For other people named Tuli see TuliTeila Tuli, also known as
Taylor Wiley (born 14 June 1969) is a former
sumo wrestler and
mixed martial artist from
Honolulu,
Hawaii of Samoan descent.
Sumo career
In March 1987, he was recruited by former
sekiwake Takamiyama, another Hawaiian, and joined
Azumazeki stable, which Takamiyama had founded the previous year. He was given the
sumo name of
Takamishu. He was unbeaten in his first 14 official bouts, winning two consecutive
yusho or tournament championships. Weighing nearly , he was one of the largest wrestlers in sumo. In March 1988, he was promoted to the third highest
makushita division, and became the first foreign born wrestler to ever win the championship in that division. In the same month, future
yokozuna Akebono, also from Hawaii, joined Azumazeki stable. As the highest ranking wrestler in the stable, Takamishu was a mentor to Akebono and gave him advice on how to adjust to life in Japan. In March 1989 Takamishu reached his highest ever rank of makushita 2, and even fought two bouts with elite
jūryō ranked wrestlers. However, Takamishu was never to reach
sekitori status himself. He did not compete in the following tournament, and retired from sumo in July 1989.
Sumo record
Ultimate Fighting Championships
After leaving sumo, he competed in the first bout of the
UFC 1 in November 1993, held in
Denver,......
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