Tag: charlie brenneman

And Now He’s Fired (Again): Charlie Brenneman Gets the Boot Following Third Straight Loss


(Everyone remembers where they were the first time they heard the “Comfortably Numb” guitar solo. Photo via Getty.)

The inventor of the punch-hair (Clay Guida WHO?) has likely fought for the last time in the UFC. Two months ago.

Yes, after succumbing to a first round rear-naked choke against the un-Wikipedia-able Leandro Silva back at Fight Night 56, Charlie “The Spaniard” Brenneman has once again been released by the promotion. Experts expect his reactionary lawsuit against the UFC to be filed by the end of the week.

The announcement was made by Brenneman himself on Twitter last night.

Was released fr @ufc today. Looking forward to starting the next chapter. Thx to my supporters!

— Charlie Brenneman (@SpaniardMMA) December 30, 2014

Brenneman’s re-firing may not seem like that big a deal at first, but it does prove one thing…


(Everyone remembers where they were the first time they heard the “Comfortably Numb” guitar solo. Photo via Getty.)

The inventor of the punch-hair (Clay Guida WHO?) has likely fought for the last time in the UFC. Two months ago.

Yes, after succumbing to a first round rear-naked choke against the un-Wikipedia-able Leandro Silva back at Fight Night 56, Charlie “The Spaniard” Brenneman has once again been released by the promotion. Experts expect his reactionary lawsuit against the UFC to be filed by the end of the week.

The announcement was made by Brenneman himself on Twitter last night.

Brenneman’s re-firing may not seem like that big a deal at first, but it does prove that the UFC is actually willing to draw the line in the sand when it comes the quality of their roster. And I know what you’re thinking, ”If the UFC is still firing people these days, how will they ever be able to fill up that Fight Night: Penistone card in July?” I don’t have an answer for that, but I think we can all agree that a #BringBackKimbo Twitter campaign will at least help.

In Brenneman’s first UFC run, the Pros vs. Joes winner went an even 4-4, with the obvious highlight being his massive upset of Rick Story at UFC on Versus 4 after taking the fight on less than a day’s notice. Unfortunately, TKO losses to Johny Hendricks, Anthony Johnson, and Kyle Noke saw Brenneman bounced in September of 2012 following two straight losses. The joke’s been made a million times, but I still find it necessary to point out that this guy and this guy were once in the same weight class and how hilarious that is.

After putting together four straight wins on the local circuit, Brenneman was invited back to the UFC in January, where he was steamrolled by Beneil Dariush, pancaked by Danny Castillo, and flibbity-flobbed by Silva. Let’s hope the WSOF treats him better.

For whatever reason, this was the first thing that popped into my head when I heard word of Brenneman’s firing. So everyone raise a parting glass to Charlie Brenneman: UFC fighter, and sing along.

–J. Jones 

Charlie Brenneman To Be Viciously Knocked Out One Final Time in the UFC

(Looks like someone should have pulled mummy guard.)

As a huge Pros vs. Joes fan back in the day, I’ve always had a soft spot for Charlie Brenneman*. This fact has made it all the more difficult to watch his last four UFC appearances, which have seen “The Spaniard” dominated by Erick Silva, TKO’d by Kyle Noke, rocked, then submitted by Beneil Dariush, and brutally knocked out by Danny Castillo (see above) in his last appearance at UFC 172. Even worse, all but one of those losses have occurred in the first round, with two of them happening in under two minutes. There was also that Anthony Johnson KO, but I think we should all just forget that ever happened. Brenneman probably has.

It is perhaps unfair to declare that Brenneman is one of those “raw” fighters who is talented enough to dominate the local scene while simply not being up to snuff at the UFC level (although his out-of-UFC record would support that argument). He has picked up 4 UFC wins in his career, after all, but his past handful of appearances have resulted in anything but triumph. They’ve been downright difficult to watch, if I’m being completely honest.

Regardless, it looks like Brenneman will be receiving another shot in the UFC. That’s according to Brenneman’s manager Mike Constantino, at least, who recently told MMAJunkie that, “Charlie’s going to get another chance. Charlie will be back and will get another chance. We’re looking at the fall for him.”

And once again, the strange, almost indecipherable dichotomy of the UFC’s hiring/firing policies is revealed…


(Looks like someone should have pulled mummy guard.)

