Issue 080
October 2011
UFC welterweight Charlie ‘The Spaniard’ Brenneman is riding the career-surging wave only an unexpected contender-leaping win can bring
NEED TO KNOW
NAME Charlie Brenneman
AGE 30
STARTED 2007
TEAM ama fight club
DIVISION Welterweight
STYLE wrestling
RECORD 14-2
Pennsylvania native Charlie ‘The Spaniard’ Brenneman recently became an overnight MMA sensation when he stepped up on a day’s notice to fight in the co-main event at UFC Live 4 against Rick Story. Now living and training in New Jersey, the 14-2 welterweight only dove into professional MMA full-time two years ago because, of all things, he was encouraged after winning sport-based TV game show Pros vs Joes. Fighters Only talks to the mop-haired grappler about his days as a high-school Spanish teacher, being Twitter obsessed and the June evening that turned his career on its head.
You recently had the biggest win of your career, beating Rick Story in the co-main event at UFC Live 4. But, you were originally matched up with TJ Grant on the undercard. What went through your mind when you heard that your fight with Grant had been scrapped?
“It was just complete disappointment. I had hundreds of people coming to see me. It was pretty heartbreaking.”
So you take a plane from Newark, New Jersey to your home state of Pittsburgh to at least make weight and collect your show money. There’s a video of Nate Marquardt making his weight cut and in one scene, you can be seen jumping in the sauna right after Marquardt finishes on Friday. What happened next?
“I actually find out shortly after that video was shot, that there was a possibility I might be filling in for Marquardt on Sunday. It was extremely surreal, but at that point, I still didn’t know. I found out for sure 45 minutes before weigh-ins. It went from not knowing if I’m going to fight, to fighting in the co-main event. It was definitely game time. I was put in a situation, I tried to make the most of it, and fortunately, I did.”
Before you started your MMA career, you and older brother Ben were contestants on TV show Pros vs Joes, where members of the public compete against sports stars in a sequence of physical challenges. That actually encouraged you to start your MMA career. How did it come about and what was it like?
“We were Joes on the show. I saw an ad at a wrestling tournament I was coaching at East Stroudsburg University the first round was all individual. Once I won my episode, then we got to pick someone to compete with us. I chose my brother. I just figured he was a pretty good athlete and I knew he would really appreciate the opportunity. My brother and I won the finale show.”
Who did you compete against when you did your solo show?
“NFL star and now MMA fighter Herschel Walker, nine-time NBA all-star Dominique Wilkins, Olympic gold medalist sprinter Jason Gatlin, US women’s soccer star Brandi Chastain and World Series-winning catcher Darren Daulton. We competed against them in each of their sports.”
How about who you competed against when you teamed up with your brother?
“NBA player Xavier McDaniel, ten-time NBA all-star Clyde Drexler, baseball pitcher John Rocker and NFL linebacker Kevin Greene.”
So were you the victim of a vicious Kevin Greene tackle?
“I scored a touchdown on him. That’s what won us the show.”
What was it like hanging out and competing against all those pros, most of whom are known worldwide as some of the best in their respective sports?
“It was awesome. They were extremely cool to us. They understood what a big opportunity it was. At the same time, it was extremely intense; they were not fooling around.”
So, do you think you’ll ever do another reality show, whether it’s The Ultimate Fighter or something else?
“I would love to. Any time you can put your face in front of a national audience, that’s good business.”
Your home gym is AMA Fight Club in New Jersey. What would you say a typical training day is for you?
“Generally I train striking with my boxing coach Mark Henry in New Jersey and occasionally go into New York City to train jiu-jitsu with Renzo Gracie. Like today, at 5:30am, I drove down to train Mark Henry in Millstown Township, New Jersey. Then I got home and rested. Next, I did a sprint workout on the treadmill – which I actually got from Eddie Alvarez. It’s the hardest workout I’ve ever done, or will ever do. Then, at 5:30pm, I went to Hanover Park High School in New Jersey for a wrestling workout.”
You grew up in Hollidaysburg, PA. Where did you go to college and what was your major?
“I went to Lock Haven University, and graduated in 2004 with a degree in Spanish and secondary education. From 2004 to 2007, I was a Spanish teacher in both junior and senior high school. In 2008, I graduated from East Stroudsburg University with a master’s degree in sports management. Once I finished in the fall of 2008, I substitute taught. In the beginning of 2009, I started fighting full-time.”
When did you get started in wrestling? You were on Lock Haven team – what was your record there?
“I started wrestling when I was eight years old. My record at Lock Haven was 72-43, and finishing in the Top 12 at NCAA’s was my biggest accomplishment.”
You actually have German and Italian heritage – do people ask you why you’re called ‘The Spaniard’?
“I get that a lot. Some people, they don’t get it. I do have an honest background in the language [but] people do assume, mostly because of my hair, that I’m Spanish.”
Speaking of the Spaniard mop and beard, what’s the deal with it?
“A lot of people tell me my hair looks like a helmet. I started it when I was wrestling in college – I didn’t like to shave. I think it adds to the fighter look.”
In terms of fighters you were an early adopter of using social networking site like Twitter and YouTube to promote yourself. Where did you get the idea to be so media savvy?
“Everything I do, I try to build my brand. With [Bellator lightweight champion] Eddie Alvarez, I saw how far his self-promoting got him. I just wanted to mold myself after that. He would be out on the boardwalk, a couple days before the fight, selling tickets. Half the battle is being a good self-promoter; the other half is winning.”
CHARLES IN CHARGE
‘The Spaniard’ reveals all about pulling double duty as high-school Spanish teacher and part-time fighter during the early part of his MMA career.
How did you get involved in teaching, particularly Spanish?
“When I was 13, we had a Spanish exchange student stay with us. I was interested and intrigued by the Spanish language and culture.”
So did he teach you any Spanish swear words?
“It was a little bit of both; I taught him some, he taught me some.”
After you started fighting, did your students find out that their teacher was actually moonlighting as a cage fighter?
“Yeah, they all followed it. They thought it was pretty cool, to have a teacher who was also a fighter. Some of them, who are now young adults, still follow me.”
So, in a moment of frustration – talking out of turn, spitballs, putting a tack on your chair – did you ever want to slam an unruly student?
“On the record, they were all great kids. That’s what I have to say about that.”
Do you think you’ll ever return to teaching?
“I kind of hope I can make a living off the sport of MMA, so I’ll just take each year at a time.”
