// Roster Index›Heavyweight›Dossier · Paul Buentello
UFC FIGHTER PROFILE_
UFC · UNKNOWNHEAVYWEIGHT

Paul
Buentello

NICKNAME"The Headhunter"·UNITED STATES
PROFESSIONAL RECORD
35-17-0
CURRENT FORM
1L STREAK
NEXT FIGHT
NO BOUT ANNOUNCED
Paul Buentello
FIGHTER -
UNI🇺🇸
PROFILE PHOTO
PROFILE
PROFILE DATA! COLD
HEIGHT
6'2"
REACH
6'5"
AGE
52
STANCE
ORTHODOX
WEIGHT
Heavyweight
PROFESSIONAL RECORD_
52 BOUTS
WIN
35
LOSS
17
DRAW
0
WIN RATE
67%
35/52 bouts
FINISH RATE
89%
of professional wins
LAST 5 FIGHTS1L STREAK · 3-2
WLWWL
STYLE SUMMARY_
DATA: COLD
FIGHTING STYLE
WELL ROUNDED

Well rounded fighter with elite knockout power — 71% of wins are by ko/tko.

KEY STRENGTHS

Closes distance and trades — most wins come from heavy hands inside the first two rounds.

KEY RISKS

Pressure boxers willing to wade into the pocket have found chins on offer; cardio drops in late rounds.

// PERFORMANCE_METRICS · 02_

STRIKE / GRAPPLE
VITALS

Observed profile rates compared with stored weight-class medians where coverage exists. Any fallback uses a labeled UFC reference average; no fallback is presented as a division median.

// SLPM▲ ABOVE
3.29
Strikes Landed/Min
Reference value 2.60
// STR. ACC▼ BELOW
45%
Striking Accuracy
Reference value 45%
// SAPM▼ BELOW
3.83
Strikes Absorbed/Min
Reference value 2.70
// STR. DEF▲ ABOVE
52%
Striking Defense
Reference value 50%
// TD AVG▼ BELOW
0.19
Takedowns/15 min
Reference value 0.72
// TD ACC▲ ABOVE
33%
Takedown Accuracy
Reference value 30%
// TD DEF▼ BELOW
39%
Takedown Defense
Reference value 50%
// SUB AVG▲ ABOVE
0.40
Submissions/15 min
Reference value 0.00
// QUALITY_OF_COMPETITION · 02B_

WHO THEY
ACTUALLY FOUGHT

A record says how often a fighter won, not against whom. These ratings weigh every result by the opponent's strength at the time, then compare this fighter with the 64 rated fighters on the UFC heavyweight roster (anyone with a UFC bout in the last two years or one booked).

// RATING
#38
against the 64 rated on the UFC heavyweight roster · Elo 1539
// STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
20th
percentile · average opponent rated 1512 at fight time (recent fights count most)
// RESULTS VS EXPECTATION
41st
percentile · beat what opponents' ratings predicted (+0.02 per fight)

33 rated fights · opponents rated in 63% of recorded fights · last rated fight JUL 15, 2016

// CAREER_BREAKDOWN · 03_

WIN CONDITION MAP

Where the wins come from, and where the losses came from. Method splits by knockout, submission, and decision.

// WINS (35)
n = 35
KO/TKO · 25
SUB · 6
DEC · 4
25
KO/TKO
71%
6
SUB
17%
4
DEC
11%
// LOSSES (17)
n = 17
KO/TKO · 8
SUB · 4
DEC · 5
8
KO/TKO
47%
4
SUB
24%
5
DEC
29%
// PATH_TO_VICTORY_
89% FINISH
KO/TKOEARLY ROUNDS · 25 fights
71%
SUBANY ROUND · 6 fights
17%
DECFULL FIGHT · 4 fights
11%
Top win condition: ko/tko · early rounds.
// DNA_PROFILE · 04_

ATTRIBUTE FINGERPRINT

Evidence-backed 0-100 scores built only from observed profile stats and disclosed bout-history proxies. This is a fixed Blueprint scoring model, not a division percentile; missing axes remain unknown.

// DNA_PROFILE_
3 OBSERVED7 DERIVED0 UNKNOWN
// BENCHMARK
FIXED SCORE SCALE
// LINKED SAMPLE
52 BOUTS
// PROFILE UPDATED
OCT 3, 2026
// RECORDED SOURCE
ufcstats
Fighter attribute fingerprint10 of 10 attributes have evidence-backed scores on the Blueprint fixed scale. Unknown axes are not plotted and no score represents a division percentile.KO POWER100TD DEFENSE20GRAPPLING60CHIN70STRIKING44CARDIO57AGGRESSION25SUB THREAT20STR DEFENSE49RECOVERY69
// BANDS
90+ELITE
70-89STRONG
45-69AVERAGE
30-44BELOW
<30LOW
N/AUNKNOWN
Highest scored axis: KO Power. Lowest scored axis: Sub Threat.
// EVIDENCE REGISTER
10 SCORED · 0 OPEN
KO Power100
DERIVED PROXY

