View source for Kit Cope

{{short description|American mixed martial arts fighter}}
{{Infobox martial artist
| name            = Kit Cope
| image           = 
| image_size      = 
| caption         = 
| birth_name      = Kristopher Lee Cope
| other_names     = Cobra and CHEATER <br /> Doctor <br /> Havoc <br /> The Prophecy <br /> Part-Time Lover
| birth_date      = {{Birth date and age|1977|03|17}}
| birth_place     = [[Williams, Arizona]], [[United States]]
| fighting_out_of = [[Las Vegas, Nevada]], [[United States]]
| death_date      = 
| death_place     = 
| height          = {{height|m=1.83|precision=1}}
| weight          = {{convert|70.0|kg|lb st|abbr=on}}
| weight_class    = [[Featherweight (MMA)|Featherweight]] <br /> [[Lightweight (MMA)|Lightweight]] <br /> [[Welterweight (MMA)|Welterweight]]
| reach_in        = 72+1/2
| style           = [[Kickboxing]], [[Muay Thai]]
| rank            =  Purple belt in [[Brazilian jiu-jitsu]]
| stance          = Orthodox
| team            = Twisted Genetiks <br /> [[Wand Fight Team]] <br /> SitWishan
| trainer         = [[Master Toddy]] <br /> Master Chan <br /> Nick Diaz
| years_active    = 1995–present
| box_win         = 1
| box_kowin       = 1
| box_loss        = 1
| box_koloss      = 
| box_draw        = 
| box_nc          = 1
| kickbox_win     = 23
| kickbox_kowin   = 9
| kickbox_loss    = 2
| kickbox_tkoloss  = 2
| kickbox_draw    = 
| kickbox_nc      = 
| mma_win         = 6
| mma_kowin       = 3
| mma_subwin      = 3
| mma_loss        = 7
| mma_tkoloss      = 1
| mma_subloss     = 6
| mma_draw        = 
| mma_nc          = 
| other           = 
| occupation      = 
| spouse          = 
| children        = 
| relatives       = 
| students        = 
| university      =
| url             = {{URL|http://www.kitcope.com}}
| boxrec          = 169224
| sherdog         = 67
| updated         = September 8, 2012
}}

'''Kristopher Lee "Kit" Cope''' (born March 17, 1977) is an American [[Kickboxing|Muay Thai kickboxer]] and [[Mixed martial arts|mixed martial artist]] who competes in the [[Featherweight (MMA)|Featherweight]], [[Lightweight (MMA)|Lightweight]], and [[Welterweight (MMA)|Welterweight]] divisions. A four-time professional Muay Thai World Champion, Cope also fought in the [[K-1]], [[Ultimate Fighting Championship]] and [[World Extreme Cagefighting]] promotions.

==Career==
Kit Cope was born on [[Williams Air Force Base]] in [[Williams, Arizona]] and later relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada. He began his fighting career as a [[Muay Thai]] kickboxer after having only one amateur bout, becoming professional, going 15-0 and winning, among other titles, the [[IKKC]] International Welterweight title, the [[World Muay Thai Federation|WMTF]] World Welterweight title, the [[World Muay Thai Association|WMTA]] World Welterweight title, the [[International Thai Boxing Federation|ITBF]] World Light Welterweight title and the highly regarded [[International Professional Muay Thai Organization|IPMTO]] World Light Heavyweight Championship, which would later be renamed as the WPMF. Cope suffered the first loss of his career on November 22, 1999 when he was [[Knockout|knocked out]] by [[Akeomi Nitta]] in the [[All Japan Kickboxing Federation]] in Tokyo, Japan. Cope was leading on the scorecards heading into the third round, but was slowing due to an onslaught of low kicks from Nitta, who scored a knockdown at the end of round three. Cope was able to beat the referee's count but Nitta switched to a high kick which left Cope unable to again beat the referee's count at the 2:21 mark of round three.<ref>[http://www.boutreview.com/report/kick/99/1122aj/5.html 99･11･22 全日本キックボクシング連盟 "WAVE-XIII" 後楽園ホール]</ref>