As a huge Pros vs. Joes fan back in the day, I’ve always had a soft spot for Charlie Brenneman*. This fact has made it all the more difficult to watch his last four UFC appearances, which have seen ”The Spaniard” dominated by Erick Silva, TKO’d by Kyle Noke, rocked, then submitted by Beneil Dariush, and brutally knocked out by Danny Castillo (see above) in his last appearance at UFC 172. Even worse, all but one of those losses have occurred in the first round, with two of them happening in under two minutes. There was also that Anthony Johnson KO, but I think we should all just forget that ever happened. Brenneman probably has.

It is perhaps unfair to declare that Brenneman is one of those “raw” fighters who is talented enough to dominate the local scene while simply not being up to snuff at the UFC level (although his out-of-UFC record would support that argument). He has picked up 4 UFC wins in his career, after all, but his past handful of appearances have resulted in anything but triumph. They’ve been downright difficult to watch, if I’m being completely honest.

Regardless, it looks like Brenneman will be receiving another shot in the UFC. That’s according to Brenneman’s manager Mike Constantino, at least, who recently told MMAJunkie that, “Charlie’s going to get another chance. Charlie will be back and will get another chance. We’re looking at the fall for him.”

And once again, the strange, almost indecipherable dichotomy of the UFC’s hiring/firing policies is revealed. One week, we’re being told that the UFC’s roster is too bloated to support the likes of say, Ben Askren, and the next, we’re being told that guys like Brenneman and Bobby Voelker will fight another day despite four fight skids in their respective weight classes. Even Paulo Thiago was recently granted a four fight extension, having dropping six out of his past eight UFC contests. Meanwhile, guys like Jake Shields, Yushin Okami, and Jon Fitch are being written off as has-beens on their way out the door.

Today’s lesson in UFC hypocrisy: ‘Tis worse to be a has-been than a never-was.

*What? You didn’t forget that he was the season one winner of that long-forgotten show, did you? Well he was, and that honor is tantamount to winning a season of TUF nowadays, IMHO.

–J. Jones

Ruptured Appendix Knocks Jason High Out of UFC Fight Night 35; Charlie Brenneman to Replace Him on Two Weeks’ Notice


(“Fuck appendicitis & anybody that love him.” — Actual quote from @KCBanditMMA)

UFC welterweight Jason High was scheduled to face an undefeated Octagon newbie named Beneil Dariush on the main card of UFC Fight Night 35 (January 15th, Duluth; GA), but has been forced out of the bout due to appendicitis. As High explained on twitter:

Ruptured appendix… On New Year’s Day. See y’all bitches after surgery. F word…Oh & btw morphine is trash & dilauded kicks all kinds of ass. First time I’ve ever had to pull out of a fight for any reason. Won’t be making a habit of it.

Coming in to replace High on just two weeks’ notice is Pennsylvania-based scrapper Charlie “The Spaniard” Brenneman, who was released by the UFC following his quick TKO loss to Kyle Noke in September 2012. Brenneman went 4-0 on the regional circuit in 2013, and now has another chance to make his mark in the UFC. During his previous stint in the Octagon in 2010-2012, Brenneman scored notable decision victories over Rick Story and (coincidentally) Jason High, but also suffered stoppage losses against Johny Hendricks, Anthony Johnson, and Erick Silva.

Brenneman vs. Dariush is one of those strange UFC fights where two replacement opponents wind up facing each other. Dariush was himself a replacement for High’s original opponent, Adlan Amagov, who withdrew from the fight two weeks ago due to undisclosed personal reasons.

Update: The fight will be held at lightweight, the weight class Brenneman has been competing at for the last year.


(“Fuck appendicitis & anybody that love him.” — Actual quote from @KCBanditMMA)

UFC welterweight Jason High was scheduled to face an undefeated Octagon newbie named Beneil Dariush on the main card of UFC Fight Night 35 (January 15th, Duluth; GA), but has been forced out of the bout due to appendicitis. As High explained on twitter:

Ruptured appendix… On New Year’s Day. See y’all bitches after surgery. F word…Oh & btw morphine is trash & dilauded kicks all kinds of ass. First time I’ve ever had to pull out of a fight for any reason. Won’t be making a habit of it.

