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Zak Ottow
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Zak Ottow (born December 22, 1986) is an American mixed martial artist who formerly competed in the welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional competitor since 2011, he has also competed for King of the Cage.[4]
Key Information
Background
[edit]Ottow was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with an older biological brother and two older stepbrothers.[6] Ottow started training in wrestling and football – becoming an All-State select in latter – while attending Wisconsin Lutheran High School.[7] He attended Air Force Academy in Colorado for two years before transferring to University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee from where he graduated with a degree in kinesiology.[4][8]
After his college football career had finished, he began training Brazilian jiu-jitsu and later picking up kickboxing.[8] Eventually he started mixed martial arts training and started his professional career not long after.[8] Ottow's typical day of training splits into three sessions. He starts his early morning with strength and conditional training; he works on his wrestling or boxing during the midday, and finishes off his day with BJJ training.[4]
Mixed martial arts career
[edit]Early career
[edit]Ottow participated in various regional MMA promotions primarily in the Upper Midwest such as King of the Cage, North American Fighting Championship, and Legacy Fighting Championship. He amassed a record of 13–3 prior to being signed by Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).[9]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
[edit]Ottow made his promotional debut on a short notice, replacing Bobby Green against Josh Burkman[10] on October 1, 2016 at UFC Fight Night: Lineker vs. Dodson.[11] He won the fight via split decision.[12]
Ottow faced Sérgio Moraes on November 19, 2016 at UFC Fight Night: Bader vs. Nogueira 2.[13] Moraes was awarded a split decision victory.[14]
Ottow next faced Kiichi Kunimoto on June 11, 2017 at UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Hunt.[15] He won the fight via split decision.[16]
Ottow faced Li Jingliang on November 25, 2017 at UFC Fight Night: Silva vs. Gastelum.[17] He lost the fight via TKO in the first round.[18] After the bout Ottow became a free agent having fought his contract out.[19]
Ottow then signed a new four-fight contract to face Mike Pyle on short notice on March 3, 2018 at UFC 222.[20][19] He won the fight by technical knockout in the first round.[21] Pyle had announced he would retire before the fight.
Ottow faced Sage Northcutt on July 14, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 133.[22] He lost the fight via knock out in round two.[23]
Ottow replaced Erik Koch to face promotional newcomer Dwight Grant on December 15, 2018 at UFC on Fox 31.[24] He won the fight by split decision.[25]
Ottow faced Alex Morono on March 9, 2019 at UFC on ESPN+ 4.[26] He lost the fight via a verbal submission due to elbows in the first round.[27] Having fought out his contract, Ottow became a free agent as the UFC opted not to renew his contract.[19][28]
Post UFC
[edit]Ottow faced Clarence Jordan at Cages Aggression 29 on November 20, 2020. He won the bout via armbar in the second round.[29]
Ottow faced Jarome Hatch on July 31, 2021 at North Iowa Fights: Hatch vs. Ottow. He won the bout via unanimous decision.[30]
Ottow faced Derek Smith at A-Town Throwdown 17 on January 15, 2022. He won the bout via guillotine choke in the first round.[31]
Ottow faced Kyle Stewart on April 2, 2022 at XMMA 4.[32] He lost the bout via unanimous decision.[33] This was his last professional MMA match.
Personal life
[edit]Ottow worked as a bartender[4] and worked in Wall Street for a year[6] before making his career choice to be a professional fighter.
