View source for Justin Eilers

{{short description|American MMA fighter}}
{{for|the German footballer|Justin Eilers (footballer)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox martial artist
| name            = Justin Eilers
| other_names     = 
| image           = 
| image_size      = 200px
| alt             =
| caption         =
| birth_name      = Justin Mark Eilers
| birth_date      = {{Birth date|1978|06|28}}
| birth_place     = [[Boise, Idaho]], U.S.<ref name="sher">{{cite web |url=http://www.sherdog.com/fightfinder/fightfinder.asp?fighterID=5936|title=Justin Eilers' professional mixed martial arts statistics|accessdate=October 13, 2007}}</ref>
| death_date      = {{death date and age|2008|12|25|1978|06|28}}
| death_place     = [[Nampa, Idaho]], U.S.
| death_cause     =
| residence       =
| height          = 6 ft 1 in
| weight_lb       = 235
| weight_class    = [[Heavyweight (MMA)|Heavyweight (265 lb)]]
| reach_in        = 
| style           = 
| stance          = Orthodox
| fighting_out_of = [[Bettendorf, Iowa]], U.S.
| team            = [[Miletich Fighting Systems|Miletich Martial Arts]]
| rank            =
| years_active    = 2002–2008 ([[Mixed martial arts|MMA]])
| mma_kowin       = 18
| mma_subwin      = 
| mma_decwin      = 1
| mma_koloss      = 4
| mma_subloss     = 
| mma_decloss     = 3
| mma_draw        = 1
| sherdog         = 5936}}

'''Justin Mark Eilers''' (June 28, 1978 – December 25, 2008)<ref name="sherdog">[http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/eilers-shot-dead-15598 Eilers Shot Dead] – Sherdog.com, December 26, 2008</ref> was an American professional [[mixed martial arts|mixed martial artist]], formerly with the [[Ultimate Fighting Championship|UFC]], [[World Extreme Cagefighting|WEC]] and [[EliteXC]]. Known for his ground and pound as well as punching power, he won 18 of 19 career bouts via TKO/KO stoppage.

==Biography==
Justin Mark Eilers was raised in [[Nampa, Idaho]], and developed an early love of football. He began [[wrestling]] in the sixth grade and through [[Nampa High School]],<ref>{{cite web|title=NHS Alum|date=November 13, 2009 |url=http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/news/justin-eilers-killer-sentenced-to-15-years|accessdate=September 28, 2016}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/news.asp?n_id=2929|title=Justin Eilers on the PGA, MMA role models and the UFC|last=Ratzloff|first=Traci|date=June 3, 2005|publisher=[[Sherdog]]}}</ref> He 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. Eilers was also friends with [[Mike Kyle]] and taught Kyle [[Brazilian jiu-jitsu|jiu-jitsu]] techniques when Kyle was a sophomore in high school. Eilers would actually end up fighting Kyle at [[UFC 49]].

After being accepted to [[Butte College]] near [[Chico, California]], Eilers left mixed martial arts behind for football, and was recruited by [[Iowa State University]] as a [[linebacker]]. He 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. It was during this time that he had another chance meeting with [[Jens Pulver]], who was now a popular fighter in the [[Ultimate Fighting Championship|UFC]]. Pulver urged Eilers to try fighting again, and after a few months of training, he made his [[mixed martial arts|MMA]] debut in 2002 facing [[UFC Hall of Fame]]r [[Dan Severn]] at ''Victory Fighting Championships 3'' (a local Iowa MMA organization). He would lose the fight via decision, but the experience pushed Eilers to focus full-time on the sport of mixed martial arts. Just one month later Eilers returned to MMA competition, taking a quick [[KO]] victory over Jeff Gerlick at an ''Extreme Challenge'' event.