KO wins divided by total career wins

N=35 wins
TD Defense20
OBSERVED INPUT

Observed takedown defense rate (39%)

Grappling60
DERIVED PROXY

Composite of observed takedown volume, accuracy, and submission rate

Chin70
DERIVED PROXY

KO-loss durability proxy from career record

N=52 bouts
Striking44
DERIVED PROXY

Composite of observed striking volume and accuracy

Cardio57
DERIVED PROXY

Long-fight exposure proxy from bout duration and decision-win share

Aggression25
DERIVED PROXY

Activity proxy from observed strike and takedown volume

Sub Threat20
OBSERVED INPUT

Observed submission rate (0.4 per 15 min)

Str Defense49
OBSERVED INPUT

Observed striking defense rate (52%)

Recovery69
DERIVED PROXY

Share of recorded losses followed by a win in the next recorded bout.

N=17 losses
Fighter attribute fingerprint accessible data summary
AttributeScoreProvenanceEvidenceSample
KO Power100 out of 100DERIVED PROXYKO wins divided by total career wins35 wins
TD Defense20 out of 100OBSERVED INPUTObserved takedown defense rate (39%)Not recorded
Grappling60 out of 100DERIVED PROXYComposite of observed takedown volume, accuracy, and submission rateNot recorded
Chin70 out of 100DERIVED PROXYKO-loss durability proxy from career record52 bouts
Striking44 out of 100DERIVED PROXYComposite of observed striking volume and accuracyNot recorded
Cardio57 out of 100DERIVED PROXYLong-fight exposure proxy from bout duration and decision-win shareNot recorded
Aggression25 out of 100DERIVED PROXYActivity proxy from observed strike and takedown volumeNot recorded
Sub Threat20 out of 100OBSERVED INPUTObserved submission rate (0.4 per 15 min)Not recorded
Str Defense49 out of 100OBSERVED INPUTObserved striking defense rate (52%)Not recorded
Recovery69 out of 100DERIVED PROXYShare of recorded losses followed by a win in the next recorded bout.17 losses
// CAREER_MOMENTUM · 05_

THE ARC SO FAR

Rolling momentum score (0-100) recomputed after every bout. Weighted blend of result, opponent context, and method-of-finish, designed to show the shape, not the destination.

// MOMENTUM_TIMELINE_
SCOREWINLOSS
0255075100APR 1997WAPR 1997WAPR 1997LAPR 1997LAUG 1997WJUN 1998WJUN 1998WJUN 1998LMAY 1999WNOV 1999WNOV 1999WDEC 1999WMAY 2000LMAY 2000WMAY 2000WJUN 2000LFEB 2001LAPR 2001LJUN 2001WAUG 2001WSEP 2001WJUN 2002WNOV 2002LAUG 2003WOCT 2003WNOV 2003WDEC 2003WNOV 2004WFEB 2005WJUN 2005LOCT 2005WFEB 2006WOCT 2006WDEC 2006WJUN 2007LNOV 2007WJUL 2008WJAN 2009LDEC 2009LMAR 2010WMAY 2010LAUG 2010WDEC 2010LAUG 2011LMAR 2012WOCT 2012WDEC 2012WMAY 2013WAUG 2013LMAR 2014WOCT 2015WMAY 2016LJUL 2016// SCORE