He owns Pura Vida BJJ & MMA.[6]
Mixed martial arts record
[edit]| 28 matches | 20 wins | 8 losses |
| By knockout | 3 | 4 |
| By submission | 12 | 1 |
| By decision | 5 | 3 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 20–8 | Kyle Stewart | Decision (unanimous) | XMMA 4: Black Magic | April 2, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | New Orleans, Louisiana, United States | |
| Win | 20–7 | Derek Smith | Submission (guillotine choke) | A-Town Throwdown 17 | January 15, 2022 | 1 | 2:59 | Austin, Minnesota, United States | Catchweight (180 lb) bout. |
| Win | 19–7 | Jarome Hatch | Decision (unanimous) | North Iowa Fights: Hatch vs. Ottow | July 31, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Mason City, Iowa, United States | Catchweight (195 lb) bout. |
| Win | 18–7 | Clarence Jordan | Submission (armbar) | Caged Aggression 29: Determination Day 1 | November 20, 2020 | 2 | 2:37 | Davenport, Iowa, United States | |
| Loss | 17–7 | Alex Morono | TKO (submission to elbows) | UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. dos Santos | March 9, 2019 | 1 | 3:34 | Wichita, Kansas, United States | |
| Win | 17–6 | Dwight Grant | Decision (split) | UFC on Fox: Lee vs. Iaquinta 2 | December 15, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | |
| Loss | 16–6 | Sage Northcutt | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: dos Santos vs. Ivanov | July 14, 2018 | 2 | 3:13 | Boise, Idaho, United States | |
| Win | 16–5 | Mike Pyle | TKO (punches) | UFC 222 | March 3, 2018 | 1 | 2:34 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 15–5 | Li Jingliang | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Gastelum | November 25, 2017 | 1 | 2:57 | Shanghai, China | |
| Win | 15–4 | Kiichi Kunimoto | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Hunt | June 10, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Auckland, New Zealand | |
| Loss | 14–4 | Sérgio Moraes | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Bader vs. Nogueira 2 | November 19, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | São Paulo, Brazil | |
| Win | 14–3 | Josh Burkman | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Lineker vs. Dodson | October 1, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Portland, Oregon, United States | |
| Win | 13–3 | Craig Eckelberg | Decision (unanimous) | Pure FC 4 | June 11, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | |
| Win | 12–3 | Frank Schuman | Submission (guillotine choke) | KOTC: Total Devastation | April 23, 2016 | 3 | 3:23 | Lac Du Flambeau, Wisconsin, United States | |
| Win | 11–3 | Jay Ellis | Submission (rear-naked choke) | KOTC: Shattered | March 5, 2016 | 1 | 0:26 | Keshena, Wisconsin, United States | |
| Win | 10–3 | Richard Wolfe | Submission (guillotine choke) | KOTC: Title at the Torch | October 17, 2015 | 1 | 1:33 | Lac Du Flambeau, Wisconsin, United States | |
| Loss | 9–3 | Jacob Volkmann | Technical Submission (brabo choke) | Legacy Fighting Championship 43 | July 17, 2015 | 1 | 4:55 | Hinckley, Minnesota, United States | |
| Win | 9–2 | Robbie Gotreau | TKO | KOTC: Public Enemy | February 21, 2015 | 1 | 4:27 | Carlton, Minnesota, United States | |
| Win | 8–2 | Eddie Larrea | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | KOTC: Beastmaster | December 6, 2014 | 1 | 1:53 | Keshena, Wisconsin, United States | |
| Win | 7–2 | Nathan Howe | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Resurrection Fighting Alliance 19 | October 10, 2014 | 2 | 0:54 | Prior Lake, Minnesota, United States | |
| Loss | 6–2 | Zach Micklewright | TKO (punches) | Caged Aggression 12 | March 15, 2014 | 2 | 1:04 | Davenport, Iowa, United States | |
| Win | 6–1 | Quinton McCottrell | Submission (rear-naked choke) | NAFC: Battle in the Ballroom | September 28, 2013 | 2 | 1:05 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | Welterweight debut. |
| Win | 5–1 | Eddie Larrea | Submission (rear-naked choke) | KOTC: Train Wreck | July 2, 2013 | 1 | 2:45 | Lac Du Flambeau, Wisconsin, United States | |
| Win | 4–1 | Matt Gauthier | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Resurrection Fighting Alliance 8 | June 21, 2013 | 1 | 3:07 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | Catchweight (175 lbs) bout. |
| Win | 3–1 | Jesse Midas | TKO (punches) | Driller Promotions: Caged Chaos | April 27, 2013 | 1 | 4:00 | Shakopee, Minnesota, United States | |
| Win | 2–1 | Ricky Stettner | Submission (choke) | NAFC: Battleground | March 29, 2013 | 2 | 2:27 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | Catchweight (180 lbs) bout. |
| Win | 1–1 | Jim Klimczyk | TKO (submission to punches) | KOTC: New Vision | February 16, 2013 | 1 | 4:37 | Morton, Minnesota, United States | |
| Loss | 0–1 | Mike Rhodes | Decision (unanimous) | NAFC: Colosseum | May 4, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Zak Ottow ("The Barbarian") | MMA Fighter Page | Tapology". Tapology. Retrieved 2017-06-11.
- ^ Mike Straus (July 2, 2018). Zak Ottow Interview at Pura Vida BJJ two weeks before UFC Boise – via YouTube.