Coming in to replace High on just two weeks’ notice is Pennsylvania-based scrapper Charlie “The Spaniard” Brenneman, who was released by the UFC following his quick TKO loss to Kyle Noke in September 2012. Brenneman went 4-0 on the regional circuit in 2013, and now has another chance to make his mark in the UFC. During his previous stint in the Octagon in 2010-2012, Brenneman scored notable decision victories over Rick Story and (coincidentally) Jason High, but also suffered stoppage losses against Johny Hendricks, Anthony Johnson, and Erick Silva.

Brenneman vs. Dariush is one of those strange UFC fights where two replacement opponents wind up facing each other. Dariush was himself a replacement for High’s original opponent, Adlan Amagov, who withdrew from the fight two weeks ago due to undisclosed personal reasons.

Update: The fight will be held at lightweight, the weight class Brenneman has been competing at for the last year.

Suggestion Box: New Jobs for Fired UFC Fighters, Fall 2012 Edition


(“…unless it’s on short notice, in which case I’ll have to decline because it would be the worst decision of my career.” Pic Props: No Holds Barred)

By Jason Moles

The Ultimate Fighting Championship recently held its own version of Dana White’s “blocking spree,” as the official roster has been narrowed quite noticeably, leaving many to seek employment elsewhere. Over the past few weeks, a handful of fighters received their pink slips for refusing to take a fight on short notice, losing a fight taken on short notice, missing weight, and flat-out sucking. Although it’s been quite a while since we last did this, we feel it only necessary at this point in time to offer a few suggestions to the latest Zuffa casualties.

Dennis Hallman: If there’s one thing we’ll remember about Hallman, it’s his appearance in the Octagon wearing nothing but a Speedo and the gloves on his hands. The aging veteran (he’ll turn 37 in December) still has a few years before he’s eligible to receive those social security checks and will need to find a new gig to line his wallet. The timing couldn’t be better, really; as it turns out, Speedo needs a new PR guy. And to think you thought I was just grabbing low-hanging fruit. Psssh! Having a former UFC fighter with over 65 fights pushing your product will definitely put Speedo back on the map. He’ll tell consumers about the extra attention and unique propositions you’ll undoubtedly receive because of the confidence you exude. If he plays his cards right, maybe someone will pay him to just go away.


(“…unless it’s on short notice, in which case I’ll have to decline because it would be the worst decision of my career.” Pic Props: No Holds Barred)

By Jason Moles

The Ultimate Fighting Championship recently held its own version of Dana White’s “blocking spree,” as the official roster has been narrowed quite noticeably, leaving many to seek employment elsewhere. Over the past few weeks, a handful of fighters received their pink slips for refusing to take a fight on short notice, losing a fight taken on short notice, missing weight, and flat-out sucking. Although it’s been quite a while since we last did this, we feel it only necessary at this point in time to offer a few suggestions to the latest Zuffa casualties.

Dennis Hallman: If there’s one thing we’ll remember about Hallman, it’s his appearance in the Octagon wearing nothing but a Speedo and the gloves on his hands. The aging veteran (he’ll turn 37 in December) still has a few years before he’s eligible to receive those social security checks and will need to find a new gig to line his wallet. The timing couldn’t be better, really; as it turns out, Speedo needs a new PR guy. And to think you thought I was just grabbing low-hanging fruit. Psssh! Having a former UFC fighter with over 65 fights pushing your product will definitely put Speedo back on the map. He’ll tell consumers about the extra attention and unique propositions you’ll undoubtedly receive because of the confidence you exude. If he plays his cards right, maybe someone will pay him to just go away.

DaMarques Johnson: Google “glutton for punishment” and you’ll spot this BJJ blue belt. (Okay, not really. But you get the idea.) Enlist in the Army, which is essentially code for signing up to get screamed at while being forced to run or do pushups? Check. Willfully live in a house full of testosterone-and-booze-fueled dudes, away from your family, and without life’s many pleasures for an entire season of The Ultimate Fighter? Check. Take a short notice fight just two weeks after your medical suspension has ended? Double check. The next logical step for Johnson is for him to become a career human medical research subject. Hey, if it’s one thing “Darkness” enjoys is being paid in exchange for tremendous amounts of pain and suffering.

