Branden Lee Hinkle is a retired American professional mixed martial artist. A professional competitor from 1998 until 2016, he competed for the UFC, RINGS, Vale Tudo Japan, Pancrase, the WEF, and the International Vale Tudo Championship.

Branden Lee Hinkle
Born (1973-07-29) July 29, 1973 (age 50)
Jefferson, Ohio, United States
Other namesThe Iron Lion
NationalityAmerican
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight230 lb (104 kg; 16 st 6 lb)
DivisionHeavyweight
Light Heavyweight
Reach76 in (193 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Fighting out ofWeirton, West Virginia, United States
TeamTeam Hammer House
Years active1998-2016
Mixed martial arts record
Total29
Wins17
By knockout12
By submission3
By decision2
Losses11
By knockout2
By submission8
By decision1
No contests1
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Background edit

Born and raised in Jefferson, Ohio, Hinkle holds an accomplished wrestling background, competing at West Liberty State College in West Virginia where he was a two-time NCAA Division II Champion, a U.S. National Freestyle Wrestling All-American and also excelled at tennis, being a West Virginia College Conference Tennis Champion.[1]

Mixed martial arts career edit

Early career edit

Hinkle was offered a fight in Brazil for $1,000 and an all-expenses paid trip. He accepted and made his professional debut against future PRIDE veteran Ebenezer Fontes Braga in 1998 for the International Vale Tudo organization in Brazil. The inexperienced Hinkle lost the fight by submission (triangle choke). After amassing a 12-6-1 record, with wins over Travis Fulton, Yoshihisa Yamamoto, and Jorge Rivera, Hinkle was signed by the UFC.

Ultimate Fighting Championship edit

Hinkle made his UFC debut against Sean Gannon at UFC 55. Gannon, a former Boston police officer, had gained fame for defeating Kimbo Slice in an organized but unsanctioned fight that was uploaded to YouTube. Hinkle won the fight by TKO, but dropped his next three consecutive fights against veteran Jeff Monson, former WEC Light Heavyweight Champion Jason Lambert, and another UFC veteran, Alexandre Ferreira.

Post-UFC edit

Hinkle then bounced back with a unanimous decision win over former PRIDE veteran Roman Zentsov before facing fellow collegiate wrestler and future UFC veteran, Chris Tuchscherer. Hinkle was knocked out by punches. In his next fight he faced UFC and Strikeforce veteran Kevin Jordan, and won by TKO.

Hinkle then debuted in Pancrase, but lost by submission (rear-naked choke). Hinkle's last professional fight was in 2016, in Woodward, Oklahoma, which he won by submission.

Championships and accomplishments edit

  • NCAA Div II Champion
  • US National Freestyle Wrestling All-American
  • Korean Neo Fight World Heavyweight Champion
  • World Extreme Fighting Heavyweight Champion
  • WV College Conference Tennis Champion