Eilers went undefeated in his next 4 fights, before losing a close split decision victory to [[Wesley Correira|Cabbage Correira]] at ''SuperBrawl 30''. Coming off the loss to Cabbage, Eilers won his next five fights, all by KO, and was signed by the Ultimate Fighting Championship in 2004.  His first fight in the octagon was against an old friend from high school, [[Mike Kyle]] at ''[[UFC 49]]''. 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. He returned in February 2005 at ''[[UFC 51]]'' to face top heavyweight contender [[Paul Buentello]].  Three minutes into the first round, Eilers was caught by a right hook from Buentello, which ended the fight. Four months later at ''[[UFC 53]]'', Eilers would get a title shot, facing [[Andrei Arlovski]].  Unfortunately he would suffer another KO loss at the hands of the [[UFC Heavyweight Championship|UFC Heavyweight Champion]] Arlovski. Eilers suffered extensive injuries in this match, breaking both hands, his jaw, and tearing his [[Anterior cruciate ligament|ACL]].

Following his loss to Arlovski, Eilers took eight months off, and returned to the octagon at ''[[UFC 57]]'' to face [[Brandon Vera]]. In yet another brutal knock out, he was dazed by a high kick to the top right side of the head and then dropped by a vicious knee to the same area. Eilers was released from the UFC in 2006, and returned to MMA competition at ''Combat in the Cage 2'', finally scoring a KO victory (his first victory in almost 2 years) over Sherman Pendergarst.

In June 2006, Eilers faced Jimmy Ambriz at [[WEC 21]], taking a [[Technical knockout|TKO]] victory due to doctor stoppage. In his next five fights Eilers proceeded to beat Rocky Batastini (by submission due to strikes), Wade Hamilton (by submission due to strikes), [[Josh Diekmann]] (by TKO due to strikes), John Dixon (by submission due to strikes) and Jihoon Kim (by submission due to strikes). Eilers' winning streak came to an end when, on March 9, 2007, he lost to [[Pedro Rizzo]] by unanimous decision. The fight took place at the début show of the Undisputed Arena Fighting Championships, and was held in Dallas, Texas. {{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}

==Death==
At 10:45&nbsp;p.m. on December 25, 2008, Eilers was shot during an apparent domestic dispute by his stepfather, 48-year-old James Robert Malec, at Malec's and his mother's residence in [[Nampa, Idaho]]. He died from a single gunshot to the chest. Malec, a former correctional officer, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.<ref name="Sherdog">[http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Eilers-Shot-Dead-15598 Eilers Shot Dead]- Sherdog</ref><ref name="IHT">[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/12/27/sports/MMA-Eilers-Killed.php MMA fighter Eilers shot to death in Idaho]- International Herald Tribune All</ref>

Eilers left behind a son, who was also in the home that night. Malec was convicted on the lesser charge of manslaughter and sentenced to 15 years in prison.<ref name="Idaho Press">[http://www.idahopress.com/news/judge-hands-malec--year-sentence/article_a8912ec4-1c2e-5f3e-ba52-3d2857cb6180.html Judge Hands Malec 8 Year Sentence]- Idaho Press</ref>

==Championships and accomplishments==
*'''International Fighting Championship'''
**IFC U.S. Heavyweight Championship (One time)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://fcfighter.com/post/ifc-battleground-boise|title=Ifc "battleground Boise"}}</ref>
**IFC Battleground Heavyweight Championship (One time)<ref>http://boxing.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/boxingnvgov/content/results/2004_Results/01-31-04IFC.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref>

