# Charlie Brenneman

Charles Brenneman (born February 9, 1981) is an American former mixed martial artist. A professional from 2007 until 2014, he competed for the UFC, ShoXC, and was the winner of the first season of the television show Pros vs Joes.

## Background

Brenneman was born to Charles and Marie Brenneman in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, the youngest of the four Brenneman children. He wrestled throughout his elementary and high school career. Upon graduating from Hollidaysburg Area High School in 1999, Brenneman attended Lock Haven University, where he continued wrestling and finished his collegiate wrestling career with a Top-12 finish at Nationals.
Brenneman earned his Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education/Spanish from Lock Haven University, and returned to his hometown to teach Spanish at his former high school for three years, which is where his nickname 'the Spaniard' came from. He continued his education, earning his Master of Arts from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania in Sports Management. It was during the first season of the Pros vs Joes game show when he first received national public attention. He was unexpectedly cast after submitting his application to participate in the reality game show, but he won the competition alongside his older brother Ben. Following his victory on the Pros vs. Joes show, Brenneman resigned from his high school teaching job to pursue a mixed martial arts fighting career.

## 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, and went on to win his next six bouts before being offered a contract for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

### Ultimate Fighting Championship

Brenneman made his UFC debut on the preliminary card of UFC Fight Night: Florian vs. Gomi against Jason High, whom he defeated via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 29–28).
In his next fight, Brenneman lost to Johny Hendricks at UFC 117 via TKO in the second round.
Brenneman faced Amilcar Alves on January 22, 2011, at UFC Fight Night 23. 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

* Ultimate Fighting Championship
** UFC.com Awards
*** 2011: Ranked #4 Upset of the Year vs. Rick Story
* 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)

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 27 matches | 19 wins | 8 losses |
| By knockout | 5 | 4 |
| By submission | 5 | 3 |
| By decision | 9 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 19–8 | Leandro Silva | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Saint Preux | November 8, 2014 | 1 | 4:15 | Uberlândia, Brazil | |
| Loss | 19–7 | Danny Castillo | KO (punch) | UFC 172 | April 26, 2014 | 2 | 0:21 | Baltimore, Maryland, United States | |
| Loss | 19–6 | Beneil Dariush | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs. Philippou | January 15, 2014 | 1 | 1:45 | Duluth, Georgia, United States | |
| Win | 19–5 | Kyle Baker | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | CFFC 28: Brenneman vs. Baker | October 26, 2013 | 2 | 4:07 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Won the CFFC Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 18–5 | Gemiyale Adkins | Decision (unanimous) | CFFC 25: Williams vs. Faunce | June 22, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, United States | |
| Win | 17–5 | Jeremy Castro | Submission (Peruvian necktie) | CFFC 23: La Nsang vs. Baker | April 12, 2013 | 1 | 4:34 | King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, United States | |
| Win | 16–5 | Eric Irvin | Submission (rear-naked choke) | VFL 40: Broad Avenue Brawlers | January 19, 2013 | 2 | 2:09 | Altoona, Pennsylvania, United States | Lightweight debut. |
| Loss | 15–5 | Kyle Noke | TKO (punches) | UFC 152 | September 22, 2012 | 1 | 0:45 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | |
| Loss | 15–4 | Erick Silva | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC on FX: Johnson vs. McCall | June 8, 2012 | 1 | 4:33 | Sunrise, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 15–3 | Daniel Roberts | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller | January 20, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Nashville, Tennessee, United States | |
| Loss | 14–3 | Anthony Johnson | TKO (head kick) | UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson | October 1, 2011 | 1 | 2:49 | Washington D.C., United States | |
| Win | 14–2 | Rick Story | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Live: Kongo vs. Barry | June 26, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States | |
| Win | 13–2 | Amilcar Alves | Decision (unanimous) | UFC: Fight For The Troops 2 | January 22, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Fort Hood, Texas, United States | |
| Loss | 12–2 | Johny Hendricks | TKO (punches) | UFC 117 | August 7, 2010 | 2 | 0:40 | Oakland, California, United States | |
| Win | 12–1 | Jason High | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Florian vs. Gomi | March 31, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Charlotte, North Carolina, United States | |
| Win | 11–1 | George Sheppard | Submission (punches) | VFL 23: Mason Dixon Showdown 2 | January 30, 2010 | 2 | 1:55 | Greencastle, Pennsylvania, United States | Non-title bout. |
| Win | 10–1 | Phillip Wyman | TKO (punches) | VFL 21: Broad Avenue Brawlers 2 | October 11, 2009 | 1 | 3:39 | Altoona, Pennsylvania, United States | Won the VFL Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 9–1 | Mitch Whitesel | Decision (unanimous) | VFL 19: Broad Avenue Brawlers | July 24, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Altoona, Pennsylvania, United States | |
| Win | 8–1 | Chris Thomas | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Iron Will Fighting Championship 1 | May 16, 2009 | 2 | 1:17 | Johnstown, Pennsylvania, United States | |
| Win | 7–1 | Edward O'Daniel | TKO (elbows) | Extreme Challenge: The War at the Shore | January 23, 2009 | 2 | 4:22 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 6–1 | Yanish Dimitry | TKO (punches) | United States Fight League: War in the Woods 5 | November 29, 2008 | 1 | 4:50 | Ledyard, Connecticut, United States | |
| Loss | 5–1 | John Howard | Decision (unanimous) | Ring of Combat 21 | September 12, 2008 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | For the vacant ROC Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 5–0 | Drew Puzon | Decision (split) | ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series | January 25, 2008 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Mark Berrocal | TKO (punches) | ROC 17: Beast of the Northeast Finals | November 30, 2007 | 2 | 3:54 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Won the Ring of Combat Welterweight Championship; Brenneman later vacated title to sign with EliteXC. |
| Win | 3–0 | Joseph Aviles | Decision (unanimous) | ROC 16: Beast of the Northeast Semi-Finals | October 26, 2007 | 3 | 4:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Jordan Damon | TKO (doctor stoppage) | ROC 15: Beast of the Northeast Quarterfinals | September 7, 2007 | 1 | 2:20 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Marcelo Oliveira | Decision (unanimous) | Extreme Challenge 81 | July 28, 2007 | 3 | 5:00 | West Orange, New Jersey, United States | |