{{short description|American mixed martial arts fighter}} {{Use American English|date=February 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox martial artist | name = Justin Levens | other_names = The Executioner | image = | image_size = 200px | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date|1980|4|18}} | birth_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | death_date = {{death date and age|2008|12|17|1980|4|18}} | death_place = Laguna Niguel, California, United States | death_cause = | residence = | height = {{height|ft=5|in=10}} | weight = {{convert|185|lb|kg st|abbr=on}} | weight_class = Light Heavyweight<br>Middleweight | reach = | style = | stance = Orthodox | fighting_out_of = Newport Beach, California, United States | team = CSW Training Center | rank = Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Marco Ruas | years_active = 2004-2007 | mma_kowin = 7 | mma_subwin = 2 | mma_decwin = | mma_koloss = 4 | mma_subloss = 2 | mma_decloss = 2 | mma_draw = | mma_nc = | url = | sherdog = 10226 | footnotes = | updated = }} '''Justin Robert Levens''' (April 18, 1980 – December 17, 2008) was an American mixed martial artist. A professional competitor from 2004 until 2007, he competed for the UFC, the WEC, the Palace Fighting Championship, and for the Southern California Condors of the IFL.
Levens and his wife died from gunshot wounds in mid-December 2008. The incident is a murder-suicide, according to law enforcement officials.
==Background== Levens grew up poor in the Philadelphia housing projects, as a child with ADHD, and was on his own from age 15.<ref name=latimes1>{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-mma19-2008dec19,0,3276564.story|title=Justin Levens' death may have been part of a murder-suicide|last1=Pugmire |first1=Lance|first2=Susannah |last2=Rosenblatt |date=December 18, 2008 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times|accessdate=2008-12-19}}</ref> After his parents divorced when Levens was four, he eventually moved to Newport Beach, California, where he learned to channel his aggressive energy from into organized fighting. Levens was also a talented baseball player at Capistrano Valley High School, continuing his career briefly in minor league baseball, and also joined the Navy for a few years before returning to train in martial arts and MMA.<ref name="Vice.com">{{Cite web|url=http://fightland.vice.com/blog/messed-up-and-crazy-the-sad-tale-of-justin-levens-part-1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130906060344/http://fightland.vice.com/blog/messed-up-and-crazy-the-sad-tale-of-justin-levens-part-1|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 6, 2013|title=Fightland}}</ref> Levens began training at Marco Ruas' Vale Tudo academy in Orange County.
==Mixed martial arts career== Levens fought from 2004 to 2008, taking the nickname "The Executioner". Levens' first fight was a victory against Hector Carrilo in 2004. He had a string of wins after the Carrilo fight for almost two years.
After his seventh win, he lost to Scott Smith in January 2006.<ref name=BTV>{{cite web|url=http://www.buddytv.com/articles/ufc/ufc-justin-levens-and-wife-fou-25327.aspx|title=UFC: Justin Levens and Wife Found Dead|last=De Leon|first=Kris |date=December 18, 2008|publisher=BuddyTV|accessdate=2008-12-18}}</ref> After his loss to Smith, Levens was called in by the UFC to fight former UFC Middleweight Champion Evan Tanner, replacing an injured Jeremy Horn on short notice. He lost the fight in the first round by triangle choke submission. Levens next faced prospect Jorge Santiago at UFC Fight Night 6. He lost the fight after getting caught by a knee in the first round. After two straight losses he was cut from the UFC roster. Levens had a declining record for the remainder of his career, interspersed with a pair of back-to-back victories against Justin Hawes and Brian Warren and 5 straight losses, 3 of which were against future UFC fighters.