On March 17, 2000, accepting the bout on 1 week notice, Cope defeated reigning [[International Sport Karate Association|ISKA]] World Super Welterweight (-69.5&nbsp;kg/153.2&nbsp;lb) Muay Thai Champion [[Alex Gong]] by unanimous decision in a non-title bout in Las Vegas. He also fought in [[shoot boxing]] that year, losing a unanimous decision to [[Kenichi Ogata (shoot boxer)|Kenichi Ogata]] in Tokyo on May 21, 2000. Cope made his American [[K-1]] debut on August 17, 2002 and stopped Heath Harris with a low kick, breaking Harris' femur in the opening round on the ''[[K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 in Las Vegas]]'' undercard.<ref>[http://www.onthemat.com/node/7365 K-1 USA Semi Finals] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408163933/http://www.onthemat.com/node/7365 |date=2016-04-08 }}</ref>

He was featured in an episode of ''[[True Life]]'' entitled "I'm a Muay Thai Fighter", which chronicled his training and journey to [[Thailand]] where he knocked out Burmese fighter Mojo Mawadee in a bare-knuckle [[lethwei]] match at the Songkran Festival in [[Mae Sot]] on April 13, 2004. Then again in 2008 Cope was featured in another True Life episode entitled "I'm a Mixed Martial Arts Fighter" whereupon he defeated Dave Cochran in a very bloody fight that ended with Kit Cope forcing Cochran to submit to a triangle choke. Cope was cornered by UFC title contender Nate Diaz.

Having begun his mixed martial arts career in 1998, Cope debuted in the [[Ultimate Fighting Championship]] at ''[[The Ultimate Fighter 2 Finale]]'' in his hometown of Las Vegas on November 5, 2005. He was caught in an [[armbar]] at the end of round one and actually [[Submission (combat sports)|tapped out]] after the bell signaling the end of the round had already rung, however, and he continued in round two with his arm noticeably injured. He submitted to a [[rear-naked choke]] soon after. During the broadcast, commentator [[Mike Goldberg]] made a number of dubious and complimentary comments on Cope's Muay Thai accomplishments, calling him "the cream of the crop in Muay Thai" and "one of the best" [[Strike (martial arts)|strikers]] in the world.

On January 20, 2007, he fought fellow Muay Thai stylist [[Rob McCullough]] for the vacant [[List of WEC champions#Lightweight Championship|WEC Lightweight Championship]] at ''[[WEC 25]]'' and lost via submission due to an injury. Following the bout, he tested positive for the [[anabolic steroid]] [[Boldenone]]<ref name="mmaweekly.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid%3D3332%26zoneid%3D3 |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2013-08-20 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070921021637/http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=3332&zoneid=3 |archivedate=2007-09-21 }}</ref> which is on the banned substances list of all the major athletic commissions and sports leagues.<ref name="mmaweekly.com" />

He was expected to make his return to Muay Thai against Jose Palacios for the WBC Muaythai United States welterweight (-66.678&nbsp;kg/147&nbsp;lb) title at ''Lion Fight: Battle in the Desert 4'' on November 19, 2011.<ref>[http://www.muaythaiauthority.com/2011/09/kit-cope-rumored-to-be-returning-to.html Kit Cope rumored to be returning to Muay Thai against Jose Palacios at Lion Fight Promotions "Battle in the Desert 4"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121219025544/http://www.muaythaiauthority.com/2011/09/kit-cope-rumored-to-be-returning-to.html |date=2012-12-19 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.muaythaiauthority.com/2011/10/updated-lion-fight-promotions-battle-in.html Updated Lion Fight Promotions "Battle in the Desert 4" fight card; Palacios, Cope, Richardson, Maxwell, Leung and Otterbein confirmed] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121219023733/http://www.muaythaiauthority.com/2011/10/updated-lion-fight-promotions-battle-in.html |date=2012-12-19 }}</ref> However, he was not cleared to fight by the [[Nevada Athletic Commission]] for unknown reasons and was replaced by [[Malaipet Sasiprapa]].<ref>[http://www.muaythaiauthority.com/2011/11/breaking-news-malaipet-replaces-kit.html BREAKING NEWS: Malaipet replaces Kit Cope at Lion Fight Promotions "Battle in the Desert 4"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121219025234/http://www.muaythaiauthority.com/2011/11/breaking-news-malaipet-replaces-kit.html |date=2012-12-19 }}</ref> The fight was rescheduled for ''Lion Fight: Battle in the Desert 5'' on February 25, 2012<ref>[http://www.muaythaiauthority.com/2011/12/coke-embree-leffler-palacios-and-more.html Coke, Embree, Leffler, Palacios and more expected to be in action at Lion Fight Promotions "Battle in the Desert 5"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121219025423/http://www.muaythaiauthority.com/2011/12/coke-embree-leffler-palacios-and-more.html |date=2012-12-19 }}</ref> but he again withdrew.<ref>[http://www.muaythaiauthority.com/2012/01/shane-oblonsky-expected-to-replace-kit.html Shane Oblonsky expected to replace Kit Cope against Jose Palacios at Lion Fight Promotions "Battle in the Desert 5"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121219024443/http://www.muaythaiauthority.com/2012/01/shane-oblonsky-expected-to-replace-kit.html |date=2012-12-19 }}</ref>