  1. Start, APR 1997, momentum score 45.
  2. Start, APR 1997, momentum score 55, SUB R1.
  3. Start, APR 1997, momentum score 65, SUB R1.
  4. Start, APR 1997, momentum score 58, SUB R1.
  5. Start, AUG 1997, momentum score 51, SUB R1.
  6. Start, JUN 1998, momentum score 61, KO/TKO R1.
  7. Start, JUN 1998, momentum score 72, KO/TKO R1.
  8. Start, JUN 1998, momentum score 81, SUB R1.
  9. Start, MAY 1999, momentum score 72, KO/TKO R1.
  10. Start, NOV 1999, momentum score 82, KO/TKO R1.
  11. Start, NOV 1999, momentum score 93, KO/TKO R1.
  12. Start, DEC 1999, momentum score 100, KO/TKO R1.
  13. Start, MAY 2000, momentum score 100, KO/TKO R1.
  14. Start, MAY 2000, momentum score 90, KO/TKO R1.
  15. Start, MAY 2000, momentum score 100, SUB R1.
  16. Start, JUN 2000, momentum score 100, KO/TKO R1.
  17. Start, FEB 2001, momentum score 93, SUB R2.
  18. Start, APR 2001, momentum score 86, KO/TKO R3.
  19. Start, JUN 2001, momentum score 79, SUB R1.
  20. Start, AUG 2001, momentum score 90, KO/TKO R1.
  21. Start, SEP 2001, momentum score 100, KO/TKO R1.
  22. Start, JUN 2002, momentum score 100, KO/TKO R1.
  23. Start, NOV 2002, momentum score 100, KO/TKO R2.
  24. Start, AUG 2003, momentum score 93, DEC R3.
  25. Start, OCT 2003, momentum score 100, KO/TKO R1.
  26. Start, NOV 2003, momentum score 100, SUB R2.
  27. Start, DEC 2003, momentum score 100, KO/TKO R1.
  28. Start, NOV 2004, momentum score 100, KO/TKO R1.
  29. Start, FEB 2005, momentum score 100, KO/TKO R1.
  30. Start, JUN 2005, momentum score 100, SUB R1.
  31. Start, OCT 2005, momentum score 90, KO/TKO R1.
  32. Start, FEB 2006, momentum score 99, KO/TKO R2.
  33. Start, OCT 2006, momentum score 100, KO/TKO R1.
  34. Start, DEC 2006, momentum score 100, KO/TKO R2.
  35. Start, JUN 2007, momentum score 100, KO/TKO R2.
  36. Start, NOV 2007, momentum score 93, KO/TKO R2.
  37. Start, JUL 2008, momentum score 100, DEC R3.
  38. Start, JAN 2009, momentum score 100, KO/TKO R3.
  39. Start, DEC 2009, momentum score 93, DEC R3.
  40. Start, MAR 2010, momentum score 86, KO/TKO R3.
  41. Start, MAY 2010, momentum score 93, DEC R3.
  42. Start, AUG 2010, momentum score 86, KO/TKO R2.
  43. Start, DEC 2010, momentum score 93, DEC R3.
  44. Start, AUG 2011, momentum score 86, DEC R3.
  45. Start, MAR 2012, momentum score 79, DEC R3.
  46. Start, OCT 2012, momentum score 88, KO/TKO R3.
  47. Start, DEC 2012, momentum score 97, KO/TKO R2.
  48. Start, MAY 2013, momentum score 100, DEC R3.
  49. Start, AUG 2013, momentum score 100, KO/TKO R2.
  50. Start, MAR 2014, momentum score 93, DEC R5.
  51. Start, OCT 2015, momentum score 100, KO/TKO R3.
  52. Start, MAY 2016, momentum score 100, KO/TKO R1.
  53. Start, JUL 2016, momentum score 90, KO/TKO R1.

Peaked at 100 (W vs Westfall), bottomed at 45 (Debut). Current reading: 90.

// KILL_SHOT_MATRIX · 06_

WHEN THE FINISHES COME

Cross-tab of fight outcome by method and round. Reads top-down for method, left-right for round. Cyan intensity scales with frequency.

// METHOD × ROUND_
52/52 fights mapped
METHOD ↓ / ROUND →R1R2R3R4R5FREQ
KO/TKO
20
38%
8
15%
5
10%
-
-
33
total
SUB
8
15%
2
4%
-
-
-
10
total
DEC
-
-
8
15%
-
1
2%
9
total
// PRIMARY KILL ZONE
R1-R2 KO/TKO · 28 of 52 mapped
// LATE-FIGHT GAP
No R5 finishes either way
// DECISION RATE
17%, fights rarely go the distance
// FIGHT_HISTORY · 08_

BOUT LOG
52 FIGHTS

Detailed bout records for the indexed tenure. Sorted most recent first.

L
VS Denis GoltsovJul 15, 2016
KO/TKOR1 · 3:07
ACB 41 - Path to Triumph
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
KO (Head Kick)
W
VS Eric PrindleMay 24, 2016
KO/TKOR1 · 1:04
ADW - Abu Dhabi Warriors 4
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
KO (Punch)
L
VS Myron DennisMar 21, 2014
DecisionR5 · 5:00
LFC 29 - Legacy Fighting Championship 29
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
Decision (Split)
W
VS James McSweeneyAug 23, 2013
KO/TKOR2 · 2:44
LFC 22 - Legacy Fighting Championship 22
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
TKO (Punches to the Body)
W
VS Igor KostinMay 30, 2013
DecisionR3 · 5:00
Federation of MMA of Russia - Star Fight 15
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
Decision (Unanimous)
W
VS Mike CookDec 8, 2012
KO/TKOR2 · 2:08
IFC - Warriors Challenge 29
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
KO (Punch)
W
VS Igor KostinOct 12, 2012
KO/TKOR3 · 0:56
VMAU - Headhunting
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
KO (Punches)
L
VS Darrill SchoonoverMar 31, 2012
DecisionR3 · 5:00
WMMA 1 - Fighting for a Better World
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
Decision (Unanimous)
L
VS Cole KonradAug 20, 2011
DecisionR3 · 5:00
BFC - Bellator Fighting Championships 48
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
Decision (Unanimous)
W
VS Kerry SchallDec 11, 2010
DecisionR3 · 5:00
Nemesis Fighting - MMA Global Invasion
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
Decision (Unanimous)
L
VS Tim SylviaAug 14, 2010
KO/TKOR2 · 4:57
PWP - War on the Mainland
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
KO (Punch)
// FAQ · 09_

CITATION-READY ANSWERS

Quick answers based on the public fighter profile and fight history shown on this page.

Heavyweight. Professional record 35-17. Unranked at the time of indexing.

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// FORECAST_AVAILABLE_
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// LAST INDEX SYNC · 2026-10-28