Cole has wrestled his entire life, from third grade through college. In 2001 he received All-American honors while leading Southern Oregon University to a national championship. While coaching at Southern Oregon University that Cole coached fellow IFL fighter and TUF contestant Mike Whitehead. He credits Whitehead for getting him involved in MMA.
MMA career
On July 9, 2005, Devin began his pro MMA career at the SF11: Rumble on the Rose Garden event, where he defeated South African kickboxer Rico Hattingh by unanimous decision. Cole went on to compile a professional record of 18-8-1 including notable wins over Mike Kyle and Travis Wiuff before signing with Strikeforce.
Strikeforce
Cole made his Strikeforce debut at Strikeforce Challengers: Woodley vs. Saffiedine on January 7, 2011, in Nashville, Tennessee, against Daniel Cormier.[2] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Cole rebounded from his loss to Cormier on July 22, 2011, at Strikeforce Challengers: Voelker vs. Bowling III, defeating newcomer Shawn Jordan via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
Cole won for the second consecutive time in Strikeforce via unanimous decision over Gabriel Salinas-Jones on December 17, 2011, at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal.
Devin married his wife Lyndsey on June 4, 2005, in Ashland, OR.[4]
Arrest
On June 14, 2008, Cole was arrested by the Medford, Oregon police department and charged with first-degree rape, two counts of first-degree sodomy and two counts of first-degree sexual penetration. The charges were later reduced to assault in the fourth degree and sexual harassment, to which Cole pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail.[5][6][7] The incident was cited as the reason why Cole's planned UFC debut at UFC on FOX 4 in August 2012 against Travis Browne was scrapped, despite being among Strikeforce's heavyweight roster (and coming off of two wins) when their heavyweight division was folded at the end of 2011.[8]