- ^ Fernanda Prates and Ken Hathaway (March 5, 2018). "UFC 222 winner Zak Ottow wishes Mike Pyle well in retirement, but 'this had to be my fight to win'". MMAjunkie.com.
- ^ a b c d e f "Zak Ottow - Official UFC Profile". UFC. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
- ^ Fansided MMA (March 4, 2018). UFC 222: Zak Ottow shocked to receive BJJ black belt inside Octagon – via YouTube.
- ^ a b c "Beat the Fight Guys with Zak Ottow and Blake Stephenson – Win Prizes". My MMA News.com. 2016-12-07. Retrieved 2017-06-11.
- ^ Travis Wilson (7 December 2017). "WSN15: Football Top Teams #12 – 2004 Wisconsin Lutheran Vikings". Wisconsin Sports Network. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
- ^ a b c Origins of and Expert - Zak Ottow. February 18, 2022 – via YouTube.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Zak". Sherdog. Retrieved 2017-06-11.
- ^ Baldwin, Nick (2016-10-07). "How corner duty led to Ottow's unexpected UFC debut". Bloody Elbow. Archived from the original on 2017-09-13. Retrieved 2017-06-11.
- ^ Brent Brookhouse (2016-09-20). "Zak Ottow in against Josh Burkman at UFC Fight Night 96". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-09-20.
- ^ Matt Erickson (2016-10-01). "UFC Fight Night 96 results: Short-notice underdog Zak Ottow takes split from Josh Burkman". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
- ^ Guilherme Cruz (2016-10-04). "UFC Fight Night 100 gets Zak Ottow vs. Sergio Moraes". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2015-10-04.
- ^ Brent Brookhouse (2016-11-19). "UFC Fight Night 100 results: Sergio Moraes battles way to tough split decision win over Zak Ottow". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-11-19.
- ^ Danny Segura (2017-05-19). "Warlley Alves injured, Zak Ottow steps in to face Kiichi Kunimoto at UFC Fight Night 110". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2017-05-19.
- ^ "UFC Fight Night 110 results: Zak Ottow outpoints Kiichi Kunimoto for narrow split-decision win". MMAjunkie. 2017-06-11. Retrieved 2017-06-11.
- ^ Marcel Dorff (6 October 2017). "Publiekslieveling Li Jingliang treft Zak Ottow tijdens UFC Shanghai". mmadna.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- ^ "UFC Fight Night 122 results: Li Jingliang thrills home fans, takes out Zak Ottow in first". MMAjunkie. 2017-11-25. Retrieved 2017-11-26.
- ^ a b c Alex Behunin (March 26, 2022). XMMA 4: Zak Ottow Plans To Finish Kyle Stewart And Then Return To The UFC. cagesidepress.com – via YouTube.
- ^ "Report: Mike Pyle returns against Zak Ottow at UFC 222". MMAjunkie. 2018-02-08. Retrieved 2018-02-08.
- ^ "UFC 222 results: Zak Ottow spoils Mike Pyle's retirement fight with first-round TKO". MMAjunkie. 2018-03-04. Retrieved 2018-03-04.
- ^ Marcel Dorff (2018-04-19). "Zak Ottow meets Sage Northcutt during UFC Fight Night Boise". mmadna.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2018-04-19.
- ^ "UFC Fight Night 133 results: Sage Northcutt rallies to knock out Zak Ottow". MMAjunkie. 2018-07-15. Retrieved 2018-07-15.
- ^ Bryant Jenkins (2018-11-28). "Erik Koch out; Zak Ottow now faces Dwight Grant". themmatakeover.com. Archived from the original on 2018-11-29. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
- ^ Anderson, Jay (2018-12-15). "UFC Milwaukee Results: Zak Ottow Wins Split Decision Against Dwight Grant In Fight Light On Action". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2018-12-16.
- ^ Marcel Dorff (2 February 2019). "Welterweightclash tussen Alex Morono en Zak Ottow tijdens UFC Wichita" (in Dutch). Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- ^ Hiergesell, Dan (2019-03-09). "UFC Wichita Highlights! Morono Scores Vicious TKO Finish Over Ottow". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
- ^ "UFC roster update: Zak Ottow, Kurt Holobaugh among 10 released; one fighter announces retirement". MMA Junkie. 2019-12-19. Retrieved 2019-12-20.
- ^ "Caged Aggression 29: Determination Day 1 | MMA Event". Tapology. Retrieved 2021-08-07.