Levens' last fight was scheduled for July 2008, but did not occur due to time constraints that led to scheduling issues. He tested positive for oxymorphone before the fight and was suspended until January 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mmafighting.com/news/2008/12/18/justin-levens-and-wife-found-dead |title=Justin Levens and wife found dead |date=December 18, 2008 |publisher=MMAFighting.com |accessdate=2008-12-18 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123220226/http://www.mmafighting.com/news/2008/12/18/justin-levens-and-wife-found-dead |archivedate=January 23, 2009 }}</ref> Friend Tom Atencio said Levens was troubled by his declining career.<ref name=latimes1 />
==Personal life== Kimbo Luzano, another friend, said Levens may have been depressed about not being able to fight and money issues, as well as troubled by the suicide of fellow MMA fighter and friend Jeremy Williams.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/levens-fighting-fight-2260165-martial-guy|title=Martial arts fighter was to be in court day he was found dead|last1=Jolly|first1=Vik|first2=Alejandra |last2=Molina |first3=Chris |last3=Caesar |first4=Lois |last4=Evezich |date=December 18, 2008|newspaper=The Orange County Register|accessdate=2008-12-19}}</ref>
In 2003, Levens was involved in a domestic violence case, and was involved in an assault case over a man who allegedly owed Levens' wife, Sara McLean-Levens, 200 dollars in 2005.<ref name="Vice.com"/>
On December 17, 2008, Levens and his wife, Sara, 25, were both found dead in their home in Laguna Niguel, California. Both had died of gunshot wounds; in Levens' case, to his head.<ref name=latimes1 /> The police are investigating the deaths as a possible murder-suicide.<ref name=latimes2>{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-laguna-niguel-deaths19-2008dec19,0,228899.story |title=Murder-suicide suspected in death of UFC fighter Justin Levens, wife |last=Rosenblatt |first=Susannah |date=December 18, 2008 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |accessdate=2008-12-18 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219085931/http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-laguna-niguel-deaths19-2008dec19%2C0%2C228899.story |archivedate=December 19, 2008 }}</ref> No suicide note was found,<ref name=latimes2 /> but a handgun was found close to Leven's body.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081218/mma-fighter-justin-levens-may-shooter-murder-suicide.htm |title=MMA fighter Levens may have shot wife in murder-suicide |last=Patton |first=Vernon |date=December 18, 2008 |newspaper=International Business Times |accessdate=2008-12-18 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107125025/http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081218/mma-fighter-justin-levens-may-shooter-murder-suicide.htm |archivedate=January 7, 2009 }}</ref> There were no signs of a struggle.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/12/18/bodies.found/|title=Martial arts fighter, wife found dead|date=December 18, 2008|publisher=CNN.com|accessdate=2008-12-18}}</ref>
==Mixed martial arts record== {{MMArecordbox | draws= | nc= | ko-wins= 7 | ko-losses= 4 | sub-wins= 2 | sub-losses= 2 | dec-wins= | dec-losses= 2 | dq-wins= | dq-losses= | other-wins= | other-losses= }} {{MMA record start}} |- | {{no2}}Loss | align=center| 9–8 | Kenny Ento | Submission (triangle choke) | Palace Fighting Championship 4: Project Complete | {{dts|2007|October|18}} | align=center| 1 | align=center| 2:15 | Lemoore, California, United States | |- | {{no2}}Loss | align=center| 9–7 | Nate James | Decision (unanimous) | IFO: Wiuff vs. Salmon | {{dts|2007|September|01}} | align=center| 3 | align=center| 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- | {{no2}}Loss | align=center| 9–6 | Brian Foster | TKO (punches) | IFL: Chicago | {{dts|2007|May|19}} | align=center| 1 | align=center| 1:17 | Chicago, Illinois, United States |<small>Return to Middleweight.