Paul Buentello
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Name | Paul Buentello |
| Nickname | The Headhunter | |
| Association | Grudge Training Center | |
| Weight Class | Heavyweight (246 lbs.) | |
| Height | 6' 2" (188cm) | |
| Style | Kickboxing | |
| Birth Date | January 16, 1974 | |
| Fighting Out Of | San Jose, California | |
| Country | USA | |
| Paul Buentello Pictures | Official Website |
Paul Buentello is an American mixed martial artist who competes as a Heavyweight. While competing in the UFC, Buentello fought for the Heavyweight title, but lost to Andrei Arlovski. Buentello is also the former KOTC Heavyweight Champion.
Contents |
Professional Record
| Record | 29 - 15 - 0 (Win – Loss – Draw) |
| Wins | 17 (T)KOs 9 Submissions 3 Decisions |
| Losses | 3 (T)KOs 8 Submissions 4 Decisions |
| Result | Opponent | Method | Event Title | Date | Round | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | Darrill Schoonover | Decision (Unanimous) | WMMA 1: McCorkle vs. Heden | 3/31/2012 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Loss | Cole Konrad | Decision (Unanimous) | BFC: Bellator Fighting Championships 48 | 8/20/2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Non-title Bout |
| Win | Kerry Schall | Decision (Unanimous) | Nemesis Fighting: MMA Global Invasion | 12/11/2010 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Loss | Tim Sylvia | KO (Punches) | PWP: War on the Mainland | 8/14/2010 | 2 | 4:57 | For first-ever PWP Heavyweight Championship |
| Win | Bryan Humes | Decision (Unanimous) | SF 11: Humes vs. Buentello | 5/22/2010 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Loss | Cheick Kongo | Submission (Elbows to the Body) | UFC on Versus 1: Vera vs. Jones | 3/21/2010 | 3 | 1:16 | Post-fight, Buentello was released from the UFC |
| Loss | Stefan Struve | Decision (Majority) | UFC 107: Penn vs. Sanchez | 12/12/2009 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Kirill Sidelnikov | TKO (Doctor Stoppage) | Affliction: Day of Reckoning | 1/24/2009 | 3 | 4:18 | |
| Win | Gary Goodridge | Decision (Unanimous) | Affliction: Banned | 7/19/2008 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Loss | Alistair Overeem | Submission (Knees to the Body) | Strikeforce: Four Men Enter, One Man Survives | 11/16/2007 | 2 | 3:42 | For vacant Strikeforce World Heavyweight Championship |
| Win | Carter Williams | KO (Punch) | Strikeforce and EliteXC: Shamrock vs. Baroni | 6/22/2007 | 2 | 0:10 | |
| Win | Ruben Villareal | TKO (Corner Stoppage) | Strikeforce: Triple Threat | 12/08/2006 | 2 | 3:57 | |
| Win | David Abbott | KO (Punch) | Strikeforce: Tank vs. Buentello | 10/07/2006 | 1 | 0:43 | |
| Win | Gilbert Aldana | TKO (Strikes) | UFC 57: Liddell vs. Couture 3 | 2/4/2006 | 2 | 2:27 | |
| Loss | Andrei Arlovski | KO (Punch) | UFC 55: Fury | 10/07/2005 | 1 | 0:15 | For UFC Heavyweight Championship |
| Win | Kevin Jordan | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | UFC 53: Heavy Hitters | 6/4/2005 | 1 | 4:00 | |
| Win | Justin Eilers | KO (Punch) | UFC 51: Super Saturday | 2/5/2005 | 1 | 3:34 | UFC debut |
| Win | Bo Cantrell | KO (Punches) | KOTC: Revenge | 11/14/2004 | 1 | 0:45 | Defended KOTC Heavyweight Championship |
| Win | Lloyd Marshbanks | TKO | EP: XXXtreme Impact | 12/28/2003 | 1 | 2:57 | |
| Win | Bobby Hoffman | Submission (Verbal) | KOTC 30: The Pinnacle | 11/02/2003 | 2 | N/A | Won KOTC Heavyweight Championship |
| Win | Andy Montana | KO (Head Kick) | ROTR 4: Rumble on the Rock 4 | 10/10/2003 | 1 | 2:09 | |
| Loss | Bobby Hoffman | Decision (Unanimous) | KOTC 27: Aftermath | 8/10/2003 | 3 | 5:00 | For KOTC Heavyweight Championship |
| Win | Mike Kyle | KO | KOTC 18: Sudden Impact | 11/01/2002 | 2 | 1:24 | |
| Win | Roger Neff | KO | KOTC 14: New Mexico | 6/19/2002 | 1 | 3:04 | |
