A teacher heading into the classroom can sometimes feel like a fighter entering the ring, but chances are that didn’t prepare Charlie “The Spaniard” Brenneman for a career as an actual fighter in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA). Brenneman was teaching high school Spanish in his hometown of Hollidaysburg, PA, when he was picked to compete on the show “Pros vs. Joes,” where regular people compete with pro athletes. Brenneman, along with his brother Ben, won the competition and decided to draw on his days as a Division I college wrestler and enter the world of MMA.
After beginning as an amateur and quickly turning professional, Brenneman was almost sidelined in 2008 when a sparring session left him with broken facial bones and temporary blindness. But “The Spaniard” soldiered on, tearing through opponents with a vengeance and eventually signing a contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the largest MMA fight promoter in the world. Brenneman’s career got a big boost when he got a last-minute
call to fight Rick Story in June, and pulled an upset victory that boosted his ranking to number seven welterweight in the world. Now, Brenneman is set to bring the Spaniard Nation (his legion of fans) to the Verizon Center in DC on Oct. 1, as he takes on Anthony Johnson at UFC Live: Cruz vs Johnson. On Tap recently caught up with The Spaniard to talk about his career and life as an up-and-coming MMA fighter.
On Tap: What was it like competing on national TV with all of those amazing pro athletes on “Pros vs. Joes?”
Charlie Brenneman: It was great; the athletes I met were very cool with us off camera. Don’t get me wrong, they were there to compete and it was as real as it looked.
OT: What was it like when you were injured and temporarily lost sight in one eye while training? Did you think about quitting? Did you worry you wouldn’t recover?
CB: I immediately thought of quitting the sport. My future flashed before my eyes. I lost complete vision in my left eye for a few minutes and then I started to see light. After surgery, everything returned to normal, thankfully. I’m very lucky.
OT: Is it hard to support yourself as an MMA fighter? Has it been easier since your most recent win?
CB: Financially yes, very. It really hasn’t gotten much easier, because as I continue my career, my life develops as well. I can no longer live in a single apartment with a small bedroom. I will soon be married, and real life is about to start.
OT: What’s your connection with Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) and other charities? Why is that important to you?
CB: The IAVA is one of my sponsors. I met them through a contact in the business. They support a great cause (Iraq and Afghanistan veterans), and we hit it off from day one. As my career continues to develop, I get more requests for charity events. This is one of my favorite perks of being a UFC fighter: helping good causes that need help. I have a weakness for handicapped children and I am a dog lover, so I’m excited to work with those two groups in the future.
OT: Your twitter feed is full of anecdotes and pictures that show you’re a regular guy. Does that ever seem at odds with what you do for a living?
CB: Not at all. I live in New Jersey with a roommate and, when I’m not training with the best fighters in the world, I’m just a regular guy. I watch movies, TV, surf the net and spend time with friends and family. Outside the cage, I am the epitome of a regular guy.
OT: How has your career and life changed since you beat Rick Story and are now ranked as the number seven welterweight?
CB: My career got a nice boost, my fan base has grown tenfold, my Twitter and Facebook as well. It has only reinforced my passion for fighting and my desire to train and get better. Otherwise, I’m still a momma’s boy who’s about to get married.
OT: Did you ever imagine having a Topps card with you on it?
CB: That I did not, but I love it. I actually had some fans send me a few extra copies so I can show my kids.
OT: How do you psych yourself up for a fight?
CB: All of the psychological work is done through training. When it’s fight time, I know that I prepared myself the absolute best way I could, therefore I have no nerves. I am ready for battle. I actually just try to surround myself with friends and family and collect as much positive energy as possible.
OT: What are your thoughts on your upcoming fight in DC? You recently tweeted that Anthony “Rumble” Johnson didn’t look too big…for a heavyweight!
CB: Ha, he’s a big guy, but we both weigh in at 170 pounds. Rocky wasn’t scared of the Russian. I’m not scared of Rumble.
Saturday, Oct. 1 is UFC Live: Cruz vs Johnson at Verizon Center: 601 F St. NW DC; 202-628-3200; verizoncenter.com or ticketmaster.com for tickets
