Eric Prindle

Last updated
Eric Prindle
Born (1976-08-30) August 30, 1976 (age 47)
Erie, Pennsylvania, United States
Other namesThe American Soldier
Height6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Weight265 lb (120 kg; 18 st 13 lb)
Division Heavyweight
Super Heavyweight
Reach79 in (201 cm)
Stance Orthodox
Fighting out of Prescott, Arizona, United States
TeamCSW
Average Joes MMA
Years active2008-2016; 2018
Mixed martial arts record
Total22
Wins12
By knockout7
By submission3
By decision2
Losses9
By knockout4
By submission3
By decision1
By disqualification1
No contests1
Other information
University Yavapai College
Website http://ericprindle.com
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Eric Prindle (born August 30, 1976) is an American Heavyweight mixed martial artist who last competed in 2018. A professional competitor since 2008 he has fought in Bellator MMA and Pancrase, and was the Bellator Season Five Heavyweight Tournament Winner.

Contents

Background

Prindle was born in Erie, Pennsylvania but grew up in Phoenix, Arizona and Honolulu, Hawaii. Having developed a passion for combat sports from a young age, Prindle competed in kickboxing, winning two amateur bouts at the age of 12 against opponents twice his age and much larger than himself.

At the age of 18, Prindle enlisted into the United States Army as a weapons specialist and competed in amateur boxing, where he found a wealth of success, going on to win various tournaments, become a five-time All-Army Champion, a four-time Armed Forces Champion, and in all compiled over 100 amateur fights during his time of service. He was with special forces and with the 101st Airborne division. In 2004, Prindle's military career ended. He suffered injuries as a soldier and believes that with the benefits Martial Arts has to offer, it helps him mentally subside the injuries and mental trauma he acquired serving his country.

After taking some time off to be with his family, Prindle transitioned into mixed martial arts and has trained at Erik Paulsons school in California for STX and CSW as well as training on his own and at Average Joes MMA in AZ.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Prindle made his professional debut in 2008 against veteran Jimmy Ambriz and was defeated via submission. However, Prindle would go on to win his next four fights before being invited to compete in Bellator.

Bellator

Eric made his Bellator debut in April 2011 at Bellator 40 where he defeated Josh Burns via TKO (Doctor Stoppage) at the end of round two. [1] The fight took place on the MTV2 live broadcast. [2]

Prindle entered into the Bellator Season Five Heavyweight Tournament. [3] His first fight was against Abe Wagner on October 1, 2011, at Bellator 52. Prindle won the back-and-forth fight via unanimous decision.

In the semifinal round, Prindle faced Ron Sparks at Bellator 56 and needed to just 40 seconds to KO him in order to advance to the finals.

Prindle faced Thiago Santos in the finals held at Bellator 59. The bout was ruled a No Contest after Santos kicked Prindle in the groin at 1:24 of the first round and Prindle was unable to continue. [4]

Prindle and Santos were scheduled to have a rematch at Bellator 61 on March 16, 2012. [5] However, on March 15, Bellator announced the fight had been pushed back a week to Bellator 62 due to Prindle having "flu-like symptoms." [6] A week later at the Bellator 62 weigh-ins, Santos weighed in 12 pounds overweight for the rescheduled rematch and the bout was called off. [7] Prindle was announced as the Season Five Heavyweight Tournament Winner.

Prindle competed in the Bellator Season Seven Heavyweight Tournament, where he faced Thiago Santos in their long-awaited rematch in the quarter-finals at Bellator 75. [8] Prindle would be disqualified after kicking Santos in the groin.

Prindle was expected to fight Brett Rogers at Bellator 93 on March 21, 2013. However, the bout was cancelled when Prindle pulled out. [9]

In Prindle's next bout with Bellator, he faced Australian Peter Graham at Bellator 104. Prindle lost a hard-fought unanimous decision. [10]

Prindle next fought Javy Ayala at Bellator 111 on March 7, 2014. He lost the fight via TKO at 2:05 in the third round. [11]

Prindle's next fight was against PRIDE veteran James Thompson at Bellator 121 on June 6, 2014. Prindle lost via TKO in the first round. [12]

On June 25, 2014, it was announced that Prindle was released from the promotion, along with 18 other fighters. [13]

Post-Bellator

Prindle made his return at Pancrase 269 on August 9, 2015. His opponent was Mitsuyoshi Nakai and he won the fight via TKO in the second round. Prindle had a rematch with Nakai on November 28, 2015, and won the fight this time via submission in the first round.