| Win | Jimmy Westfall | TKO | USWF 19: Unified Shoot Wrestling Federation 19 | 9/25/2001 | N/A | N/A | |
| Win | Gary Marshall | TKO (Punches) | IFC WC 15: Warriors Challenge 15 | 8/31/2001 | 1 | 4:53 | |
| Loss | Nate Schroeder | Submission | IFC WC 13: Warriors Challenge 13 | 6/15/2001 | 1 | 4:10 | |
| Loss | Sam Sotello | Submission (Strikes) | IFC WC 12: Warriors Challenge 12 | 4/11/2001 | 3 | 3:22 | |
| Loss | Ricco Rodriguez | Submission (Kneebar) | KOTC 7: Wet and Wild | 2/24/2001 | 2 | 4:21 | For KOTC Heavyweight Championship |
| Win | Larry Parker | TKO | IFC WC 8: Warriors Challenge 8 | 6/14/2000 | 1 | 5:06 | |
| Loss | Gan McGee | Submission (Strikes) | IFC WC 7: Warriors Challenge 7 | 5/03/2000 | 1 | 2:44 | For IFC WC 7 Tournament Finals |
| Win | Rocky Batastini | Submission (Armbar) | IFC WC 7: Warriors Challenge 7 | 5/03/2000 | 1 | 3:47 | |
| Win | Jason Godsey | Submission (Strikes) | IFC WC 7: Warriors Challenge 7 | 5/03/2000 | 1 | 6:06 | |
| Win | Jimmy Westfall | TKO (Corner Stoppage) | AF: Amarillo Fights | 12/04/1999 | 1 | 0:59 | |
| Win | Denny Mathias | Submission (Strikes) | WCS: World Class Shootfighting | 11/20/1999 | N/A | N/A | |
| Win | Gilbert Duran | Submission (Strikes) | WCS: World Class Shootfighting | 11/20/1999 | N/A | N/A | |
| Loss | Todd Broadway | TKO (Doctor Stoppage) | EC 24: Extreme Challenge 24 | 5/15/1999 | 1 | 6:00 | |
| Win | Larry Parker | KO | USWF 9: Unified Shoot Wrestling Federation 9 | 6/20/1998 | 1 | 0:30 | |
| Win | Shane Saavedra | TKO | USWF 9: Unified Shoot Wrestling Federation 9 | 6/20/1998 | 1 | 2:15 | |
| Win | Dustin Heronemus | Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | USWF 9: Unified Shoot Wrestling Federation 9 | 6/20/1998 | 1 | 0:20 | |
| Loss | Dan Severn | Submission | USWF 6: Unified Shoot Wrestling Federation 6 | 8/16/1997 | 1 | 2:55 | |
| Loss | Evan Tanner | Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | USWF 4: Unified Shoot Wrestling Federation 4 | 4/12/1997 | 1 | 2:20 | |
| Win | David Davis | Submission (Choke) | USWF 4: Unified Shoot Wrestling Federation 4 | 4/12/1997 | 1 | 7:35 | |
| Win | Derek McGill | Submission (Choke) | USWF 4: Unified Shoot Wrestling Federation 4 | 4/12/1997 | 1 | 6:00 | |
Biography
Paul grew up in Amarillo, Texas and went to school with well known UFC fighter Evan Tanner. Paul received the nickname "The Headhunter" due to his propensity, in his early years of martial arts training, to kick for the head of his opponent.
Mixed Martial Arts Career
Buentello began competing in mixed martial arts in 1997, fighting entirely with Unified Shoot Wrestling Federation for his first two years of competition. All his fights in the promotion ended in the first round, losing twice in that two year period to Evan Tanner and Dan Severn. By 1999 he moved on, competing in numerous other promotions throughout the year.
By 2000, Buentello entered in the IFC WC 7 Tournament, impressively winning his way to the tournament finals, facing off against Gan McGee. Unfortunately for Buentello, McGee defeated him with strikes in the first round. After another win under the IFC WC banner, Buentello faced Ricco Rodriguez, at that time a PRIDE veteran, for the King of the Cage (KOTC) Heavyweight Championship. Buentello lost this bid for a title, submitting to an Armbar in the second round.
Two years after his failed KOTC title bid, Buentello earned another shot at the same title, this time by facing Bobby Hoffman. This time he failed to earn the title by Decision (Unanimous). Only three months later, the two squared off again, once again for the title, but luckily for Buentello, he finally earned the title in his third attempt, with a verbal submission in the second round. His first title defense came exactly a year later, where he defeated Bo Cantrell to successfully defend it, by way of KO (Punches).