Rich Attonito: Former TUF 11 castmember Rich Attonito is best known for just that — being on a reality television series. If it weren’t for a broken hand sustained during his second fight in the house, he might have been remembered for so much more. With nothing to lose, “The Raging Bull” starts his own blog where he will later be recognized for his unique and colorful look at life in the MMA world. Hey, the man did a bang up job for us during his days as a reality TV star. It could happen. But until he starts earning CagePotato-money, Attonito will resume his duties as a fitness manager and personal trainer for New York Sports Clubs.

Charlie Brenneman: With a family to feed, “The Spaniard” will return to his roots as a high school Spanish teacher. Unfortunately, the worsening economy will all but put the final nail in the coffin at Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School. In an attempt to save all extra-curricular activities, especially wrestling, from impending doom, Brenneman will become the real-life version of Scott Voss from Here Comes the Boom by fighting his way back to the bright lights of the big stage in a desperate attempt to pay off the school’s debts — or at least earn some bonus cash. You know, whatever.

Michihiro Omigawa: Since he’s obviously not cut out to be an Octagon warrior, Omigawa will head to the land of the rising sun and do the whole Puroresu thing. It’s not the highest-paying line of employment in the world, but it’s the only place that still exists for him to try to earn a living in combat sports entertainment. Maybe Vince McMahon will try to strike gold in a new Japanese star, thus signing the journeyman mixed martial artist to a lucrative deal and starting an ongoing feud with Yoshi Tatsu.

Carlo Prater: After blasting UFC color commentator Joe Rogan for his ‘unethical’ criticism of referee Mario Yamasaki, Prater goes on to become a full-time public speaker focusing on Athlete-Journalist Relationships, Professional Personal Conduct, as well as the Golden Rules of Critiquing. Not only will he make appearances at the annual UFC Fighter Summit, the BJJ black belt will be requested by the NFL, NBA, and MLB in an attempt to steer the mainstream sports stars away from their normal ways of reckless abandon.

Shane Roller: Two Words: Fashion Designer.

Comment of the Week 10/1: In Which We Cried Like a Couple of School Girls


(Oh Michael, I just miss the days of one UFC event a month is all.) 

As BG previously lamented, it’s been kind of a depressing week in MMA news (or in his case, year). Stefan Struve tearfully discussed his father’s recent cancer diagnosis, there was a slew of firings, a once great show continued it’s downward spiral into irrelevance, and the injury curse of 2012 made sure to pop in and remind us that it was still around.

But it is always darkest before the dawn, Potato Nation. So sayeth Two-Face.

Because through all of the depressing doom and gloom reporting we brought you guys this week, you kept your heads up. You stood tall and proud. Hell, you even had the intestinal fortitude to mock others’ misfortune like we taught you to. So with our faith restored, we are proud to bring back the Comment of the Week today so at least one of you can be rewarded for your ruthless, blackened souls.

Listed after the jump are the comments that gave us some much needed laughs this week, along with a poll for you to vote on your favorite. The winner will receive one of our classic “We Pull No Punches” shirts, but make sure to submit your designs for our next t-shirt contest, as we plan on giving a bunch away in the near future.

And the nominees are…


(Oh Michael, I just miss the days of one UFC event a month is all.) 

As BG previously lamented, it’s been kind of a depressing week in MMA news (or in his case, year). Stefan Struve tearfully discussed his father’s recent cancer diagnosis, there was a slew of firings, a once great show continued it’s downward spiral into irrelevance, and the injury curse of 2012 made sure to pop in and remind us that it was still around.

But it is always darkest before the dawn, Potato Nation. So sayeth Two-Face.

Because through all of the depressing doom and gloom reporting we brought you guys this week, you kept your heads up. You stood tall and proud. Hell, you even had the intestinal fortitude to mock others’ misfortune like we taught you to. So with our faith restored, we are proud to bring back the Comment of the Week today so at least one of you can be rewarded for your ruthless, blackened souls.

Listed after the jump are the comments that gave us some much needed laughs this week, along with a poll for you to vote on your favorite. The winner will receive one of our classic “We Pull No Punches” shirts, but make sure to submit your designs for our next t-shirt contest, as we plan on giving a bunch away in the near future.

And the nominees are…

–Mood, for offering a bit of career advice to Forrest Griffin regarding Xanax:

“Maybe if he took more he’d start to stay inside the cage after fights.”

–Fried Taco, for appropriately kicking Steven Seagal while he was down:

“Seagal also claims royalties whenever that kick is used – although the IRS steps in and takes the money before Stevie sees a dime.”

