Weekend Rundown: Buentello, Dodson Return to Form

Former UFC heavyweight title contender Paul Buentello stopped the bleeding from a two-fight losing streak, as he defeated Bryan Humes by unanimous decision in the Shark Fights 11 headliner on Saturday at the Ector County Coliseum in Odessa, Texas.

Buentello, the only man to vie for both the UFC and Strikeforce heavyweight crowns, outclassed the previously unbeaten Humes on the ground and on the feet, as he received a unanimous nod from the judges and won for the first time in more than a year. Now training out of the Grudge Training Center in Colorado, the 36-year-old Amarillo, Texas, native was cut from the UFC roster following consecutive defeats to Stefan Struve and Cheick Kongo.

The 33-year-old Humes, a muay Thai practitioner based in Las Vegas, perfect in six professional appearances.

Other winners at Shark Fights 11 included Derek Campos (unanimous decision over Anselmo Luis Luna Jr.), Clinton Holcomb (third-round knockout against Lance Bartholomew) and Tony Castillo (second-round submission over Christopher Golden).

Dodson Tops Riggleman at UWC 8

Flyweight John Dodson outpointed the previously undefeated Jessie Riggleman en route to a unanimous decision at Ultimate Warrior Challenge 8 “Judgment Day” on Saturday at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Va. Scores were 30-27 across the board for Dodson.

Dodson, one of the top 125-pound fighters in North America, scored with knockdowns in each of the first two rounds and outstruck Riggleman for much of their 15-minute encounter. The 25-year-old Dodson trains out of Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts in Albuquerque, N.M., and rebounded nicely from his split decision loss to current UWC flyweight champion Pat Runez in October.

Meanwhile, Bellator Fighting Championships veteran Valerie Coolbaugh defeated Iman Achhal by split decision, as she put the breaks on a three-fight losing streak. Achhal tasted defeat for the first time in three professional appearances.

Finally, Jason David Frank, who starred in the popular “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” series, submitted Carlos Horn with a first-round armbar. The bout lasted just 24 seconds. Frank remains unbeaten (4-0) as an amateur.

Wren Wins Second Straight

UFC castaway Justin Wren cruised to a unanimous decision victory against Reggie Higgins in the marquee matchup at MMA Xplosion “Fight Night II at the Hard Rock” on Saturday at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Wren took all three rounds from the 41-year-old Higgins.

A quarterfinalist on Season 10 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” Wren trains at the Grudge Training Center in Colorado, alongside UFC interim heavyweight champion Shane Carwin and former middleweight King of Pancrase Nate Marquardt. A decorated amateur wrestler and former protégé of Olympic gold medalists Kenny Monday and Kendall Cross, the 23-year-old has rattled off back-to-back victories since being released by the UFC in wake of his split decision loss to Jon Madsen at “The Ultimate Fighter 10” Finale in December.

‘Judo’ Jim Extends Streak to Seven

“Judo” Jim Wallhead needed little more than two minutes to submit Shaun Lomas at Cage Warriors Fighting Championships “Right to Fight” on Saturday at the National Exhibition Centre Pavilion in Birmingham, England. Lomas met his end 2:34 into round one, as Wallhead cinched a rear-naked choke.

Signed to compete in the 2010 Bellator Fighting Championships welterweight tournament, Wallhead had to bow out of the draw when the Icelandic volcano nixed his travel plans in April. The 26-year-old Team Rough House standout has pieced together a seven-fight winning streak since his 2008 decision loss to Charles Blanchard, a cast member on “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 11.

Meanwhile, undefeated German prospect Pascal Krauss captured the CWFC welterweight crown in a second-round submission victory over John Quinn. The end came 4:47 into round two. Krauss, 23, has finished all nine of his foes, seven of them by submission.

Other victors at “Right to Fight” included Kenneth Rosfort (fourth-round TKO against Greg Loughran), Mick Sinclair (first-round TKO over Josh Dennis), Peter Irving (unanimous decision against Nordin Asrih) and Daniel Thomas (first-round submission over Ali McClean).