| Dresden native claims UFC 19 win |
By: Sabrina Bates, News Editor
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Posted: Thursday, September 24, 2009 4:18 pm
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It was considered one of the most watched episodes in “Fight Night” history as 2.5 million viewers tuned in Wednesday night to Spike TV to witness some of the best battles between professional Mixed Martial Artists.
Among those in the UFC Fight Night 19 was a young man who spent much of his childhood in Dresden.
With 18 wins, 6 losses and 1 draw under his belt, Mike “Quicksand” Pyle has earned his place in the MMA circuit spotlight. With such an outstanding career record, Pyle proved to once again wow his fans as he took down his opponent during the televised event Wednesday night.
Pyle was 17 when he left his hometown of Dresden to live with a cousin in Alabama. In Birmingham, Pyle began cultivating the arts of Taekwondo, Judo and jiu jitsu.
Pyle has worked in the capacity of instructor where he trained others in Denmark at Mikenta Thai Boxing Gym.
He has battled in Denmark, Russia, Germany and Lithuania.
After moving back to the states, Pyle set up shop in Las Vegas, Nev. where he met the future Mrs. Kim Couture. It was through Kim that Pyle and Randy Couture, one of the most well-known fighters of Mixed Martial Arts, became training partners.
Pyle eventually became a founding member of Team Couture and now teaches MMA and grappling courses at Xtreme Couture MMA in Las Vegas, Nev.
In the late spring of 2006, Pyle became the Welterweight Champion of the World Extreme Cage fighting.
Throughout the years, Pyle has built a reputation on his grappling skills. His nickname derives from his ability to “sink” his opponent through a series of ground moves.
His techniques proved no different during his most recent bout in the cage against Chris Wilson in the “UFC Fight Night 19.”
After three rounds of ground maneuvers and dodged punches, Wilson taps out at 2:15 during the final round when Pyle takes his opponent in a guillotine choke.
Pyle left no room for Wilson to escape the maneuver as he submits to the “Quicksand.”
The Dresden native has claimed many victories and few defeats throughout his years of MMA cage fighting. His newest venture will take him to the big screen and this time he will be performing for the box office.
Pyle’s career has landed him a role in the upcoming Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren movie, Universal Soldier: A New Beginning.
The sci-fi and action flick is a part of the series of Universal Soldier originally brought to life in 2005.
The movie will open next year and Pyle fans will see the small-town boy turned world-renowned fighter play a different role as Captain Kevin Burke in the film.
A complete biography as well as Pyle’s stats including photos and videos can be found on-line at www.mikepyle.tv or www.sherdog.com.
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