</small> |- | {{no2}}Loss | align=center| 9–5 | Vladimir Matyushenko | TKO (strikes) | IFL: Los Angeles | {{dts|2007|March|17}} | align=center| 1 | align=center| 3:53 | Los Angeles, California, United States |<small>Light Heavyweight bout.</small> |- | {{no2}}Loss | align=center| 9–4 | Reese Andy | Decision (unanimous) | IFL: Oakland | {{dts|2007|January|19}} | align=center| 3 | align=center| 4:00 | Oakland, California, United States |<small>Light Heavyweight bout.</small> |- | {{yes2}}Win | align=center| 9–3 | Brian Warren | Technical Submission (triangle choke) | Beatdown in Bakersfield | {{dts|2006|November|17}} | align=center| 1 | align=center| 2:53 | Bakersfield, California, United States | |- | {{yes2}}Win | align=center| 8–3 | Justin Hawes | TKO (strikes) | WEC 24: Full Force | {{dts|2006|October|12}} | align=center| 1 | align=center| 1:28 | Lemoore, California, United States |<small>Catchweight (198 lbs) bout.</small> |- | {{no2}}Loss | align=center| 7–3 | Jorge Santiago | KO (knee) | UFC Fight Night 5 | {{dts|2006|June|28}} | align=center| 1 | align=center| 2:13 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- | {{no2}}Loss | align=center| 7–2 | Evan Tanner | Submission (triangle choke) | UFC 59: Reality Check | {{dts|2006|April|15}} | align=center| 1 | align=center| 3:14 | Anaheim, California, United States |<small>Middleweight debut.</small> |- | {{no2}}Loss | align=center| 7–1 | Scott Smith | KO (punches) | WEC 18: Unfinished Business | {{dts|2006|January|13}} | align=center| 1 | align=center| 1:58 | Lemoore, California, United States | <small>For the WEC Light Heavyweight Championship.</small> |- | {{yes2}}Win | align=center| 7–0 | Jorge Oliveira | KO (slam) | WEC 17 | {{dts|2005|October|14}} | align=center| 1 | | Lemoore, California, United States | |- | {{yes2}}Win | align=center| 6–0 | Tony Lopez | Submission (rear naked choke) | WEC 15 | {{dts|2005|May|19}} | align=center| 1 | align=center| 3:46 | Lemoore, California, United States | |- | {{yes2}}Win | align=center| 5–0 | Tosh Cook | Submission (triangle choke) | Cold Fury 35 | {{dts|2005|March|13}} | align=center| 1 | align=center| 3:56 | Porterville, California, United States | |- | {{yes2}}Win | align=center| 4–0 | Eber Saulido | TKO | Total Combat 7 | {{dts|2005|January|29}} | align=center| 1 | | Tijuana, Mexico | |- | {{yes2}}Win | align=center| 3–0 | Mitch Nester | TKO | Gladiator Challenge 33 | {{dts|2004|December|12}} | align=center| 1 | align=center| 1:02 | Porterville, California, United States | |- | {{yes2}}Win | align=center| 2–0 | Jeff Dowmam | KO (kick) | Gladiator Challenge 28 | {{dts|2004|June|22}} | align=center| 1 | align=center| 0:09 | Porterville, California, United States | |- | {{yes2}}Win | align=center| 1–0 | Hector Carrilo | TKO | Total Combat 3 | {{dts|2004|May|30}} | align=center| 1 | align=center| 2:00 | Tijuana, Mexico | {{end}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==Further reading== * {{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=6490115|title= Mixed Martial Arts Fighter, Wife Found Dead in Bed |last=Netter|first=Sarah|date=December 18, 2008|publisher=ABC News}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120212040618/http://www.combatlifestyle.com/pics/view_album.php?id=1436 Archived Justin Levens Photo Remembrance Album] * {{Sherdog}} * {{UFC|justin-levens}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Levens, Justin}} Category:1980 births Category:2008 deaths Category:American male mixed martial artists Category:Mixed martial artists from Pennsylvania Category:Light heavyweight mixed martial artists Category:Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu Category:Deaths by firearm in California Category:Murder–suicides in California Category:Sportspeople from Laguna Niguel, California Category:Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters Category:American practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu Category:People awarded a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu Category:People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder