All MMA fightersPaul Buentello
“The Headhunter”
MMA · Active35-17RECORD
25KO / TKO WINS
6SUBMISSION WINS
4DECISION WINS
Profile
| Full name | Paul Anthony Buentello |
|---|---|
| Nickname | The Headhunter |
| Date of birth | 16 Jan 1974 |
| Nationality | American |
| Birthplace | Amarillo, United States |
| Lives in | San Jose, United States |
| Division | Heavyweight |
| Team | Grudge Training Center |
| Height | 191 cm (6′3″) |
| Reach | 193 cm (76″) |
| Stance | Not added yet |
| Years active | since 1997 |
| Status | Active |
| Pro debut | 12 Apr 1997 |
| Last fight | Loss vs Denis Goltsov, 15 Jul 2016 |
Details on this page were compiled from public information on 11 Oct 2026 (the record is as of that date). Is this you? Claim this profile to correct anything and add your photo and bio. Claim this profile
Titles and honours
- Former KOTC Heavyweight Champion
- IFC Warriors Challenge 7 tournament runner-up
- UFC heavyweight title challenger (2005)
Background
American heavyweight from Amarillo, Texas, who challenged Andrei Arlovski for the UFC heavyweight title in 2005. He also fought for Strikeforce, Affliction, Bellator and ACB.
Fight history
52 professional fights. Newest first.
| Result | Opponent | Method | Round | Time | Event | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | Denis Goltsov | KO (head kick) | 1 | 3:07 | ACB 41: The Path to Triumph | 15 Jul 2016 | Sochi, Russia | |
| Win | Eric Prindle | KO (punch) | 1 | 1:04 | Abu Dhabi Warriors 4 | 24 May 2016 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
| Win | Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou | KO (punch) | 3 | 3:12 | Abu Dhabi Warriors 3 | 3 Oct 2015 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
| Loss | Myron Dennis | Decision (split) | 3 | 5:00 | Legacy FC 29 | 15 Mar 2014 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA | For the Legacy FC Light Heavyweight Championship |
| Win | James McSweeney | TKO (punches to the body) | 2 | 2:44 | Legacy FC 22 | 23 Aug 2013 | Lubbock, Texas, USA | Light heavyweight debut |
| Win | Igor Kostin | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | Federation of MMA of Russia: Star Fight 15 | 30 May 2013 | Vladikavkaz, Russia | |
| Win | Mike Cook | KO (punch) | 2 | 2:08 | IFC: Warriors Challenge 29 | 8 Dec 2012 | Oroville, California, USA | |
| Win | Igor Kostin | KO (punches) | 3 | 0:56 | Vologda Fight Festival: Head Hunting | 12 Oct 2012 | Vologda, Russia | |
| Loss | Darrill Schoonover | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | WMMA 1: McCorkle vs. Heden | 31 Mar 2012 | El Paso, Texas, USA | |
| Loss | Cole Konrad | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | Bellator 48 | 20 Aug 2011 | Uncasville, Connecticut, USA | |
| Win | Kerry Schall | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | Nemesis Fighting: MMA Global Invasion | 10 Dec 2010 | Punta Cana, Dominican Republic | |
| Loss | Tim Sylvia | KO (punch) | 2 | 4:57 | Powerhouse World Promotions: War on the Mainland | 14 Aug 2010 | Irvine, California, USA | For the PWP Heavyweight Championship |
| Win | Bryan Humes | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | Shark Fights 11: Humes vs. Buentello | 22 May 2010 | Odessa, Texas, USA | |
| Loss | Cheick Kongo | TKO (submission to elbows) | 3 | 1:16 | UFC Live: Vera vs Jones | 21 Mar 2010 | Broomfield, Colorado, USA | |
| Loss | Stefan Struve | Decision (majority) | 3 | 5:00 | UFC 107: Penn vs Sanchez | 12 Dec 2009 | Memphis, Tennessee, USA | |
| Win | Kirill Sidelnikov | TKO (doctor stoppage) | 3 | 4:18 | Affliction: Day of Reckoning | 24 Jan 2009 | Anaheim, California, USA | |
| Win | Gary Goodridge | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | Affliction: Banned | 19 Jul 2008 | Anaheim, California, USA | |
| Loss | Alistair Overeem | TKO (submission to knee to the body) | 2 | 3:42 | Strikeforce: Four Men Enter, One Man Survives | 16 Nov 2007 | San Jose, California, USA | For the inaugural Strikeforce Heavyweight Championship |
| Win | Carter Williams | TKO (punches) | 2 | 0:10 | Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Baroni | 22 Jun 2007 | San Jose, California, USA | |
| Win | Ruben Villareal | TKO (corner stoppage) | 2 | 3:57 | Strikeforce: Triple Threat | 8 Dec 2006 | San Jose, California, USA | |
| Win | Tank Abbott | KO (punch) | 1 | 0:43 | Strikeforce: Tank vs. Buentello | 7 Oct 2006 | Fresno, California, USA | |
| Win | Gilbert Aldana | TKO (punches) | 2 | 2:27 | UFC 57: Liddell vs Couture 3 | 4 Feb 2006 | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA | |
| Loss | Andrei Arlovski | KO (punch) | 1 | 0:15 | UFC 55: Fury | 7 Oct 2005 | Uncasville, Connecticut, USA | For the UFC Heavyweight Championship |
| Win | Kevin Jordan | Submission (neck crank) | 1 | 4:00 | UFC 53: Heavy Hitters | 4 Jun 2005 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA | |
| Win | Justin Eilers | KO (punch) | 1 | 3:34 | UFC 51: Super Saturday | 5 Feb 2005 | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA | |
| Win | Bo Cantrell | KO (punches) | 1 | 0:45 | KOTC 44 | 14 Nov 2004 | San Jacinto, California, USA | Defended the KOTC Heavyweight Championship |
| Win | Lloyd Marshbanks | TKO (punches) | 1 | 2:57 | EP: XXXtreme Impact | 28 Dec 2003 | Tijuana, Mexico | |
| Win | Bobby Hoffman | Submission (verbal) | 2 | KOTC 30 | 2 Nov 2003 | Pala, California, USA | Won the KOTC Heavyweight Championship | |
| Win | Andy Montana | KO (head kick) | 1 | 2:09 | Rumble on the Rock 4 | 10 Oct 2003 | Honolulu, Hawaii, USA | |
| Loss | Bobby Hoffman | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | KOTC 27 | 10 Aug 2003 | San Jacinto, California, USA | For the KOTC Heavyweight Championship |
| Win | Mike Kyle | KO (punches) | 2 | 1:24 | KOTC 18 | 1 Nov 2002 | Reno, Nevada, USA | |
| Win | Roger Neff | KO (head kick) | 1 | 3:04 | KOTC 14 | 19 Jun 2002 | Bernalillo, New Mexico, USA | |
| Win | Jimmy Westfall | TKO (punches) | 1 | USWF 19 | 25 Sep 2001 | Amarillo, Texas, USA | ||
| Win | Gary Marshall | TKO (punches) | 1 | 4:53 | IFC Warriors Challenge 15 | 31 Aug 2001 | Oroville, California, USA | |
| Loss | Nate Schroeder | Submission (heel hook) | 1 | 4:10 | IFC Warriors Challenge 13 | 15 Jun 2001 | California, USA | |
| Loss | Sam Sotello | TKO (submission to punches) | 3 | 3:22 | IFC Warriors Challenge 12 | 11 Apr 2001 | Friant, California, USA | |
| Loss | Ricco Rodriguez | Submission (kneebar) | 2 | 4:21 | KOTC 7 | 24 Feb 2001 | San Jacinto, California, USA | For the KOTC Openweight Superfight Championship |
| Win | Larry Parker | TKO (punches) | 1 | 5:06 | IFC Warriors Challenge 8 | 14 Jun 2000 | Friant, California, USA | |
| Loss | Gan McGee | TKO (submission to punches) | 1 | 2:44 | IFC Warriors Challenge 7 | 3 May 2000 | Fresno, California, USA | Tournament final |
| Win | Rocky Batastini | Submission (armbar) | 1 | 3:47 | IFC Warriors Challenge 7 | 3 May 2000 | Fresno, California, USA | Tournament semi-final |
| Win | Jason Godsey | TKO (submission to punches) | 1 | 6:06 | IFC Warriors Challenge 7 | 3 May 2000 | Fresno, California, USA | Tournament quarter-final |
| Win | Jimmy Westfall | TKO (corner stoppage) | 1 | 0:59 | Amarillo Fights | 4 Dec 1999 | Amarillo, Texas, USA | |
| Win | Denny Mathias | TKO (submission to punches) | 1 | World Class Shootfighting | 20 Nov 1999 | McKinney, Texas, USA | ||
| Win | Gilbert Duran | TKO (submission to punches) | 1 | World Class Shootfighting | 20 Nov 1999 | McKinney, Texas, USA | ||
| Loss | Todd Broadaway | TKO (doctor stoppage) | 1 | 6:00 | Extreme Challenge 24 | 15 May 1999 | Salt Lake City, Utah, USA | |
| Win | Larry Parker | KO (knee) | 1 | 0:30 | USWF 9 | 20 Jun 1998 | Amarillo, Texas, USA | |
| Win | Shane Saavedra | TKO (punches) | 1 | 2:15 | USWF 9 | 20 Jun 1998 | Amarillo, Texas, USA | |
| Win | Dustin Heronemus | Submission (neck crank) | 1 | 0:48 | USWF 9 | 20 Jun 1998 | Amarillo, Texas, USA | |
| Loss | Dan Severn | Submission (headlock) | 1 | 2:55 | USWF 6 | 16 Aug 1997 | Amarillo, Texas, USA | |
| Loss | Evan Tanner | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | 2:20 | USWF 4 | 12 Apr 1997 | Amarillo, Texas, USA | |
| Win | David Davis | Submission (choke) | 1 | 7:35 | USWF 4 | 12 Apr 1997 | Amarillo, Texas, USA | |
| Win | Derek McGill | Submission (choke) | 1 | 6:00 | USWF 4 | 12 Apr 1997 | Amarillo, Texas, USA | Pro debut |