Eric Prindle

Last updated
Eric Prindle
Born (1976-08-30) August 30, 1976 (age 47)
Erie, Pennsylvania, United States
Other namesThe American Soldier
Nationality American
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 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

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Mir</span> American mixed martial artist

Francisco Santos Miranda, is an American mixed martial artist who most recently competed for Bellator MMA in the Heavyweight division. He formerly competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) for sixteen years. A former two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion, he holds the record for the most finishes and the most submission victories in UFC Heavyweight history. Mir possessed the longest uninterrupted tenure of any fighter in UFC history, competing for the company from 2001 to 2016. He was the first man to knock out and the first to submit Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Askren</span> American Olympic wrestler and mixed martial artist (born 1984)

Ben Askren is an American former professional mixed martial artist and former Olympic wrestler.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melvin Manhoef</span> Dutch mixed martial arts fighter

Melvin Manhoef is a retired Surinamese-born Dutch mixed martial artist and kickboxer. In kickboxing, he is a former It's Showtime Middleweight Champion, and in MMA he was the Cage Rage Light Heavyweight Champion. In mixed martial arts, he competed in Bellator's Light heavyweight and Middleweight division and has also formerly competed for Strikeforce, DREAM, RINGS, It's Showtime, K-1, ONE FC, and KSW. 29 of his 32 wins have come via knockout, the highest percentage of any MMA fighter with at least 15 wins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bellator MMA</span> American mixed martial arts promoter

Bellator MMA is an American mixed martial arts promotion founded in 2008 and based in Santa Monica, California, owned and operated as a subsidiary of television and media conglomerate Paramount Global. It is the second largest in the United States and one of the largest combat sport promotions in the world. The promotion takes its name from bellātor, the Latin word for "warrior".

Marlon Sandro is a retired Brazilian mixed martial artist. He has competed for Bellator, Pancrase, Shooto, and World Victory Road. He is the former King of Pancrase Featherweight Champion and former Sengoku Featherweight Champion.

Pat Curran is a retired American mixed martial artist, and a former two-time Bellator Featherweight World Champion. He is the cousin of World Extreme Cagefighting veteran Jeff Curran and fought primarily with Xtreme Fighting Organization (XFO) before signing with Bellator, where he is the winner of Bellator Season Two Lightweight Tournament and the Bellator 2011 Summer Series. From July 2011 till April 2014 and January 2018 till July 2018, Curran was ranked in the top #10 Featherweights in the world by Fight Matrix, rising to as high as #2 from July 2012 till April 2013.

2011 in Bellator MMA was the fourth installment of the Bellator Fighting Championships. Mixed martial arts tournaments were held in multiple weight classes, including three of the original tournament classes: Welterweight, Lightweight and Featherweight. There was also an inaugural Light Heavyweight Tournament taking place during this season, which crowned the first Light Heavyweight Champion in Bellator. This was the first season to air on MTV2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Douglas Lima</span> Brazilian mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter

Douglas Lima is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the welterweight and middleweight divisions of Bellator MMA, where he is a former three-time Bellator Welterweight Champion. He is also the former MFC Welterweight Champion. Lima and his younger brother, Dhiego, own and operate American Top Team - Team Lima in Duluth, Georgia.

Thiago Santos is a Brazilian mixed martial arts fighter currently competing in the Heavyweight division. A professional competitor since 2007, Santos has formerly fought for Bellator MMA and was a finalist in their Season Five Heavyweight Tournament.

David Rickels is an American professional mixed martial artist and bare-knuckle fighter who is currently competing in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. A professional since 2010, he is a 23-fight veteran of the Bellator MMA, and won the Season Eight Lightweight Tournament.

2012 in Bellator MMA was the sixth installment of the Bellator Fighting Championships, which began on March 9, 2012. The sixth season of Bellator was originally scheduled to begin on March 2, 2012. However, the debut was pushed back a week so it began with the show on March 9, 2012.

Saad Awad is an American mixed martial artist competing in the lightweight division. A professional competitor since 2006, Awad has formerly competed for Bellator, Strikeforce and King of the Cage.

Ryan Martinez is a retired American mixed martial artist. A professional from 2009 until 2014, he competed for Bellator and ProElite.

Hiroshi Nakamura is a Japanese mixed martial artist who competes in the bantamweight division. He has fought in many well-known mixed martial arts organizations as Shooto, DEEP and Bellator.

Francisco Derek Campos is an American professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the Featherweight division. A professional competitor since 2009, Campos has competed for Bellator MMA, Shark Fights and King of the Cage, and is the former King of the Cage Light Welterweight Champion.

Javier "Javy" Ayala is an American former mixed martial artist who competed in the Heavyweight division. A professional competitor since 2011, he has competed for Bellator and Tachi Palace Fights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corey Anderson (fighter)</span> American mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter

Corey Anderson is an American mixed martial artist currently competing for Bellator MMA in the light heavyweight division. Prior to signing with Bellator, Anderson competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he was the light heavyweight winner on The Ultimate Fighter: Team Edgar vs. Team Penn and achieved success as a top 5 UFC light heavyweight contender. As of June 20, 2023, he was #10 in the Bellator men's pound-for-pound rankings and #1 in the Bellator Light Heavyweight Rankings.

Kelvin Tiller is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the light heavyweight division. A professional competitor since 2011, Tiller has also formerly competed for Bellator, World Series of Fighting and Shark Fights.

Emanuel J. Brooks is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Middleweight division. A professional since 2010, he has fought in Bellator MMA.

References

  1. ↑ "Bellator 40 results: Askren cruises, Hieron and Chandler punch tourney-finale tickets | MMAjunkie.com". Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2011-05-08.
  2. ↑ "Askren Funks Thompson; Hieron, Chandler Advance at Bellator 40". Sherdog.
  3. ↑ Ed Kapp. "Bellator". Bleacher Report.
  4. ↑ "Bellator 59 results: Dantas claims tourney crown; Prindle-Santos a no contest". mmajunkie.com. 2011-11-27.
  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
  9. ↑ "Brett Rogers vs. Eric Prindle Bellator 93 Heavyweigh Tilt Scrapped". mmaweekly.com. March 20, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Bellator 104 results: Hawn vs. Weedman". mmafighting.com. October 18, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Bellator 111 results: Dantas vs. Leone". mmafighting.com. March 7, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Bellator 121 Results: Prindle vs. Thompson". mmafighting.com. June 6, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Eric Prindle among 19 fighters released from Bellator". mmafighting.com. 25 June 2014. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.