Fighter Profile: Antwain Britt

Overall Record: 11-4

Height: 6’1” Weight: 205

Hometown: Hampton Roads, VA

Age: 30

Antwain “The Juggernaut” Britt is a mixed martial arts fighter, who in August signed a multi-fight contract to fight in the light-heavyweight division for Strikeforce. Britt trains out of the Hybrid Academy of Martial Arts in Virginia Beach, Virginia. His strengths include standing and “banging” with opponents (7 TKO’s) along with displaying an iron chin (never been knocked out).

Britt began his career over two years ago at a May 2007 fight in Washington D.C. where he battled Patrick Barrantine, who came into the fight with a 6-3 record. “The Juggernaut” hammered Barrantine, knocking him out 1:12 into the 1st round to win his rookie bout. He would continue his assault by stopping his first three opponents overall while competing in bouts in Georgia and Virginia.

He spent the first half of 2008 trying out and preparing for the UFC’s The Ultimate Fighter 8, which featured lightweights and light-heavyweights. Britt hammered Ryan Jimmo in the elimination round, however did not make it into the house due to a broken hand suffered from the fight. He was sent packing by President Dana White and replaced in the house by Eliot Marshall, a light-heavyweight who was defeated in his bout.

His first official setback occurred when participating in the one-and-done, Yamma Pit Fighting event in April of 2008 against Bryan Vetell, an IFL and Extreme Challenge veteran. The rules of the event included only one five-minute round, which Britt lost, thus officially dropping the unanimous decision to Vetell. Although the one-round loss to Vetell wasn’t an accurate reflection of his development, he at least took a big step up in terms of competition.

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After his first career loss, Britt got back on his horse by stopping three straight legitimate opponents in less than three months. He stopped Elite XC vet Wayne Cole in 51 seconds while fighting for C3 Fights in Texas in August of 2008. Two months later, he disposed of Terry “T-Rex” Cohens at UWC 4 in 31 seconds and then finished the year up with a 2nd round TKO of Robert Turner at a fight in Virginia.

Jamal Patterson, a fighter with very similar characteristics, proved to be a roadblock for Britt when the IFL veteran submitted him, via guillotine in 44 seconds at the UWC 5 event in Northern Virginia. The Virginia-based fighter was back in action three months later in Ohio at a Shine Fights event against UFC veteran, Antonio Mendes. Britt saved his best for the biggest fight of his career and didn’t disappoint, knocking Mendes out with a flurry of punches taking only 8 seconds of the clock.

Beginning to attract attention from the major MMA organizations, Britt chose to participate in a tournament in Aruba that was loaded with credible 205 pound fighters, known as Vendetta Fighting Championships. In the opening round, Britt outpointed WEC, IFL, and UFC veteran Carmelo Marrero to advance to the semi-final round. In the semis, he squeaked by Richard Hale, a fighter who had carried a 13-2 record with him into the bout, winning via majority decision. At the final, recent UFC signee Rodney Wallace submitted Britt and handed him his third career defeat.

The loss to Wallace did very little to tarnish his reputation as a dangerous striker. In fact, Strikeforce officials were impressed enough that they signed the talented striker to a multi-fight deal later in the month. While no word on who Britt will fight first in his Strikeforce debut, there are more than enough light-heavyweights willing to challenge the upstart fighter. With a fresh contract in hand, the future looks bright for this up and comer.

Recent Antwain Britt MMA News:

• August 2009 – Signed a multi-fight deal with California based Strikeforce organization

• September 2009 – Finished as the runner-up at the Vendetta FC tournament in Aruba

• Defeated Scott Lighty at Strikeforce: Evolution by TKO on December 19, 2009 - Strikeforce Evolution results

• Lost to Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante by TKO at Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery on May 15, 2010 in St. Louis, MO - May 15 Strikeforce results

By Nick Russell
ProFighting-fans.com MMA Staff Writer
Published October 2009, Updated May 2010