==Mixed martial arts record==
{{MMArecordbox
|draws= 1
| nc= 
| ko-wins= 18
| ko-losses= 4
| sub-wins= 
| sub-losses= 
| dec-wins= 1
| dec-losses= 3
| dq-wins= 
| dq-losses= 
| other-wins= 
| other-losses= 
}}
{{MMA record start}}
|-
| {{no2}}Loss 
| align=center| {{nowrap|19–7–1}}
| [[Antônio Silva (fighter)|Antônio Silva]] 
| TKO (knees and punches)
| [[EliteXC: Unfinished Business]] 
| {{dts|2008|July|26|format=mdy}}
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 0:19 
| [[Stockton, California]], United States
| {{small|For the [[Elite Xtreme Combat#Heavyweight Championship|Elite XC Heavyweight Championship]]; Silva tested positive for steroids post-fight.}}
|-
| {{yes2}}Win 
| align=center| 19–6–1 
| Wade Shipp 
| TKO (punches) 
| IFC: Caged Combat 
| {{dts|2008|April|26|format=mdy}}
| align=center| 4
| align=center| 3:50 
| [[Nampa, Idaho]], United States
| 
|-
| {{yes2}}Win 
| align=center| 18–6–1 
| Matt Thompson 
| Decision (unanimous) 
| HDNet Fight 
| {{dts|2007|October|13|format=mdy}}
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00 
| [[Dallas, Texas]], United States
| 
|-
| {{yes2}}Win 
| align=center| 17–6–1 
| Scott Hough
| TKO (punches) 
| FSG: Coliseum Carnage 
| {{dts|2007|April|08|format=mdy}}
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 4:11
| [[Ames, Iowa]], United States
| 
|-
| {{no2}}Loss 
| align=center| 16–6–1 
| [[Pedro Rizzo]] 
| Decision (unanimous) 
| AOW: Art of War 1
| {{dts|2007|March|09|format=mdy}} 
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00 
| [[Dallas, Texas]], United States
| 
|-
| {{yes2}}Win 
| align=center| 16–5–1 
| Ji Hoon Kim 
| TKO (submission to punches)
| World Best Fighter: USA vs. Asia
| {{dts|2007|February|03|format=mdy}} 
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 2:10 
| [[Atlantic City, New Jersey]], United States
| 
|-
| {{yes2}}Win 
| align=center| 15–5–1 
| Josh Dixson 
| TKO (submission to punches) 
| Beatdown in Bakersfield
| {{dts|2006|November|17|format=mdy}} 
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 0:56 
| [[Bakersfield, California]], United States
| 
|-
| {{yes2}}Win 
| align=center| 14–5–1 
| [[Josh Diekmann]]
| TKO (punches) 
| [[WEC 24]]
| {{dts|2006|October|12|format=mdy}} 
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 2:29 
| [[Lemoore, California]], United States
| 
|-
| {{yes2}}Win 
| align=center| 13–5–1 
| Wade Hamilton 
| TKO (submission to punches)
| RMN MMA: Demolition
| {{dts|2006|September|16|format=mdy}} 
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 2:23 
| [[Denver, Colorado]], United States
| 
|-
| {{yes2}}Win 
| align=center| 12–5–1 
| Rocky Batastini 
| TKO (submission to punches)
| Xtreme Fight Series 1 
| {{dts|2006|July|15|format=mdy}} 
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 2:32 
| [[Boise, Idaho]], United States
| 
|-
| {{yes2}}Win 
| align=center| 11–5–1 
| Jimmy Ambriz 
| TKO (doctor stoppage) 
| [[WEC 21|WEC 21: Tapout]]
| {{dts|2006|June|15|format=mdy}} 
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 5:00 
| [[Highland, California]], United States
| 
|-
| {{yes2}}Win 
| align=center| 10–5–1 
| Sherman Pendergarst 
| KO (punches) 
| Combat in the Cage 2 
| {{dts|2006|May|20|format=mdy}} 
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 4:34 
| [[Atlantic City, New Jersey]], United States
| 
|-
| {{no2}}Loss 
| align=center| 9–5–1 
| [[Brandon Vera]] 
| KO (head kick and knee) 
| [[UFC 57]]
| {{dts|2006|February|04|format=mdy}} 
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 1:25 
| [[Las Vegas, Nevada]], United States
| 
|-
| {{no2}}Loss 
| align=center| 9–4–1 
| [[Andrei Arlovski]] 
| TKO (punches) 
| [[UFC 53]] 
| {{dts|2005|June|04|format=mdy}} 
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 4:10 
| [[Atlantic City, New Jersey]], United States
| {{small|For the interim [[UFC Heavyweight Championship]].}}
|-
| {{no2}}Loss 
| align=center| 9–3–1 
| [[Paul Buentello]] 
| KO (punch) 
| [[UFC 51]] 
