Justin Mark Eilers was an American professional mixed martial artist, formerly with the UFC, WEC and EliteXC.
19 Facts About Justin Eilers
1.
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Justin Mark Eilers was raised in Nampa, Idaho, and developed an early love of football.
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Justin Eilers began wrestling in the sixth grade and through Nampa High School, but he missed a football scholarship out of high school due to his low SAT scores, and soon took up karate at a local school.
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Justin Eilers began competing in small full contact shows around Idaho, where he met up and coming fighter Jens Pulver, who was fighting with the same promotion.
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Justin Eilers would go on to play for Iowa State for the next four years, After college, Eilers took time off to fully heal a shoulder injury.
6.
Pulver urged Justin Eilers to try fighting again, and after a few months of training, he made his MMA debut in 2002 facing UFC Hall of Famer Dan Severn at Victory Fighting Championships 3.
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Just one month later Justin Eilers returned to MMA competition, taking a quick KO victory over Jeff Gerlick at an Extreme Challenge event.
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Justin Eilers went undefeated in his next 4 fights, before losing a close split decision victory to Cabbage Correira at SuperBrawl 30.
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Justin Eilers's first fight in the octagon was against an old friend from high school, Mike Kyle at UFC 49.
10.
Justin Eilers knocked Kyle out in just 1:14 of the first round, but was suspended after the fight by the Nevada State Athletic Commission due to injury sustained to his hand in the fight.
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Justin Eilers returned in February 2005 at UFC 51 to face top heavyweight contender Paul Buentello.
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Three minutes into the first round, Justin Eilers was caught by a right hook from Buentello, which ended the fight.
13.
Four months later at UFC 53, Justin Eilers would get a title shot, facing Andrei Arlovski.
14.
Justin Eilers suffered extensive injuries in this match, breaking both hands, his jaw, and tearing his ACL.
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Justin Eilers was released from the UFC in 2006, and returned to MMA competition at Combat in the Cage 2, finally scoring a KO victory over Sherman Pendergarst.
16.
In June 2006, Justin Eilers faced Jimmy Ambriz at WEC 21, taking a TKO victory due to doctor stoppage.
17.
Justin Eilers' winning streak came to an end when, on March 9,2007, he lost to Pedro Rizzo by unanimous decision.
18.
Justin Eilers died from a single gunshot to the chest.
19.
Justin Eilers left behind a son, who was in the home that night.