Timothy Deane Sylvia (born March 5, 1976) is a retired American mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, professional wrestler, and former two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion. He has competed as a Super Heavyweight and Heavyweight. While perhaps best known for competing in the UFC, Sylvia has also competed for Affliction, the International Fighting Championships (IFC), and ONE FC.
Sylvia was born and raised in Ellsworth, Maine, attending Ellsworth High School and graduating in 1992. He joined a karate school as a child, and began wrestling in high school. After graduation, he worked construction, community gardening, hanging sheet rock, a bouncer, and painting houses. After high school, he played semi-pro football for three years before becoming interested in MMA, and began to train with Marcus Davis, a fellow bouncer. During this time Sylvia decided to take up boxing and grappling. After training for a year, and winning grappling tournaments, he got the opportunity to fight in a Rhode Island no holds barred amateur event, in which he knocked out his opponent in 17 seconds.