Bare knuckle boxing

Prindle faced Sam Shewmaker at a Bare Knuckle FC event held on June 2, 2018. He lost the fight via knockout just 18 seconds into the first round.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
22 matches12 wins9 losses
By knockout74
By submission33
By decision21
By disqualification01
No contests1
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Win12–9 (1)Jonathan TsosieTKO (punches)MEFC 1: Moore Extreme Fighting ChallengeSeptember 1, 201812:18 Payson, Arizona, United States
Loss11–9 (1)Evgeny ErokhinTKO (punches)Far Eastern Federation of Modern Pankration 204November 5, 201614:31 Vladivostok, RussiaOpenweight bout.
Loss11–8 (1) Paul Buentello KO (punch)Abu Dhabi Warriors 4May 24, 201611:04Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Win11–7 (1)Maurice JacksonSubmission (kimura)MCF 11March 19, 201612:39 Nebraska, United StatesCatchweight (275 lbs) bout.
Win10–7 (1)Mitsuyoshi NakaiSubmission (americana) Pancrase 272 November 28, 201511:59 Honolulu, Hawaii, United StatesOpenweight bout.
Win9–7 (1)Mitsuyoshi NakaiTKO (punches) Pancrase 269 August 9, 201520:40 Tokyo, Japan Openweight bout.
Loss8–7 (1) Brandon Cash TKO (submission to punches)The Warriors Cage 22June 26, 201512:18 Porterville, California, United States Super Heavyweight bout.
Loss8–6 (1) James Thompson TKO (punches) Bellator 121 June 6, 201411:55 Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States
Loss8–5 (1) Javy Ayala TKO (punches) Bellator 111 March 7, 201432:05 Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States
Loss8–4 (1) Peter Graham Decision (unanimous) Bellator 104 October 18, 201335:00 Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States
Win8–3 (1)Vince LuceroTKO (punches)Imperio MMAJune 15, 201310:12 Tampico, Mexico
Loss7–3 (1) Thiago Santos DQ (groin kick) Bellator 75 October 5, 201214:54 Hammond, Indiana, United StatesBellator Season Seven Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
Loss7–2 (1) Cole Konrad Submission (kimura) Bellator 70 May 25, 201211:00 New Orleans, Louisiana, United StatesFor the Bellator Heavyweight World Championship.
NC7–1 (1) Thiago Santos No Contest (groin axe kick) Bellator 59 November 26, 201111:24 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United StatesBellator Season Five Heavyweight Tournament Final; NC after groin kick.
Win7–1 Ron Sparks KO (punch) Bellator 56 October 29, 201110:40 Kansas City, Kansas, United StatesBellator Season Five Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal.
Win6–1Abe WagnerDecision (unanimous) Bellator 52 October 1, 201135:00 Lake Charles, Louisiana, United StatesBellator Season Five Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
Win5–1 Josh Burns TKO (doctor stoppage) Bellator 40 April 9, 201125:00 Newkirk, Oklahoma, United States
Win4–1Steve WhiteyTKO (punches)Gladiator Challenge: Royal FlushOctober 24, 201011:30 San Jacinto, California, United States
Win3–1 Chris Barnett Decision (majority)Martial Combat 12October 16, 201035:00 Sentosa, Singapore
Win2–1Brad TidwellTKO (punches)FFI: Blood and Sand 7April 4, 20093N/A Biloxi, Mississippi, United States
Win1–1Johnathan TsosieTKO (submission to punches)Rage in the Cage 112July 26, 200810:24 Prescott, Arizona, United States
Loss0–1Jimmy AmbrizSubmission (north-south choke)Rage in the Cage 110May 31, 200811:31 Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Bare knuckle record

Professional record breakdown
1 match0 wins1 loss
By knockout01
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss0–1Sam ShewmakerKO (punch) BKFC 1: The Beginning June 2, 201810:18 Cheyenne, Wyoming, United States

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References

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  2. "Askren Funks Thompson; Hieron, Chandler Advance at Bellator 40". Sherdog.
  3. Ed Kapp. "Bellator". Bleacher Report.
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  5. "Louisiana hosts Bellator 61, heavyweight tourney finale rematch". MMAJunkie.com. Archived from the original on 2012-02-04. Retrieved 2012-01-27.
  6. "Bellator 61 headliner Eric Prindle scratches with flu-like symptoms, pushed to Bellator 62". MMAJunkie.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-17. Retrieved 2012-03-15.
  7. "Bellator 62 Weigh-in Results: 'Big Monster' Overweight, Heavyweight Tourney Final Scrapped". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2012-03-23.
  8. "Eight Heavyweights Invade Horseshoe Casino Hammond at Bellator 75 on October 5 - Bellator Fighting Championships". Archived from the original on 2012-08-29. Retrieved 2012-10-05. Eight Heavyweights Invade Horseshoe Casino Hammond at Bellator 75 on October 5
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  11. "Bellator 111 results: Dantas vs. Leone". mmafighting.com. March 7, 2014.
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  13. "Eric Prindle among 19 fighters released from Bellator". mmafighting.com. 25 June 2014. Retrieved June 25, 2014.