Cope returned to K-1 ten years after his first appearance in the promotion, facing [[Chaz Mulkey]] at the ''[[K-1 World Grand Prix 2012 in Los Angeles]]'' on September 8, 2012. He injured himself while attempting a spinning kick in round two, and Mulkey was able to knock him down three time by attacking his injured leg, which caused referee Vichai "Rex" Supkitpol to stop the bout and announce Mulkey as the winner by TKO.<ref>[http://www.muaythaiauthority.com/2012/09/results-and-recap-k-1-los-angeles-max.html Results and Recap: K-1 Los Angeles MAX Tourney fights] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913043602/http://www.muaythaiauthority.com/2012/09/results-and-recap-k-1-los-angeles-max.html |date=2012-09-13 }}</ref>

==Personal life==
Cope was once engaged to [[Gina Carano]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://tapoutpage.proelite.com/stuff/blog/46210/Gina_Carano:_Not_Just_Another_Pretty_Face |title=Tapoutpage.proelite.com » Gina Carano: Not Just Another Pretty Face: Carano, elitexc, gina, girl, jiu jitsu, mma, muay thai, showtime, woman: Tapoutpage article |access-date=2008-08-08 |archive-date=2009-05-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090517094141/http://tapoutpage.proelite.com/stuff/blog/46210/Gina_Carano:_Not_Just_Another_Pretty_Face |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He was a contestant on a March 15, 2004 episode of ''[[Fear Factor]]'', a reality television game show, and also featured twice on [[MTV]]'s ''[[True Life]]'' in the episodes "I'm a Muay Thai Fighter" and "I'm a Mixed Martial Arts Fighter". In 2007, he was one of three hosts on ''[[Wild World of Spike]]'', a television series featuring amateur sports footage and the hosts' attempts at recreating them.

Got married August 28, 2016 to Lacee Casas

==Championships and awards==

===Amateur wrestling===
*'''Nevada State Wrestling'''
**Nevada State Freestyle Wrestling Champion (Two times)

===Kickboxing===
*'''International Professional Muay Thai Organization'''
**IPMTO World Light Heavyweight Championship
*'''International Thai Boxing Federation'''
**ITBF World Light Welterweight Championship
*'''World Muay Thai Association'''
**WMTA World Welterweight Championship
*'''World Muay Thai Federation'''
**WMTF World Welterweight Championship
*'''International Karate Kickboxing Council'''
**IKKC International Welterweight Championship

==Boxing record==
{{Fight record start|event_type=Venue|title=Boxing record|record='''1 win''' (1 KO), '''1 loss''', '''0 draws'''}}
|-
|-  bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
| 2000-11-18 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Francisco Corrales]] || [[The Orleans]] || [[Las Vegas, Nevada]], US || TKO || 3 || 2:59 || 1-1
|-
|-  bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| 2000-07-28 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Edward Scolaro]] || [[The Orleans]] || [[Las Vegas, Nevada]], US || TKO || 2 || 0:16 || 1-0
|-
|-
| colspan=9 | '''''Legend''''': {{legend2|#CCFFCC|Win |border=1px solid #CCFFCC}} {{legend2|#FFBBBB|Loss |border=1px solid #FFBBBB}} {{legend2|#c5d2ea|Draw/No contest |border=1px solid #c5d2ea}} {{legend2|White|Notes |border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{end}}