Mixed martial arts record edit

Professional record breakdown
31 matches 19 wins 11 losses
By knockout 12 2
By submission 5 8
By decision 2 1
No contests 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 17–11 (1) Marvin Babe Submission Horsepower Promotions: Fists of Fury 10 February 6, 2016 1 2:43 Woodward, Oklahoma United States
Win 16–11 (1) Alonzo Roane TKO (punches) Reality Cage Combat: West Virginia vs. the World May 18, 2012 2 1:39 Charleston, West Virginia United States
Loss 15–11 (1) Jessie Gibbs Submission (rear-naked choke) PFC 3: Pancrase Fighting Championship 3 April 2, 2011 1 2:25 Marseille, France
Win 15–10 (1) Kevin Jordan TKO (punches) DFL 1: The Big Bang November 24, 2010 1 2:30 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Loss 14–10 (1) Chris Tuchscherer TKO (punches) SNMMA: Beatdown at 4 Bears March 21, 2009 4 4:43 New Town, North Dakota, United States
Win 14–9 (1) Roman Zentsov Decision (unanimous) BodogFIGHT: Alvarez vs Lee July 14, 2007 3 5:00 Trenton, New Jersey, United States
Loss 13–9 (1) Alexandre Ferreira Submission (heel hook) GFC: Evolution May 19, 2007 1 0:37 Columbus, Ohio, United States Return to Heavyweight.
Loss 13–8 (1) Jason Lambert TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night 5 June 28, 2006 1 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Light Heavyweight debut.
Loss 13–7 (1) Jeff Monson Technical Submission (north-south choke) UFC 57: Liddell vs. Couture 3 February 4, 2006 1 4:35 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 13–6 (1) Sean Gannon TKO (punches) UFC 55 October 7, 2005 1 4:14 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Win 12–6 (1) Jason DeAngelo TKO (submission to strikes) HHCF 21: Redemption August 26, 2005 1 N/A Columbus, Ohio, United States
Win 11–6 (1) Tommy Sauer TKO (punches) WEF: Sin City May 20, 2005 1 2:19 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 10–6 (1) Daisuke Watanabe Decision NF 5: Neo Fight 5 October 2, 2004 3 5:00 South Korea
Win 9–6 (1) Sim Kyum Kim TKO (punches) NF 5: Neo Fight 5 October 2, 2004 1 3:26 South Korea
Win 8–6 (1) Sang Hyun Park TKO (leg kick) NF 2: Neo Fight 2 December 20, 2003 1 1:00 Seoul, South Korea
NC 7–6 (1) Sang Min Lee No Contest NF 2: Neo Fight 2 December 20, 2003 N/A N/A Seoul, South Korea
Win 7–6 Rogelio Sanchez Submission (armbar) VTX: Vale Todo Xtremeo 1 November 22, 2003 1 1:23 Nuevo Laredo, Mexico
Win 6–6 Eric Knox TKO (submission to punches) NLF: Next Level Fighting September 13, 2003 1 1:00 Steubenville, Ohio, United States
Loss 5–6 Gabriel Gonzaga Submission (triangle choke) Meca 9: Meca World Vale Tudo 9 August 1, 2003 1 3:54 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win 5–5 Jorge Rivera TKO (corner stoppage) RSF 2: Attack at the Track June 23, 2001 2 1:54 Chester, West Virginia, United States
Win 4–5 George Allen TKO (punches) RSF 1: Redemption in the Valley April 21, 2001 2 N/A Wheeling, West Virginia, United States
Loss 3–5 Volk Han Submission (triangle armbar) RINGS: Millennium Combine 2 June 15, 2000 1 8:11 Tokyo, Japan
Win 3–4 Yoshihisa Yamamoto Submission (rear-naked choke) WEF 9: World Class May 13, 2000 1 2:21 Evansville, Indiana, United States
Loss 2–4 Wataru Sakata Submission (leg lock) RINGS: Millennium Combine 1 April 20, 2000 1 7:23 Tokyo, Japan
Loss 2–3 Maurice Smith Decision (majority) RINGS: King of Kings 1999 Block B December 22, 1999 2 5:00 Osaka, Japan
Win 2–2 Travis Fulton TKO (injury) HFP: Holiday Fight Party December 11, 1999 1 12:38 Georgia, United States
Loss 1–2 Carlos Barreto Submission (guillotine choke) IVC 8: The Road Back to the Top January 20, 1999 1 4:32 Aracaju, Brazil
Win 1–1 Masanori Suda TKO (upkicks) VTJ 1998: Vale Tudo Japan 1998 October 25, 1998 1 5:26 Urayasu, Japan
Loss 0–1 Ebenezer Fontes Braga Submission (triangle choke) IVC 6: The Challenge August 23, 1998 1 12:33 Sao Paulo, Brazil

References edit

  1. ^ "Branden Lee Hinkle - Official UFC® Profile". www.ufc.com.

External links edit