the original on January 7, 2009. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
- CNN.com. December 18, 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
Further reading
- Netter, Sarah (December 18, 2008). "Mixed Martial Arts Fighter, Wife Found Dead in Bed". ABC News.