==Kickboxing record==
{{Kickboxing record start|norec=y|title=Kickboxing record|record='''23 wins''' (9 KOs), '''3 losses''', '''0 draws'''}}
|-
|-  bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
| 2012-09-08 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Chaz Mulkey]] || [[K-1 World Grand Prix 2012 in Los Angeles]] || [[Los Angeles, California]], US || TKO (right low kick) || 2 || 2:16
|-
|-  bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| 2004-04-13 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|MYA}} [[Mojo Mawadee]] || 2004 Songkran Festival || [[Mae Sot, Thailand]] || KO (right cross) || 1 || 1:59
|-
|-  bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| 2002-09-28 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|CAN}} [[Philippe Petit (kickboxer)|Philippe Petit]] || || [[Las Vegas, Nevada]], US || Decision (unanimous) || 5 || 3:00
|-
|-  bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| 2002-08-17 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Heath Harris]] || [[K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 in Las Vegas]] || [[Las Vegas, Nevada]], US || KO (low kick) || 2 || 0:55
|-
|-  bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| 2002-03-23 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|CAN}} [[Clint Hale]] || Master Toddy Show || [[Las Vegas, Nevada]], US || Decision (unanimous) || 5 || 3:00
|-
|-  bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
| 2000-05-21 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kenichi Ogata (shoot boxer)|Kenichi Ogata]] || WSBA: Invade 3rd Stage || [[Tokyo, Japan]] || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00
|-
|-  bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
| 2000-03-17 || Win ||align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Alex Gong]] || || [[Las Vegas, Nevada]], US || Decision (unanimous) || 5 || 3:00
|-
|-  bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
| 1999-11-22 || Loss ||align=left|{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Akeomi Nitta]] || AJKF: WAVE-XIII || [[Tokyo, Japan]] || KO (high kick) || 3 || 2:21
|-
|-
| colspan=9 | '''''Legend''''': {{legend2|#CCFFCC|Win |border=1px solid #CCFFCC}} {{legend2|#FFBBBB|Loss |border=1px solid #FFBBBB}} {{legend2|#c5d2ea|Draw/No contest |border=1px solid #c5d2ea}} {{legend2|White|Notes |border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{end}}