First UFC Career
In his debut in the UFC, he had an impressive win over Justin Eilers with a KO in 3:34 of the first round for his debut fight in UFC 51: Super Saturday on February 2, 2005. His next fight was against UFC veteran Kevin Jordan on UFC 53: Heavy Hitters on June 4, 2005 where Buentello won with a Guillotine Choke submission at 4:00 of the first round. He lost a title shot against UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski at UFC 55: Fury on October 7, 2005. Following his loss to Arlovski, he faced off against Gilbert Aldana at UFC 57 where he won via TKO (strikes).
Though with a UFC career record of 3-1, Buentello left the promotion.
Strikeforce Career
After leaving the UFC, Buentello moved on to compete for Strikeforce. His debut for the promotion took place at Strikeforce: Tank vs. Buentello, where he defeated MMA legend Tank Abbott by way of KO (Punch) at only 0:43 of the first round. He then defeated Ruben Villareal by way of TKO (Corner Stoppage) in the second round of their fight at Strikeforce: Triple Threat.
After defeating Carter Williams by way of KO (Punch), Buentello faced Dutchman Alistair Overeem on November 16, 2007 at Strikeforce: Four Men Enter, One Man Survives for the promotions vacant Heavyweight Championship. He lost the title bid by way of Knee to the Body.
Post-Strikeforce
On the website mma.tv Buentello stated that he was interested in fighting the famous and notorious bare knuckler boxer Kimbo Slice.
Buentello was next expected to compete on the Affliction: Trilogy card against Gilbert Yvel on August 1, 2009. He was supposed to fight former UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia, but when Sylvia was quickly beaten by Ray Mercer, Sylvia was taken off the card. To replace Sylvia, Tom Atencio stated that a fight between Gilbert Yvel and Pedro Rizzo, that took place not too long before the event would take place, would help determine who would next face Buentello. When Yvel ended the fight in the first round via TKO, he was placed on the Affliction card. The event was eventually cancelled when Josh Barnett, who was expected to fight WAMMA Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko, tested positive for anabolic steroids, and according to Tom Atencio, they just "didn't have enough time to promote a new fight to our standards.”
Return to UFC
In September 2009 it was announced that Buentello had been released from his Strikeforce contract, and that he was in contact with the UFC, shortly signing with the promotion. His return bout to the UFC was to be against Todd Duffee, who in his debut ended the fight in a mere seven seconds, though Duffee was forced off the card due to an undisclosed injury. Dutch fighter Stefan Struve was tapped to replace Duffee. The fight took place on December 12, 2009 at UFC 107: Penn vs. Sanchez. In what was the first bout on the main card, the two battled it out for three rounds, in a very close fight. Struve won a majority decision, though one of the judges actually ruled the bout a Draw.
It was later announced mid-January 2010 that Buentello would return to action at UFC on Versus 1: Vera vs. Jones at March 21, 2010 against French striker Cheick Kongo, who at the time is on a two fight slump. Kongo continued to take Buentello to where he has always had the most trouble; the ground. From the opening bell, Kongo used his powerful strikes to set up all-too-easy takedowns, a strategy nearly every opponent who's defeated Kongo used against him. Instead, it was Kongo who used the takedowns to unload brutal ground and pound, including jarring knee strikes to the ribs, to slow his opponent. The bout went to the third round, but Kongo scored another takedown, continued the onslaught, and ultimately forced a kneeling (and obviously exhausted) Buentello to tap out from elbow strikes to the ribs at the 1:16 mark of the final frame.
After losing the two consecutive bouts to Stefan Struve and Cheick Kongo, the UFC released Buentello from his contract.
Post-UFC
After receiving his walking papers, Buentello was announced as the headliner of Shark Fights 11, where he faced off against undefeated prospect Bryan Humes. The bout would determine the number one contender for the Shark Fights Heavyweight title, held by Darrill Schoonover. Buentello won the fight by Decision (Unanimous).
Buentello's next fight took place on August 14, 2010 at a Powerhouse World Promotion's event, where he faced off against Tim Sylvia for the promotion's first-ever Heavyweight title. Sylvia stymied his opponent with clinchwork in the corner, and for nearly two full rounds, Buentello's only respite was referee "Big" John McCarthy's occasional interventions. Buentello showed a sharp jab on the rare occasions he was able to create space, but Sylvia quickly close the distance each time and turned the fight into a dirty, grinding contest. In the closing seconds, Buentello actually backed himself into the corner, and Sylvia unleashed his best flurry of the contest. An uppercut floored Buentello, and Sylvia followed with hammerfists. McCarthy wasted little time in making a decision and stopped the fight with just three seconds left in the round. Sylvia earned the PWP Heavyweight title at 4:57 of the third round.
Championships and Accomplishments
- IFC WC 7 Tournament finalist (2000)
- KOTC Heavyweight title challenger (2001 and 2003)
- KOTC Heavyweight Champion (2003)
- UFC Heavyweight title challenger (2005)
- Strikefroce Heavyweight title challenger (2007)
