Marvin Eastman

Background

Marvin Eastman was born and raised in Merced, California, where he grew up wrestling and playing American football. Eastman began wrestling with his older brother's junior varsity team at an early age, going on to dominate for the Merced High School wrestling team, going undefeated (42-0) in his senior year and winning the California State Wrestling Championship at the 86.6 kilogram/191 pound weight-class. Eastman then continued in college for the now-defunct Merced College team, where he was a two-time NJCAA All-American, in his two years at the school. He was then offered a full scholarship to play football for the University of Washington but ultimately decided to sign with University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he excelled in two seasons as a running back and fullback for the Running Rebels, and then tried out, but was cut, from the Calgary Stampeders. Eastman then decided that he wanted to challenge himself in the rising world of mixed martial arts, and began training in Muay Thai.

Career

Eastman made his MMA debut with King of the Cage in June 2000. He won three straight, including his debut over future UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, before losing to Vernon White.

Following his loss to White, Eastman fought future UFC Middleweight Champion Rich Franklin at the World Fighting Alliance's first event, Franklin won by armbar in the first round. Eastman rebounded in the next two WFA events with wins over Alex Stiebling and Tommy Sauer. On August 17, 2002, he caused an upset by defeating four-time world champion Duke Roufus in his first foray into K-1 kickboxing on the K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 in Las Vegas undercard. Roufus was dominant for the first two rounds although Eastman did score a flash knockdown when he caught a low kick and countered with a right cross in the second. Then, in the third and final round, Eastman completed the comeback, landing two knees to Roufus' body and putting him away for good.

Eastman made his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut at UFC 43 against another future UFC Light Heavyweight titlist Vitor Belfort, Belfort delivered a knee to Eastman's forehead that dropped him resulting in quite possibly the largest cut in recorded mixed martial art history, thus losing via technical knockout due to strikes in just 1 minute 7 seconds of the very first round. He then returned to King of the Cage to defeat Vernon White via unanimous decision in a rematch. He also made a return to K-1 and competed in the K-1 World Grand Prix 2004 in Las Vegas I tournament on April 30, 2004. Against Michael McDonald in the quarter-finals, he dropped the Canadian in round one but was then floored three times himself in round two to lose by TKO. In his third and final outing in the promotion, Eastman fought Ray Sefo in a non-tournament bout at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2004 in Las Vegas II on August 7, 2004. Both men traded heavy leather early on and Eastman took a time out after being poked in the eye by Sefo's toes during a high kick attempt. Immediately following the restart, Sefo swarmed on Eastman and forced the referee to call off the fight. The crowd in attendance booed the stoppage and Eastman himself protested, apparently seeing Sefo's quick attack as sucker punching. Both fighters traded verbal insults and Eastman then attacked Sefo only to be punched to the canvas. As both sets of cornermen got caught up in the ruckus, Nevada Athletic Commission officials were needed to break up the brawl.

Late in 2004, Eastman was given another shot in the UFC against Travis Lutter at UFC 50. After a fairly uneventful first round, Lutter caught Eastman with an overhand right, knocking Eastman out cold 43 seconds into the second round. Shortly after his second UFC defeat, Eastman lost a split decision to Jason Lambert at KOTC's Mortal Sin event. He then went 6–1 in smaller shows, with victories over fighters such as Jason MacDonald, Alan Belcher, and Jason Guida in a rematch.

In 2006, Eastman became the Elite Fighting Championships (EFC) Light Heavyweight Champion with a majority decision win over UFC and PRIDE veteran Travis Wiuff. On July 22, 2006, the WFA reemerged with King of Streets featuring Quinton Jackson, Matt Lindland, Bas Rutten, and Lyoto Machida, among others. Eastman fought to a draw against Jorge Oliviera.

Eastman made his third appearance in the UFC at UFC 67, losing a hard fought rematch with Quinton Jackson by knockout in the second round. Eastman won a unanimous decision over Rob Kimmons at IFO: Eastman vs. Kimmons, claiming the IFO's middleweight title. He returned to the Ultimate Fighting Championship at UFC 81 on February 2, 2008, defeating "Dangerous" Terry Martin in a dominant unanimous decision.

At The Ultimate Fighter 7 Finale, Eastman was defeated by Drew McFedries in the first round via knockout. In October 2008, Eastman lost to PRIDE and Spirit MC veteran Denis Kang by knockout 48 seconds into the opening round. Eastman was set to fight PRIDE veteran Ricardo Arona in late December but pulled out of the fight due to a knee injury suffered during training. Eastman defeated Aaron Lofton at MFC 21, winning by technical knockout. Eastman lost to Ricardo Arona by unanimous decision in the long-awaited fight at Bitetti Combat MMA 4.

A month after his loss to Arona, Eastman fought up and coming Canadian prospect Ryan Jimmo at MFC 22 on October 2. Twenty six seconds into the round, Eastman dropped and almost finished Jimmo with a straight right hand and hammer fist afterward but Jimmo weathered the storm and was able to out strike Eastman for the remainder of the round. In the second round Jimmo kept Eastman at bay with punches and kicks, midway through the second round Jimmo landed an elbow from the clinch that opened a significant gash under Eastman's left eye; the doctor checked on Eastman and let him continue. With only thirty seconds remaining in the second round Eastman was wobbled by a short uppercut from Jimmo but was able to clinch with the Canadian and survive the round. In the final round Eastman was able to land more clean strikes than he did in the first two rounds, Eastman also managed to take Jimmo down twice; seconds before the final bell Jimmo sent Eastman crashing to the mat with a stiff jab. Jimmo defeated Eastman by split decision. As a result, Eastman had lost five out of his last eight bouts.

Eastman faced former professional boxer Dwayne Lewis at MFC 23 on December 4, 2009. Lewis was the aggressor in the fight continually attacking Eastman with punch combinations to the head and body. With only two seconds left in the round, Lewis connected with an uppercut directly to the chin that sent "The Beastman" pummeling to the mat and followed up with three clean shots to the chin of an unconscious Eastman before the referee could pull him off the unconscious Eastman thus giving Lewis the KO win at 4:58 of the first round. Next he fought Steve Bossé, the only significant action in the fight took place in the 1st round where Bossé knocked Eastman down with a left hook. Eastman lost the mediocre bout by unanimous decision. Eastman had lost 8 out of his last 14 fights.

He then faced Api Hemara, winning by TKO in the third round and snapping his four fight losing streak but soon lost his next fight he was KO'd by Glover Teixeira. Eastman faced Dmitry Zabolotny at Lou Neglia's Ring of Combat XL in Atlantic City, New Jersey on April 27, 2012, he won the fight via unanimous decision.

Making his return to Muay Thai, Eastman was initially set to fight Ricardo van den Bos for the vacant WPMF World Super Heavyweight (+95.454 kg/210.4 lb) Championship at Muaythai Superfight in Pattaya, Thailand on May 13, 2013. The event was pushed back to June 14, 2013, however, and he lost by TKO midway through the second round.

On September 28, 2013 Eastman faced Sean O'Connell at SHOWDOWN FIGHTS: XII Buchholz vs. Collard II. Eastman lost via unanimous decision.

Personal life

Aside from his fighting career, Eastman also works as a corrections officer in Las Vegas.

Amateur wrestling

Mixed martial arts

Submission grappling