Paul Buentello

Paul Anthony Buentello (born January 16, 1974) is an American former mixed martial artist. A professional competitor from 1997 to 2017, Buentello competed in the UFC, Bellator, Strikeforce, Affliction, King of the Cage, Shark Fights, ACB, Legacy FC, and is the former King of the Cage Heavyweight Champion.

Background Paul grew up in Tulia, Texas, and went to school with former UFC Middleweight Champion Evan Tanner. At Caprock High School, Buentello played baseball and football, and then began Tae Kwon Do after graduating. Buentello received the nickname "The Headhunter" due to his propensity, in his early years of martial arts training, to axe kick his opponent's faces.

Mixed martial arts career

Ultimate Fighting Championship 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 Kevin Jordan on UFC 53: Heavy Hitters on June 4, 2005 where Buentello won with a neck crank submission at 4:00 of the first round. He lost a title shot against the heavily touted #2 ranked Heavyweight fighter in the world Interim UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski at UFC 55 on October 7, 2005, Arlovski knocked Buentello out in 15 seconds setting a UFC record for the quickest title fight in UFC history. Following his devastating loss to Arlovski, he faced off against Gilbert Aldana at UFC 57 where he won via TKO due to strikes.

Strikeforce After leaving the UFC, Buentello fought for Strikeforce, winning 3 straight against K-1 Kickboxer Carter Williams, UFC veteran Tank Abbott, and experienced journeyman Ruben Villareal, before losing to Alistair Overeem in a bout for the Strikeforce Heavyweight Championship.

Affliction Buentello moved to a new major organization, Affliction, where he won his first two bouts. Affliction Entertainment became defunct as an MMA promoter shortly after.

UFC return At a press conference held July 31, 2009, it was announced that Buentello was one of several former Affliction fighters to sign with UFC.

Buentello was expected to face Todd Duffee at UFC 107, but Duffee was forced off the card with an undisclosed injury. Buentello instead faced 6'11 Stefan Struve and lost a majority decision.

Subsequently, Buentello lost to Cheick Kongo on UFC LIVE: Vera vs. Jones where he surprisingly—after a prolonged period of having his legs pounded—he tapped due to elbows to the right thigh in the third round. After losing both bouts in his return to the UFC, Buentello was released from the promotion.

Independent promotions Buentello continued his MMA career at the Texas-based Shark Fights promotion, defeating the previously unbeaten (6-0) Bryan Humes via Unanimous Decision.

Buentello fought former UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia at Powerhouse World Promotions: War on the Mainland on August 14. In a very one sided fight, Sylvia defeated Buentello via KO due to an uppercut in the second round.

Buentello was scheduled to face Kerry Schall at Nemesis Fighting: MMA Global Invasion on November 13, 2010 but the event was postponed to December 10, 2010 to avoid a tropical storm. He won the fight by unanimous decision. Buentello, like the other MMA fighters on the card, did not receive his contracted pay.

His next bout was a non-title fight against decorated amateur wrestler and current Bellator Heavyweight Champion Cole Konrad at Bellator 48 on August 20, 2011. He lost the bout via unanimous decision.

On March 31, 2012, Buentello faced former Shark Fights Heavyweight Champion, and The Ultimate Fighter 10 alumni Darrill Schoonover WMMA 1: McCorkle vs. Heden. Buentello lost by unanimous decision.

Buentello was scheduled to face Marcus Sursa at Legacy Fighting Championship 22 on August 23, 2013, however, the bout was scrapped after Sursa was denied a license by the Texas Department of Licensing and Registration. He instead faced James McSweeney at the event. He won the fight via TKO in the second round.

Buentello faced independent prospect Myron Dennis on March 15, 2014, at Legacy FC 29 for their vacant Light heavyweight championship. Buentello lost the back-and-forth fight by split decision.

Buentello fought Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou in the Heavyweight class on October 3, 2015 in Abu Dhabi, UAE at Abu Dhabi Warriors Fighting Championship 3. Buentello won the fight via KO with punches in the third round.

Absolute Championship Berkut Buentello faced Denis Goltsov at ACB 41: Path to Triumph on July 15, 2016. He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.