| {{dts|2005|February|05|format=mdy}} 
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 3:34 
| [[Las Vegas, Nevada]], United States
| 
|-
| {{yes2}}Win 
| align=center| 9–2–1 
| [[Mike Kyle]] 
| KO (punch) 
| [[UFC 49]] 
| {{dts|2004|August|21|format=mdy}} 
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 1:14 
| [[Las Vegas, Nevada]], United States
| 
|-
| {{yes2}}Win 
| align=center| 8–2–1 
| Mikhail Bogdanov 
| TKO (corner stoppage) 
| Euphoria: Russia vs USA 
| {{dts|2004|March|13|format=mdy}} 
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 5:00 
| [[Atlantic City, New Jersey]], United States
| 
|-
| {{yes2}}Win 
| align=center| 7–2–1 
| Vince Lucero 
| TKO (injury) 
| SuperBrawl 33 
| {{dts|2004|February|07|format=mdy}} 
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 0:11
| [[Honolulu, Hawaii]], United States
| 
|-
| {{yes2}}Win 
| align=center| 6–2–1 
| Rocky Batastini 
| TKO (punches) 
| IFC: Battleground Tahoe 
| {{dts|2004|January|31|format=mdy}} 
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 2:35
| [[Lake Tahoe, Nevada]], United States
| {{small|Won the vacant IFC Battleground Heavyweight Championship.}}
|-
| {{yes2}} Win 
| align=center| 5–2–1 
| Gary Marshall 
| TKO (punches and elbows) 
| IFC: Battleground Boise 
| {{dts|2003|October|25|format=mdy}} 
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 4:25 
| [[Boise, Idaho]], United States
| {{small|Won the vacant IFC U.S. Heavyweight Championship.}}
|-
| {{yes2}}Win 
| align=center| 4–2–1 
| Brian Shepard 
| TKO (injury) 
| CFM: Octogono Extremo 
| {{dts|2003|September|27|format=mdy}} 
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 4:00 
| [[Monterrey, Mexico|Monterrey]], Mexico
| 
|-
| {{no2}}Loss 
| align=center| 3–2–1 
| [[Wesley Correira]] 
| Decision (split) 
| SB 30: Collision Course 
| {{dts|2003|June|13|format=mdy}}
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00 
| [[Honolulu, Hawaii]], United States
| 
|-
| {{draw}}Draw
| align=center| 3–1–1 
| [[Jason Brilz]] 
| Draw 
| VFC 4: Wildcard 
| {{dts|2003|April|19|format=mdy}} 
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00 
| [[Council Bluffs, Iowa]], United States
| 
|-
| {{yes2}}Win 
| align=center| 3–1
| Johnathan Ivey
| TKO (submission to punches)
| Iowa Challenge 9 
| {{dts|2003|April|05|format=mdy}} 
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 1:03 
| [[Marshalltown, Iowa]], United States
| 
|-
| {{yes2}}Win 
| align=center| 2–1 
| Seth Peters 
| TKO (submission to punches)
| Iowa Challenge 8 
| {{dts|2003|January|11|format=mdy}}
| align=center| 1
| align=center| N/A 
| [[Waterloo, Iowa]], United States
| 
|-
| {{yes2}}Win 
| align=center| 1–1 
| Jeff Gerlick 
| KO (punch) 
| MMA Nationals 2002 
| {{dts|2002|December|14|format=mdy}} 
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 2:56 
| [[Davenport, Iowa]], United States
| 
|-
| {{no2}}Loss 
| align=center| 0–1 
| [[Dan Severn]] 
| Decision (unanimous) 
| VFC 3: Total Chaos 
| {{dts|2002|November|23|format=mdy}} 
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| [[Council Bluffs, Iowa]], United States
| 
{{end}}

==See also==
*[[List of male mixed martial artists]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Sherdog}}
* {{UFC|justin-eilers}}
* {{find a Grave|32548792}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Eilers, Justin}}
[[Category:1978 births]]
[[Category:2008 deaths]]
[[Category:Deaths by firearm in Idaho]]
[[Category:American male mixed martial artists]]
[[Category:American male karateka]]
[[Category:Heavyweight mixed martial artists]]
[[Category:Mixed martial artists utilizing karate]]
[[Category:Mixed martial artists utilizing wrestling]]
[[Category:Mixed martial artists from Idaho]]
[[Category:Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters]]
[[Category:Iowa State Cyclones football players]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Nampa, Idaho]]
[[Category:People murdered in Idaho]]
[[Category:2008 murders in the United States]]