Zak Ottow

Ottow was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with an older biological brother and two older stepbrothers.^[7] Ottow started training in wrestling and football – becoming an All-State select in latter – while attending Wisconsin Lutheran High School.^[8] 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.^[5][9]

After his college football career had finished, he began training Brazilian jiu-jitsu and later picking up kickboxing.^[9] Eventually he started mixed martial arts training and started his professional career not long after.^[9] 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.^[5]

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 signed by Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).^[10]

Ottow made his promotional debut on a short notice, replacing Bobby Green against Josh Burkman^[11] on October 1, 2016 at UFC Fight Night: Lineker vs. Dodson.^[12] He won the fight via split decision.^[13]

Ottow faced Sérgio Moraes on November 19, 2016 at UFC Fight Night: Bader vs. Nogueira 2.^[14] Moraes was awarded a split decision victory.^[15]

Ottow next faced Kiichi Kunimoto on June 11, 2017 at UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Hunt.^[16] He won the fight via split decision.^[17]

Ottow faced Li Jingliang on November 25, 2017 at UFC Fight Night: Silva vs. Gastelum.^[18] He lost the fight via TKO in the first round.^[19] After the bout Ottow became a free agent having fought his contract out.^[20]

Ottow then signed a new four-fight contract to face Mike Pyle on short notice on March 3, 2018 at UFC 222.^[21][20] He won the fight by technical knockout in the first round.^[22] Pyle had announced he would retire before the fight.

Ottow faced Sage Northcutt on July 14, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 133.^[23] He lost the fight via knock out in round two.^[24]

Ottow replaced Erik Koch to face promotional newcomer Dwight Grant on December 15, 2018 at UFC on Fox 31.^[25] He won the fight by split decision.^[26]

Ottow faced Alex Morono on March 9, 2019 at UFC on ESPN+ 4.^[27] He lost the fight via a verbal submission due to elbows in the first round.^[28] Having fought out his contract, Ottow became a free agent as the UFC opted not to renew his contract.^[20][29]

Ottow faced Clarence Jordan at Cages Aggression 29 on November 20, 2020. He won the bout via armbar in the second round.^[30]

Ottow faced Jarome Hatch on July 31, 2021 at North Iowa Fights: Hatch vs. Ottow. He won the bout via unanimous decision.^[31]

Ottow faced Derek Smith at A-Town Throwdown 17 on January 15, 2022. He won the bout via guillotine choke in the first round.^[32]

Ottow faced Kyle Stewart on April 2, 2022 at XMMA 4.^[33] He lost the bout via unanimous decision.^[34] This was his last professional MMA match.

Ottow worked as a bartender^[5] and worked in Wall Street for a year^[7] before making his career choice to be a professional fighter.

He owns Pura Vida BJJ & MMA.^[7]

^[35]

• List of current UFC fighters
• List of male mixed martial artists

• Professional MMA record for Zak Ottow from Sherdog
• Zak Ottow at UFC