Championships and accomplishments Ultimate Fighting Championship UFC Encyclopedia Awards Submission of the Night (One time) UFC.com Awards 2005: Ranked #10 Submission of the Year 2009: Ranked #5 Loss of the Year

International Fighting Championship IFC Warriors Challenge 7 Tournament Runner Up King of the Cage KOTC Heavyweight Championship (One time) One Successful Title Defense

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Denis Goltsov KO (head kick) |ACB 41: The Path to Triumph

Sochi, Krasnodar krai, Russia Win

Eric Prindle KO (punch) Abu Dhabi Warriors 4

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Win

Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou KO (punch) Abu Dhabi Warriors 3

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Loss

Myron Dennis Decision (split) Legacy FC 29

Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States Win

James McSweeney TKO (punches to the body) Legacy FC 22

Lubbock, Texas, United States Win

Igor Kostin Decision (unanimous) Federation of MMA of Russia: Star Fight 15

Vladikavkaz, Russia Win

Mike Cook KO (punch) IFC: Warriors Challenge 29

Oroville, California, United States Win

Igor Kostin KO (punches) Vologda Fight Festival: Head Hunting

Vologda, Russia Loss

Darrill Schoonover Decision (unanimous) WMMA 1: McCorkle vs. Heden

El Paso, Texas, United States Loss

Cole Konrad Decision (unanimous) Bellator 48

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Win

Kerry Schall Decision (unanimous) Nemesis Fighting: MMA Global Invasion

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic Loss

Tim Sylvia KO (punch) Powerhouse World Promotions: War on the Mainland

Irvine, California, United States Win

Bryan Humes Decision (unanimous) Shark Fights 11: Humes vs Buentello

Odessa, Texas, United States Loss

Cheick Kongo TKO (submission to elbows to the legs) UFC Live: Vera vs. Jones

Broomfield, Colorado, United States Loss

Stefan Struve Decision (majority) UFC 107

Memphis, Tennessee, United States Win

Kirill Sidelnikov TKO (doctor stoppage) Affliction: Day of Reckoning

Anaheim, California, United States Win

Gary Goodridge Decision (unanimous) Affliction: Banned

Anaheim, California, United States Loss

Alistair Overeem TKO (submission to knee to the body) Strikeforce: Four Men Enter, One Man Survives

San Jose, California, United States Win

Carter Williams TKO (punches) Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Baroni

San Jose, California, United States Win

Ruben Villareal TKO (corner stoppage) Strikeforce: Triple Threat

San Jose, California, United States Win

Tank Abbott KO (punch) Strikeforce: Tank vs. Buentello

Fresno, California, United States Win

Gilbert Aldana TKO (punches) UFC 57

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Andrei Arlovski KO (punch) UFC 55

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Win

Kevin Jordan Submission (guillotine choke) UFC 53

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Justin Eilers KO (punch) UFC 51

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Bo Cantrell KO (punches) KOTC 44

San Jacinto, California, United States Win

Lloyd Marshbanks TKO (punches) EP: XXXtreme Impact

Tijuana, Mexico Win

Bobby Hoffman Submission (verbal) KOTC 30

Pala, California, United States Win

Andy Montana KO (head kick) Rumble on the Rock 4

Honolulu, Hawaii, United States Loss

Bobby Hoffman Decision (unanimous) KOTC 27

San Jacinto, California, United States Win

Mike Kyle KO (punches) KOTC 18

Reno, Nevada, United States Win

Roger Neff KO (head kick) KOTC 14

Bernalillo, New Mexico, United States Win

Jimmy Westfall TKO (punches) USWF 19

Amarillo, Texas, United States Win

Gary Marshall TKO (punches) IFC Warriors Challenge 15

Oroville, California, United States Loss

Nate Schroeder Submission (heel hook) IFC Warriors Challenge 13

California, United States Loss

Sam Sotello TKO (submission to punches) IFC Warriors Challenge 12

Friant, California, United States Loss

Ricco Rodriguez Submission (kneebar) KOTC 7

San Jacinto, California, United States Win

Larry Parker TKO (punches) IFC Warriors Challenge 8

Friant, California, United States Loss

Gan McGee TKO (submission to punches) IFC Warriors Challenge 7

Fresno, California, United States Win

Rocky Batastini Submission (armbar) IFC Warriors Challenge 7

Fresno, California, United States Win

Jason Godsey TKO (submission to punches) IFC Warriors Challenge 7

Fresno, California, United States Win

Jimmy Westfall TKO (corner stoppage) Amarillo Fights

Amarillo, Texas, United States Win

Denny Mathias TKO (submission to punches) World Class Shootfighting

McKinney, Texas, United States Win

Gilbert Duran TKO (submission to punches) World Class Shootfighting

McKinney, Texas, United States Loss

Todd Broadaway TKO (doctor stoppage) Extreme Challenge 24

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Win

Larry Parker KO (knee) USWF 9

Amarillo, Texas, United States Win

Shane Saavedra TKO (punches) USWF 9

Amarillo, Texas, United States Win

Dustin Heronemus Submission (neck crank) USWF 9

Amarillo, Texas, United States Loss

Dan Severn Submission (headlock) USWF 6

Amarillo, Texas, United States Loss

Evan Tanner Submission (rear-naked choke) USWF 4

Amarillo, Texas, United States Win

David Davis Submission (choke) USWF 4

Amarillo, Texas, United States Win

Derek McGill Submission (choke) USWF 4

Amarillo, Texas, United States