–Mongrel, for taking Karo Parisyan’s small victory and just eviscerating it:

“I was doubting the legitimacy of this MMA promotion, but was reassured when the guy with one shoe walked on.”

–Buster Hyman, for basically doing the same thing to Stephan Bonnar:

“if his plan is to have a kid and name it after each one of his losses then his wife is in for one busted taco”

–Clemmie, for reminding us all what darker times CagePotato has been through and making us feel a lot better by comparison:

“Have some faith in CP, gist, they know what they’re doing. They have already been fucked worse than they have ever been fucked before. It can only get better from there.”

–RwilsonR, for explaining the true reason why MMA has lost its luster:

“This sport hasn’t been the same since $kala left.”

-And finally, none other than Seth Falvo, for reminding us all of the common bond we share as Internet commenters/writers, which is coincidentally the easiest way to get over the influx of depressing news:

“Everyone else is debating flyweights, oversaturation, Old Dad, New Dad, New Old Dad, Fuel TV…and I’m just sitting here masturbating.”

Vote on your favorite below, and we will announce the lucky SOB on Monday.

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world’s leading questionnaire tool.

–J. Jones

And Now He’s Fired: Charlie Brenneman Axed by the UFC After Back-to-Back Losses


(Noke had carefully selected his training partners to mimic how Brenneman would look on fight night. / Photo via neurovisual)

In the space of two fights, UFC welterweight Charlie Brenneman went from co-headliner to curtain-jerker. So where do you go next if you get TKO’d in 45 seconds by a non-contender on the Facebook portion of a card? The unemployment line, son. Don’t let the door hit ya where the Good Lord split ya.

That’s right, Brenneman has been released by the UFC after taking his second consecutive first-round stoppage loss to Kyle Noke at UFC 152, which followed his submission loss to Erick Silva at UFC on FX: Johnson vs. McCall in June. With his most recent loss, “The Spaniard”‘s overall UFC record dropped to 4-4, including decision wins over Jason High, Amilcar Alves, Rick Story, and Daniel Roberts, and previous TKO losses to Johny Hendricks, and Anthony Johnson. In other words, his victories were mostly forgettable, but his losses were all highlight-reel material. Not a good look.

Brenneman was disppointed but hopeful after getting the news, telling Bloody Elbow’s Steph Daniels:


(Noke had carefully selected his training partners to mimic how Brenneman would look on fight night. / Photo via neurovisual)

In the space of two fights, UFC welterweight Charlie Brenneman went from co-headliner to curtain-jerker. So where do you go next if you get TKO’d in 45 seconds by a non-contender on the Facebook portion of a card? The unemployment line, son. Don’t let the door hit ya where the Good Lord split ya.

That’s right, Brenneman has been released by the UFC after taking his second consecutive first-round stoppage loss to Kyle Noke at UFC 152, which followed his submission loss to Erick Silva at UFC on FX: Johnson vs. McCall in June. With his most recent loss, “The Spaniard”‘s overall UFC record dropped to 4-4, including decision wins over Jason High, Amilcar Alves, Rick Story, and Daniel Roberts, and previous TKO losses to Johny Hendricks, and Anthony Johnson. In other words, his victories were mostly forgettable, but his losses were all highlight-reel material. Not a good look.

Brenneman was disppointed but hopeful after getting the news, telling Bloody Elbow’s Steph Daniels:

Basically, I realized after my last fight that I wasn’t in a good situation. A week had passed, and yesterday I got a call from my manager/trainer, Mike Constantino. He just said it as succinctly as possible, which is how I prefer it, ‘It’s not good, you’re cut.’

There’s nothing really to say. I kind of made my own bed, and I hope to get another chance. I lost to Kyle Noke, and when someone says, ‘You got caught early’, I have to counter that by saying that I shouldn’t have left him the opening to hit me. That’s just the way it goes.

I’m not closing the book on anything. The UFC is where I want to be, and it’s where I will be again. I give up a lot to fight. I don’t live with my wife. I live in New Jersey so I can devote myself to training, when all my family lives in Pennsylvania. It’s not a question of drive and passion. I have plenty of that. When that drive naturally expires, then I’ll think about stopping.

So will this just be a temporary setback for Brenneman? And does anybody think the firing was unwarranted, or had he gone as far as he could go in the promotion?