- ^ "North Iowa Fights | MMA Event". Tapology. Retrieved 2021-08-07.
- ^ "Zak Ottow vs. Derek Smith, A-Town Throwdown 17 | MMA Bout". Tapology. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
- ^ "14 former UFC fighters booked for XMMA 4 card in New Orleans". MMA Junkie. 2022-03-11. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
- ^ "XMMA 4 video results, full replay: John Dodson tops Francisco Rivera; Jared Gooden and Kyle Stewart thrive". MMA Junkie. 2022-04-03. Retrieved 2022-04-03.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Zak". Sherdog. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
External links
[edit]Zak Ottow
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Background
Early life
Zak Ottow was born on December 22, 1986, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[3] Ottow grew up in Milwaukee with one older biological brother and two older stepbrothers.[9] Ottow attended Wisconsin Lutheran High School, where he trained in wrestling and football, earning All-State selection in the latter.[9][10] This background in wrestling provided his initial exposure to combat techniques and physical conditioning, sparking a curiosity that would later lead him toward formal martial arts training.[10]Education and pre-MMA career
Ottow attended the United States Air Force Academy for two years before transferring to the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, where he earned a bachelor's degree in kinesiology.[11][12][13][9] During his time at UW-Milwaukee, he discovered Brazilian jiu-jitsu through a course taught by Henry Matamoros, Wisconsin's first BJJ black belt, which sparked his interest in martial arts.[13] Ottow's martial arts training began with Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Matamoros, eventually earning him black belt status, and incorporated wrestling to develop his grappling foundation.[7][12] He trained at Pura Vida BJJ in Milwaukee, where he later became an owner and instructor after Matamoros relocated in 2012.[13] Prior to committing to MMA, Ottow held early jobs including a one-year stint as an assistant to stock brokers on Wall Street, which he left due to its high stress and long hours.[11] Opting against pursuing medical school, he instead dedicated himself fully to fighting, even living in a small side room at his gym in Milwaukee to focus on training.[12]Mixed martial arts career
Amateur career
Zak Ottow began his amateur mixed martial arts career in 2010 with a loss in his debut bout against Clint Blackburn, which served as an early learning experience despite the setback.[14] He quickly rebounded, compiling a six-fight winning streak that built his confidence and honed his skills before turning professional. This amateur run, resulting in an overall record of 6-1, emphasized his developing grappling abilities through several submission victories.[14][6] Among his key amateur bouts, Ottow secured a second-round submission via choke against Kyle Schlise at XFO 38 in January 2011, demonstrating his ground control early on.[15] Later that year, at Shamrock Showdown 2 in March 2011, he earned a first-round verbal submission over James "Mad Dog" Johnson, further showcasing his submission prowess in close-range exchanges.[16] In February 2012, Ottow submitted DeSean Jenkins during a North American Fighting Championship event, capping his amateur tenure with a finish that highlighted his transition toward professional readiness.[6] During this period, Ottow trained at local Milwaukee gyms, including Pura Vida BJJ & MMA, which he co-founded with Jake Klipp in 2010 as a blue belt, and Roufusport, where he benefited from high-level coaching to refine his technique.[14][7] His background in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and wrestling provided a strong foundation for these amateur successes. Motivated by this streak and his growing proficiency, Ottow turned professional in 2012 to pursue higher-level competition.[14]Pre-UFC professional career
Zak Ottow transitioned to professional mixed martial arts in 2012, following a successful amateur career that provided a strong foundation in grappling and striking. His pro debut occurred on May 4, 2012, at NAFC: Colosseum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he faced Mike Rhodes and suffered a unanimous decision loss after three rounds.[3] This setback did not deter him, as he quickly rebounded with a series of victories in regional promotions, primarily in the welterweight division. Ottow's early professional wins showcased his submission prowess, particularly his affinity for chokes. On February 16, 2013, at King of the Cage: New Vision, he defeated Jim Klimczyk via first-round submission (punches) at 4:37.