Charlie Brenneman

Fighting career During his amateur career, Brenneman compiled a 5–0 undefeated record. In an attempt to maintain his momentum, he quickly turned professional, debuting on July 28, 2007, against Marcello Olivera. Brenneman also earned a 5–0 record at the professional level through early 2008, with a notable split-decision victory over Drew Puzon at the ShoXC event on January 25, 2008.

2008 injury and AMA Fight Club During a sparring session with one-time UFC fighter Chris Liguori, Brenneman sustained a kick to the face that shattered his left orbital and forced him to undergo emergency surgery to repair the damage. Vertical and lateral plates were inserted into his face, and he eventually regained vision in his left eye. Brenneman made his comeback to competition on September 12, 2008, against John Howard, but suffered the first loss of his career. Because of the defeat, the self-trained Brenneman decided to join the AMA Fight Club, He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Brenneman was scheduled to fight T. J. Grant on June 26, 2011 at UFC on Versus 4, but Grant had to pull out due to illness and the fight was scrapped. However, just hours before the weigh-ins it was reported that Nate Marquardt did not receive medical clearance and had to pull out of his bout against Rick Story. As a result, Brenneman fought Story in the evening's co-main event. Brenneman upset the favored Story, as Brenneman was able to out wrestle Story and control him on the ground while fending off multiple submission attempts in the third round en route to a unanimous decision victory. He later stated about his upset win, that he'd luckily been told about being Marquardt's replacement for this fight earlier than Story and was also training for a fight with Story as well because of this, just in case he turned out to be the replacement, which he was.

Brenneman lost to Anthony Johnson via first-round TKO due to a head kick on October 1, 2011 at UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson.

Brenneman next faced Daniel Roberts on January 20, 2012 at UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Brenneman faced Erick Silva on June 8, 2012 at UFC on FX 3 and lost via rear-naked choke near the end of the first round.

Brenneman was expected to face Kyle Noke on September 1, 2012 at UFC 151. However, as a result of the cancellation of UFC 151, Noke/Brenneman was rescheduled for September 22, 2012 at UFC 152. Brenneman lost the fight in the first round via TKO due to punches. After the loss Brenneman was released from the promotion.

Post UFC Brenneman cut down to 155 lbs. following his release from the UFC. Brenneman fought Eric Irvin at VFL 40 on Jan 19, 2013. He won via second round submission. Brenneman defeated Jeremy Castro and Gemiyale Adkins in the Cage Fury Fighting Championships, and would then defeat Kyle Baker by submission via arm-triangle choke for the vacant CFFC lightweight title.

Return to UFC Brenneman returned to the UFC and faced promotional newcomer Beneil Dariush in a lightweight bout on January 15, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 35, replacing an injured Jason High. Brenneman was quickly submitted in the first round via rear-naked choke, after being dropped by a left hand.

Brenneman faced Danny Castillo at UFC 172. After a back-and-forth first round, Brenneman lost via knockout early in the second round.

Brenneman faced Leandro Silva on November 8, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 56. Brenneman was submitted by a rear naked choke in the first round following multiple takedown attempts. After the loss Brenneman was again released from the promotion.

Personal life Brenneman and his wife Amanda have a daughter, born in 2013 and a son, born in 2016.

Championships and accomplishments Mixed Martial Arts Ultimate Fighting Championship UFC.com Awards 2011: Ranked #4 Upset of the Year Cage Fury Fighting Championships CFFC Lightweight Championship (One time) Ring of Combat ROC Welterweight Championship (One time) Valley Fight League VFL Welterweight Championship (One time)

Amateur wrestling National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Division I National Qualifier (2004) Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Pennsylvania AAA state runner-up (1998, 1999)

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Leandro Silva Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Saint Preux

Uberlândia, Brazil Loss

Danny Castillo KO (punch) UFC 172

Baltimore, Maryland, United States Loss

Beneil Dariush Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs. Philippou

Duluth, Georgia, United States Win

Kyle Baker Submission (arm-triangle choke) CFFC 28: Brenneman vs. Baker

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Gemiyale Adkins Decision (unanimous) CFFC 25: Williams vs. Faunce

King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Jeremy Castro Submission (Peruvian necktie) CFFC 23: La Nsang vs. Baker

King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Eric Irvin Submission (rear-naked choke) VFL 40: Broad Avenue Brawlers

Altoona, Pennsylvania, United States Loss

Kyle Noke TKO (punches) UFC 152

Toronto, Ontario, Canada Loss

Erick Silva Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC on FX: Johnson vs. McCall

Sunrise, Florida, United States Win

Daniel Roberts Decision (unanimous) UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller

Nashville, Tennessee, United States Loss

Anthony Johnson TKO (head kick) UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson

Washington D.C., United States Win

Rick Story Decision (unanimous) UFC Live: Kongo vs. Barry

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Amilcar Alves Decision (unanimous) UFC: Fight For The Troops 2

Fort Hood, Texas, United States Loss

Johny Hendricks TKO (punches) UFC 117

Oakland, California, United States Win

Jason High Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Florian vs. Gomi

Charlotte, North Carolina, United States Win

George Sheppard Submission (punches) VFL 23: Mason Dixon Showdown 2

Greencastle, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Phillip Wyman TKO (punches) VFL 21: Broad Avenue Brawlers 2

Altoona, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Mitch Whitesel Decision (unanimous) VFL 19: Broad Avenue Brawlers

Altoona, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Chris Thomas Submission (arm-triangle choke) Iron Will Fighting Championship 1

Johnstown, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Edward O'Daniel TKO (elbows) Extreme Challenge: The War at the Shore

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Yanish Dimitry TKO (punches) United States Fight League: War in the Woods 5

Ledyard, Connecticut, United States Loss

John Howard Decision (unanimous) Ring of Combat 21

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Drew Puzon Decision (split) ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Mark Berrocal TKO (punches) ROC 17: Beast of the Northeast Finals

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Joseph Aviles Decision (unanimous) ROC 16: Beast of the Northeast Semi-Finals

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Jordan Damon TKO (doctor stoppage) ROC 15: Beast of the Northeast Quarterfinals

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Marcelo Oliveira Decision (unanimous) Extreme Challenge 81

West Orange, New Jersey, United States