== Mixed martial arts record ==
{{MMArecordbox
|draws=
|nc=
|ko-wins=3
|ko-losses=1
|sub-wins=3
|sub-losses=6
|dec-wins=
|dec-losses=
|dq-wins=
|dq-losses=
|other-wins=
|other-losses=
}}
{{MMA record start}}
|-
| {{yes2}}Win
|align=center| 6–7
|Daniel Smyrk
|TKO (punches)
|Kings of Kombat 7
|{{dts|2012-06-23}}
|align=center|2
|align=center|
|[[Keysborough, Victoria]], [[Australia]]
|
|-
| {{yes2}}Win
|align=center| 5–7
|Jeff Harrison
|Submission (armbar)
|Wreck MMA: Road to Glory
|{{dts|2012-04-20}}
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:12
|[[Gatineau, Quebec]], [[Canada]]
|
|-
|{{no2}}Loss
|align=center| 4–7
|Freddy Assuncao
|Submission (rear-naked choke)
|Fight Night Entertainment: Round 13 – Impact
|{{dts|2011-03-11}}
|align=center|2
|align=center|3:47
|[[Bellingham, Washington]], [[United States]]
|
|-
|{{no2}}Loss
|align=center| 4–6
|[[Corey Hill]]
|Submission (triangle choke)
|Raging Wolf VIII: Cage Supremacy
|{{dts|2010-07-17}}
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:30
|[[Salamanca, New York]], [[United States]]
|
|-
|{{no2}}Loss
|align=center| 4–5
|[[Cameron Dollar (fighter)|Cameron Dollar]]
|Submission (rear-naked choke)
|Ring of Fire 36
|{{dts|2009-12-05}}
|align=center|1
|align=center|4:38
|[[Denver, Colorado]], [[United States]]
|
|-
| {{yes2}}Win
|align=center| 4–4
|Zach Skinner
|TKO (punches)
|Fight Night Events
| {{dts|2008-05-31}}
|align=center|2
|align=center|3:27
|[[Anaheim, California]], [[United States]]
|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|align=center| 3–4
|Dave Cochran
|Submission (triangle choke)
|World Fighting Championships 7: Lockdown
|{{dts|2008-05-31}}
|align=center|1
|align=center|4:32
|[[Atlantic City, New Jersey]], [[United States]]
|
|-
|{{no2}}Loss
|align=center| 2–4
|[[Rob McCullough]]
|Submission (injury)
|[[WEC 25]]
|{{dts|2007-01-20}}
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:53
|[[Las Vegas, Nevada]], [[United States]]
|{{small|For the vacant [[List of WEC champions#Lightweight Championship|WEC Lightweight Championship]].}}
|-
| {{no2}}Loss
|align=center| 2–3
|[[Kenny Florian]]
|Submission (rear-naked choke)
|[[The Ultimate Fighter 2 Finale]]
| {{dts|2005-11-05}}
|align=center|2
|align=center|0:37
|[[Las Vegas, Nevada]], [[United States]]
|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|align=center| 2–2
|Mike Lucero
|TKO (strikes)
|Valor Fighting: Home of the Brave
|{{dts|2005-07-02}}
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:50
|[[Susanville, California]], [[United States]]
|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|align=center| 1–2
|Emmett Olvera
|Submission (guillotine choke)
|Venom: First Strike
|{{dts|2004-09-18}}
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:37
|[[Huntington Beach, California]], [[United States]]
|
|-
|{{no2}}Loss
|align=center| 0–2
|[[Tiki Ghosn]]
|TKO (retirement)
|[[WFA 2: Level 2]]
|{{dts|2002-07-05}}
|align=center|2
|align=center|5:00
|[[Las Vegas, Nevada]], [[United States]]
|
|-
|{{no2}}Loss
|align=center|0–1
|William Sriyapai
|Submission (rear-naked choke)
|King of the Cage 1
|{{dts|1999-10-30}}
|align=center|1
|align=center|3:18
|[[San Jacinto, California]], [[United States]]
|
{{end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.kitcope.com Official site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110129033513/http://kitcope.com/ |date=2011-01-29 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121219042039/http://k-1.tv/en/fighter-detail-KitCope.php Official K-1 profile]
* [http://k-1sport.de/en/database/show_fighter.php?id=1690 K-1Sport profile]
* {{Sherdog}}
* {{Boxrec|id=169224}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cope, Kit}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1977 births]]
[[Category:Boxers from Arizona]]
[[Category:Boxers from Nevada]]
[[Category:Welterweight boxers]]
[[Category:American male kickboxers]]
[[Category:Kickboxers from Arizona]]
[[Category:Kickboxers from Nevada]]
[[Category:Welterweight kickboxers]]
[[Category:Middleweight kickboxers]]
[[Category:Light heavyweight kickboxers]]
[[Category:American male mixed martial artists]]
[[Category:Mixed martial artists from Arizona]]
[[Category:Mixed martial artists from Nevada]]
[[Category:Lightweight mixed martial artists]]
[[Category:Welterweight mixed martial artists]]
[[Category:Mixed martial artists utilizing Muay Thai]]
[[Category:Mixed martial artists utilizing boxing]]
[[Category:Mixed martial artists utilizing freestyle wrestling]]
[[Category:Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu]]
[[Category:American practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu]]
[[Category:American male Muay Thai practitioners]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Mesa, Arizona]]
[[Category:Martial artists from Las Vegas]]
[[Category:American sportspeople in doping cases]]
[[Category:Doping cases in mixed martial arts]]
[[Category:American male boxers]]
[[Category:People from Williams, Arizona]]