Travis Kuualiialoha Browne (born July 17, 1982) is an American retired mixed martial artist who last competed as a Heavyweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
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Background
Browne was born in Hawaii to a father with Native Hawaiian ancestry and a European American mother. He played basketball and won the 2000 Coastal North League Player of the Year while attending high school in San Diego and then continued his career at Palomar College. Browne had no martial arts experience before being introduced to Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the age of 26. Browne also began training in boxing and had his first professional fight less than a year later.
Mixed martial arts career
Browne began his professional MMA career in 2009, fighting in smaller organizations such as Bellator Fighting Championships, Gladiator Challenge, and King of the Cage. He quickly amassed an undefeated winning streak of 9–0.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
In March 2010, Browne signed with the UFC. He made his debut at The Ultimate Fighter: Team Liddell vs. Team Ortiz Finale against James McSweeney. Browne won the fight via TKO at 4:32 of the first round.
Browne fought UFC veteran Cheick Kongo at UFC 120. The fight was even heading into the third round, with Browne winning the first round on the judge's scorecards and Kongo taking the second. In the third and final round, Kongo was penalized with a point deduction for repeatedly grabbing and holding Browne's shorts and the fight, therefore, resulted in a somewhat controversial draw.
Browne faced Stefan Struve on May 28, 2011, at UFC 130. He won the fight via superman punch KO in the first round, earning a "Knockout of the Night" bonus in the process.
Browne faced Rob Broughton on September 24, 2011, at UFC 135 where he won by unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, and 30–27).
Browne agreed to fight UFC newcomer Chad Griggs on April 21, 2012, at UFC 145. He defeated Griggs by submission due to an arm-triangle choke in the first round. The performance earned Browne Submission of the Night honors.
Browne was expected to fight Ben Rothwell at UFC on FOX 4 on August 4, 2012, in Los Angeles, California. However, Rothwell was forced to pull out of the fight due to injury.
Browne faced Antônio Silva on October 5, 2012, at the main event of UFC on FX 5. Browne came out aggressive, showing a variety of striking techniques. Browne strained his left hamstring throwing a flashy kick. Silva was able to capitalize, backing Browne up, landing a big right hand, and finishing with punches from the top, giving Browne his first professional loss. A camera crew from Vice Media followed and interviewed Browne before and after the fight with Silva.
Browne faced Gabriel Gonzaga on April 13, 2013, at The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale. Browne defeated Gonzaga via first-round knockout by elbows to the side of the head. The performance earned Browne Knockout of the Night honors. The win however was not without controversy as Browne not only held on to the fence to defend a takedown but also connected with illegal 12–6 elbows to the back of the head to Gonzaga. Gonzaga's appeal to the Nevada State Athletic Commission to overturn the fight to a no-contest was denied.
Personal life
Browne has two sons from his first marriage to Erin – Kaleo and Keawe. Browne married Jenna Renee Webb in January 2015. In July 2015, Webb posted Instagram photos showing multiple bruises on her body allegedly caused by Browne and claimed he beat her. As a result, Browne was removed from the UFC's International Fight Week events pending an investigation. On August 28, 2015, the UFC reinstated Browne when their independent investigation found "inconclusive evidence" in the domestic violence inquiry. Following the report, Webb publicly stated she is considering pressing charges. Browne and Webb divorced on February 21, 2016.
Since 2015, Travis Browne has maintained a relationship with former Women's Bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey. On April 20, 2017, Browne and Rousey announced their engagement. Browne proposed to Rousey under a waterfall in New Zealand. The two were married on August 26, 2017, in Hawaii., On April 21, 2021, Browne and Rousey announced on her official YouTube channel that she was four months pregnant. On June 29, 2021, Browne and Rousey announced that they were expecting a girl.
On September 27, 2021, Rousey and Browne announced the birth of their daughter La'akea Makalapuaokalanipō Browne. On July 25, 2024, his wife Ronda Rousey announced that they are expecting their second child. On January 9, 2025, Rousey and Brown announced the birth of their second daughter Liko’ula Pā’ūomahinakaipiha Browne.
Browne's moniker, 'Hapa', is derived from the term in Hawaii for a person who is mixed blood.
Browne attended the 2019 WWE Hall Of Fame ceremony with his wife, Ronda Rousey, who was working with WWE. During the event, a fan rushed the stage and tackled Bret Hart, who was being inducted as a member of the tag team The Hart Foundation. Browne was one of several men who ran onto the stage to help subdue the man. Hart later thanked Browne the next night during WrestleMania 35.
Championships and accomplishments
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Fight of the Night (Two times) vs. Andrei Arlovski and Derrick Lewis
Knockout of the Night (Four times) vs. Stefan Struve, Gabriel Gonzaga, Alistair Overeem and Josh Barnett
Submission of the Night (One time) vs. Chad Griggs
Tied (Mark Hunt & Tom Aspinall) for fourth most Post-Fight bonuses in UFC Heavyweight division history (7)
UFC.com Awards
2013: Ranked #5 Fighter of the Year
2015: Half-Year Awards: Best Fight of the 1HY vs. Andrei Arlovski & Ranked #4 Fight of the Year vs. Andrei Arlovski
Gladiator Challenge
Interim Gladiator Challenge Heavyweight Championship (One time)
Victory Fighting Championship
VFC Heavyweight Championship (One time)
World MMA Awards
2013 Breakthrough Fighter of the Year
2013 Comeback of the Year vs. Alistair Overeem at UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Sonnen
MMA Junkie
2013 Breakthrough Fighter of the Year
2015 May Fight of the Month vs. Andrei Arlovski