[3] He followed this with a second-round choke submission over Ricky Stettner on March 29, 2013, at NAFC: Battleground.[3] A first-round TKO (punches) against Jesse Midas came on April 27, 2013, under Driller Promotions/SEG.[3] One of his standout performances was at RFA 8: Pettis vs. Pegg on June 21, 2013, where he submitted Matt Gauthier with an arm-triangle choke in the first round at 3:07, earning recognition in the rising Regional Fighting Alliance promotion.[3] Later that year, on July 27 at KOTC: Train Wreck, Ottow secured a rear-naked choke victory over Eddie Larrea in the first round (2:45), and on September 28 at NAFC: Battle in the Ballroom, he again tapped Quinton McCottrell with a rear-naked choke in the second round (1:05).[3] Despite building momentum, Ottow encountered challenges in 2014 and 2015. He lost via second-round TKO (punches) to Zachary Micklewright on March 15, 2014, at Caged Aggression 12: Night Two.[3] However, he responded with a second-round arm-triangle choke against Nathan Howe at RFA 19: Checco vs. Collier on October 10, 2014, at 0:54.[3] A rematch with Eddie Larrea at KOTC: Beastmaster on December 6, 2014, ended in a first-round arm-triangle choke win at 1:53.[3] On February 21, 2015, at KOTC: Public Enemy, he notched a first-round TKO over Robbie Gotreau at 4:27.[3] His second loss came against seasoned grappler Jacob Volkmann on July 17, 2015, at LFC 43, via first-round technical submission (brabo choke) at 4:55.[3] Ottow closed out his pre-UFC run on a high note with four straight submission victories in 2015 and 2016, demonstrating resilience and skill refinement across KOTC and other circuits. On October 17, 2015, at KOTC: Title at the Torch, he submitted Richard Wolfe with a guillotine choke in the first round (1:33).[3] This was followed by a dominant 26-second rear-naked choke win over Jay Ellis on March 5, 2016, at KOTC: Shattered.[3] He then tapped Frank Schuman via guillotine in the third round (3:23) at KOTC: Total Devastation on April 23, 2016, and rounded out his regional tenure with a unanimous decision victory over Craig Eckelberg on June 11, 2016, at Pure FC 4.[3] By the time he earned his UFC contract, Ottow had compiled a 13-3 professional record, with 10 of his wins coming by submission, highlighting his ground control and finishing ability in promotions like NAFC, RFA, and KOTC.[3]UFC career
Ottow made his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut on short notice on October 1, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 96 in Portland, Oregon, defeating veteran Josh Burkman via split decision after three rounds.[4] This victory marked the beginning of his welterweight tenure in the promotion, where he would compete internationally across multiple continents.[3] Less than two months later, Ottow faced Sergio Moraes on November 19, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 100 in São Paulo, Brazil, dropping a close split decision loss in his first defeat inside the Octagon.[4] He rebounded on June 10, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 110 in Singapore, edging out Kiichi Kunimoto by split decision in a hard-fought bout that showcased his grappling prowess.[4] However, Ottow suffered a quick setback on November 25, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 122 in Shanghai, China, where he was stopped by Jingliang Li via TKO (punches) at 2:57 of the first round.[4] In 2018, Ottow secured a highlight-reel win on March 3 at UFC 222 in Las Vegas, Nevada, stopping longtime veteran Mike Pyle with punches at 2:34 of the opening round for his first UFC finish.[4] His momentum halted abruptly on July 14 at UFC Fight Night 133 in Boise, Idaho, as rising prospect Sage Northcutt knocked him out with punches in the second round at 3:13.[4] Ottow returned on December 15 at UFC on Fox 31 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin—his hometown—defeating Dwight Grant by split decision in a controversial matchup.[4] Ottow's final UFC appearance came on March 9, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 146 in St. Louis, Missouri, where he lost to Alex Morono via TKO (elbows) at 3:34 of the first round.[4] Over eight Octagon bouts, he compiled a 4-4 record, alternating wins and losses while gaining exposure on the global stage. Following this inconsistent run, the UFC released Ottow on December 19, 2019, as part of a roster cleanup that included several other fighters.[17]Post-UFC career
Following his release from the Ultimate Fighting Championship in 2019, Zak Ottow returned to regional promotions, competing in four bouts between 2020 and 2022 that resulted in an overall 3-1 record.[3] Ottow's first post-UFC fight occurred on November 20, 2020, against Clarence Jordan at Caged Aggression 29: Determination - Day 1 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he secured a submission victory via armbar in the second round.[3] His next outing was on July 31, 2021, facing Jarome Hatch at North Iowa Fights: Hatch vs. Ottow in Mason City, Iowa; Ottow won by unanimous decision after three rounds.[3] Continuing his regional campaign, Ottow defeated Derek Smith via guillotine choke submission in the first round on January 15, 2022, at Ignite Fights: A-Town Throwdown 17 in Austin, Minnesota.[3] This marked two of his three post-UFC wins by grappling submission, highlighting his Brazilian jiu-jitsu background.[3] Ottow's final professional bout took place on April 2, 2022, against Kyle Stewart at XMMA 4: Black Magic in New Orleans, Louisiana, ending in a unanimous decision loss after three rounds.[3] With no recorded fights since that date as of November 2025, Ottow appears to have retired from mixed martial arts.[6]Fighting style and achievements
Fighting style
Zak Ottow is primarily known as a grappler, holding a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Henry Matamoros at Pura Vida BJJ. Approximately 60% of his professional wins (12 out of 20) have come via submission, showcasing his proficiency in techniques such as the guillotine choke, arm-triangle choke, and rear-naked choke.[3][18] He employs an orthodox stance at 5 feet 11 inches tall with a 72-inch reach, leveraging a wrestling foundation to secure takedowns and maintain dominant ground control positions.[4][1][19] While striking serves as a secondary aspect of his game, Ottow has secured 15% of his victories (3 out of 20) by knockout or TKO, often transitioning from clinch work or ground-and-pound opportunities rather than pure stand-up exchanges.[3] His UFC striking accuracy stands at 37%, reflecting a pragmatic approach that prioritizes setups for grappling entries over volume punching.[1] Over the course of his career, Ottow's style has evolved from an early emphasis on quick submission finishes in regional bouts to greater reliance on decision outcomes during his UFC tenure, where he demonstrated improved endurance and strategic pacing in five-round preparations.[3] This adaptation allowed him to grind out split-decision wins against durable opponents, balancing his grappling dominance with sustained pressure.[19]Championships and accomplishments
Zak Ottow holds a professional mixed martial arts record of 20 wins and 8 losses across 28 bouts, with 12 of his victories coming by submission.[3][6] He competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) eight times between 2016 and 2019, posting a 4–4 record in the welterweight division.[3] Among his notable UFC victories was a first-round technical knockout of Mike Pyle at UFC 222 in 2018, which served as Pyle's announced retirement bout after 42 professional fights.[20] Prior to his UFC tenure, Ottow built a strong regional record in promotions such as King of the Cage and Legacy Fighting Championship, entering the promotion with 14 wins against 3 losses.[6][3] In Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Ottow earned his black belt under Henry Matamoros at Pura Vida BJJ in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[7]Personal life
Family and relationships
Zak Ottow was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he has maintained deep ties to his local community throughout his life. He has an older brother named Nick, who has provided personal support and involvement in aspects of his life beyond the octagon.[14][11] Ottow is married to Jamie Ottow, though details about their relationship remain private.[21][22] Public information on Ottow's immediate family is limited, underscoring his emphasis on privacy in personal matters away from his professional career. His family offered key support during his UFC tenure, including attending his hometown fight at UFC on FOX 31 in Milwaukee. Following his last professional fight in April 2022, Ottow has continued to reside in Milwaukee, nurturing his family life while staying connected to his roots in the community.Business and coaching endeavors
Following his professional fighting career, Zak Ottow co-owns Pura Vida BJJ & MMA, a gym in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which he joined as a co-owner with Jake Klipp in 2012 after the departure of a previous partner.[13] The facility offers training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, mixed martial arts, and related disciplines, serving a range of participants from beginners to competitive athletes.[23] As head coach at Pura Vida, Ottow instructs classes and provides personalized guidance, drawing on his experience as a UFC veteran and Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt to mentor both local amateurs and professional fighters.[24][7] He emphasizes practical insights from his career to help students avoid common pitfalls, while incorporating techniques learned from training with elite teams during his competitive years.[7] Ottow also co-owns Pure Fighting Championships (PFC), a regional MMA promotion that has hosted events in Wisconsin since around 2016, often featuring fighters from Pura Vida and other local gyms.[25][26] As co-promoter, he contributes to event organization and fighter matchmaking, supporting the growth of the Midwest MMA scene.[26] After his final professional MMA bout in April 2022—a unanimous decision loss to Kyle Stewart at XMMA 4—Ottow shifted to full-time coaching at Pura Vida, where no further fights are recorded as of 2025.[1] This transition allows him to focus on athlete development, leveraging his bachelor's degree in kinesiology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to inform training programs on injury prevention and performance optimization.[27]Records and statistics
Professional MMA record
Zak Ottow compiled a professional MMA record of 20 wins and 8 losses across 28 bouts from 2012 to 2022.[3] The following table details his complete professional fight history, listed chronologically from his debut to his most recent bout, including results, methods, rounds, times, and events.| Date | Opponent | Result | Method | Round | Time | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 04, 2012 | Mike Rhodes | Loss | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | NAFC - Colosseum |
| Feb 16, 2013 | Jim Klimczyk | Win | Submission (Punches) | 1 | 4:37 | KOTC - New Vision |
| Mar 29, 2013 | Ricky Stettner | Win | Submission (Choke) | 2 | 2:27 | NAFC - Battleground |
| Apr 27, 2013 | Jesse Midas | Win | TKO (Punches) | 1 | 4:00 | Driller Promotions / SEG - Caged Chaos 2 |
| Jun 21, 2013 | Matt Gauthier | Win | Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) | 1 | 3:07 | RFA 8 - Pettis vs. Pegg |
| Jul 27, 2013 | Eddie Larrea | Win | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 1 | 2:45 | KOTC - Train Wreck |
| Sep 28, 2013 | Quinton McCottrell | Win | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 2 | 1:05 | NAFC - Battle in the Ballroom |
| Mar 15, 2014 | Zachary Micklewright | Loss | TKO (Punches) | 2 | 1:04 | Caged Aggression 12 - Night Two |
| Oct 10, 2014 | Nathan Howe | Win | Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) | 2 | 0:54 | RFA 19 - Checco vs. Collier |
| Dec 06, 2014 | Eddie Larrea | Win | Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) | 1 | 1:53 | KOTC - Beastmaster |
| Feb 21, 2015 | Robbie Gotreau | Win | TKO | 1 | 4:27 | KOTC - Public Enemy |
| Jul 17, 2015 | Jacob Volkmann | Loss | Technical Submission (Brabo Choke) | 1 | 4:55 | LFC 43 - Legacy Fighting Championship 43 |
| Oct 17, 2015 | Richard Wolfe | Win | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | 1 | 1:33 | KOTC - Title at the Torch |
| Mar 05, 2016 | Jay Ellis | Win | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 1 | 0:26 | KOTC - Shattered |
| Apr 23, 2016 | Frank Schuman | Win | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | 3 | 3:23 | KOTC - Total Devastation |
| Jun 11, 2016 | Craig Eckelberg | Win | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | Pure FC 4 - Ottow vs. Eckelberg |
| Oct 01, 2016 | Joshua Burkman | Win | Decision (Split) | 3 | 5:00 | UFC Fight Night 96 - Lineker vs. Dodson |
| Nov 19, 2016 | Sergio Moraes | Loss | Decision (Split) | 3 | 5:00 | UFC Fight Night 100 - Bader vs. Nogueira 2 |
| Jun 10, 2017 | Kiichi Kunimoto | Win | Decision (Split) | 3 | 5:00 | UFC Fight Night 110 - Hunt vs. Lewis |
| Nov 25, 2017 | Jingliang Li | Loss | TKO (Punches) | 1 | 2:57 | UFC Fight Night 122 - Bisping vs. Gastelum |
| Mar 03, 2018 | Mike Pyle | Win | TKO (Punches) | 1 | 2:34 | UFC 222 - Cyborg vs. Kunitskaya |
| Jul 14, 2018 | Sage Northcutt | Loss | KO (Punches) | 2 | 3:13 | UFC Fight Night 133 - Dos Santos vs. Ivanov |
| Dec 15, 2018 | Dwight Grant | Win | Decision (Split) | 3 | 5:00 | UFC on Fox 31 - Iaquinta vs. Lee 2 |
| Mar 09, 2019 | Alex Morono | Loss | TKO (Submission to Elbows) | 1 | 3:34 | UFC Fight Night 146 - Lewis vs. Dos Santos |
| Nov 20, 2020 | Clarence Jordan | Win | Submission (Armbar) | 2 | 2:37 | Caged Aggression 29 - Determination: Day 1 |
| Jul 31, 2021 | Jarome Hatch | Win | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | North Iowa Fights - Hatch vs. Ottow |
| Jan 15, 2022 | Derek Smith | Win | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | 1 | 2:59 | Ignite Fights - A-Town Throwdown 17 |
| Apr 02, 2022 | Kyle Stewart | Loss | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | XMMA 4 - Black Magic |